Monday, December 1, 2014

I heard someone say last night they had been instructed by their sponsor to be "nice" or to practice the quality. I wanted to say that my experience taught me that being kind is more important. There is a quote that is attributed to The Buddha but there is much internet debate on it's actual origin but the quote is " If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.”
Another quote is sometimes tacked onto it that states, "It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will"
I would rather people think of me as a kind man, than a nice man. Kindness is a principle of spirit. "Nice", isn't a spiritual principle, it is sort of subjective I suppose. "Nice" reminds me of a first grader being sent of to a birthday party with the instruction of mother to be "Nice".
I wanted to say, "Just be kind", don't crush the earth brutally with your foot steps. I went for nearly a life time not knowing a thing about my true self. I only went by the word of others and assumptions on my part. I know these things to be true, one hundred percent true. I am a gentle man. I am a kind man. I do not crush the earn in brutality when I take steps. I am a grateful man.
Be kind to yourself, be kind to others. Take soft steps.
"Nice" is subjective terminology but "Kindness" is a bonafide , real deal, spiritual principle and a core component of the teachings of The Buddha and of Jesus Christ and of all the great masters.
It is the first day of the last month ever of the year 2014. By living one moment at a time, one day at a time we have collectively just about put on more year in the history books. It seems like minutes ago I was trying to adjust to wright 1978 on my school work as it changed during Christmas break from 1977. You know, I am keenly aware that time on the planet in this body and form is finite. Every time someone I know leaves the party it reminds me of a quote from a time I didn't even know the value of quotes. It was "The things I do today are important because I am exchanging a day of my life for them".
Time is the most valuable commodity we have because it's so limited and it ends for many without a bit of notice. One the surface it may look like the simple changing of the free calendar I got last year from the bank, out with the new calendar I got from Walker's pharmacy, it is not lost on me at all that I have once less set of 365 days of being a spirit being in human form. I was so careless with the gift of time and presence for so many years I know that I am in the "Grace Period".
I am the luckiest bastard on the planet to have been invited to the party and still be a welcomed guest. I find a lot of joy to live that way. I love the old saying in AA "How do you eat an Elephant?" answer..."One bite at a time". 2014 is 30 days away from being consumed by me one grateful damn bite at a time. I'm slack jawed when I think that it is nearly 2015. It sounds like a number in as science fiction script.
I heard someone say last night they had been instructed by their sponsor to be "nice" or to practice the quality. I wanted to say that my experience taught me that being kind is more important. There is a quote that is attributed to The Buddha but there is much internet debate on it's actual origin but the quote is "  If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.”

Another quote is sometimes tacked onto it that states, "It is spoken at the right time. It is spoken in truth. It is spoken affectionately. It is spoken beneficially. It is spoken with a mind of good-will"

I would rather people think of me as a kind man, than a nice man. Kindness is a principle of spirit. "Nice", isn't a spiritual principle, it is sort of subjective I suppose. "Nice" reminds me of a first grader being sent of to a birthday party with the instruction of mother to be "Nice".

I wanted to say, "Just be kind", don't crush the earth brutally with your foot steps. I went for nearly a life time not knowing a thing about my true self. I only went by the word of others and assumptions on my part. I know these things to be true, one hundred percent true. I am a gentle man. I am a kind man. I do not crush the earn in brutality when I take steps. I am a grateful man.

Be kind to yourself, be kind to others. Take soft steps. Forgive.