Kindness

 Recently was celebrated a day dedicated to kindness. That made me think more and more. What exactly is kindness? Does that appear to be a very easy question? Well, I do not think so at all. In my opinion, it is a truly tough question.

Most people associate kindness with exhibition of gooey sympathy. There would be a tender tale trembling on their tip of their tongues about saving a small kitten shivering in the cold. Sure it is a good deed. Is it kindness though?

Is kindness empathy? Sure this is a better definition. It involves trying to be right, in the shoes of the afflicted. In a way, thus it includes looking at the reality from the perspective of the 'other', the victim, the down and the out.  Yet is that a complete definition of kindness?

Kindness in my opinion is tougher than mere sentimentality. Kindness involves a principled taking of responsibility till the receiver of one's kindness can stand firmly on his/her feet. Kindness is my opinion is not sentimental because such sensitivity is subtly stroking one's own ego.

As true kindness is ethical and principled, often it involves, no, not cruelty, but surely strictness. I suppose such a path is inevitable because there is always a destination, a goal to true kindness. Unnecessary detours are hence just not allowed even if such a stance may not appear very senti. Yet it is truly sensitive and sensible, i think.

Want examples? Look at the way good parents bring up a child. There are not any excessive concessions to the silly tantrums. There is a strict set of standards,  right? Yet another example could be a guru training a disciple, whichever may be the field. 

Yet another example could be an artist, be it author or a musician or a painter. The artist is kind to himself/herself and to the art. In the process, whether it be the practice session or the actual performance, there are no indulgences, no easy escapades of the temptations variety,  no dalliances away from the set path, however unique, challenging, unexplored, leading to the defined goal. 

Ask an author how much she weeds out from the page before it satisfies her a little. There is always a lot of self-critique which may not exactly be kind to one's own self. In brief, true kindness is not easy simplistic sentimentality. Tough is true kindness!

Pratima@True kindness blooms out of genuine concern!