Kindfulness

This term, coined by monk Ajahn Brahm, speaks of a kindly, non-judgmental curiosity of things, exactly as they are, which develops inner peace and gentleness. This is the natural outcome of a mindful approach to living. A few moments of meditation and prayer at the start of the day raises our game and positions us to bring peace and kindness to everyone we meet. There is no downside. We have a better day as does everyone around us. So why wouldn’t we do it? Might it just be a force of habit? – Do we leap out of bed at 7am and turn on the TV to a news digest of war, labour conflict, political corruption or migrant crises etc? What sort of day are we heading into if we’re carrying the woes of the world before we’re even dressed? It’s not that the horrors of the world are not a reality of our temporal existence. We should acknowledge them but not dwell on them. Rather, we can use them to impel us to do what we can to bring peace into the world in which we live. Let us choose to live in Love rather than Fear. ‘Newsworthy’ items tend not to dwell on the good in our world. Shame, there’s a lot of it. Nature is beautiful at all times of the year. We all have a special place where we feel grounded, that evokes the best in us, that helps us appreciate life itself in all its variety. And spring brings such abundance that spending time in the outdoors is almost overwhelming. Personally it’s like a chord is struck in me, with which I resonate and want to propagate the vibes throughout my day. Nature is my go-to ‘filling station’ for peace. Parenthood is perhaps the richest expression of human love. A newborn infant has no interest in world affairs, only the close attention and love of its parents. It may sound gushy and sentimental to coo and giggle with a baby but we would quickly mistrust anyone who didn’t spontaneously warm to one. All infants live in the Now trusting totally in the parents to provide the nourishment and love needed to sustain it. In the earliest days there is no sense of ‘me’ or ‘other’; there is only oneness. Through childhood, adolescence and early adulthood we develop our individuality and agency in the world. This is absolutely necessary to equip us to be productive but can lead us astray if we simply become acquisitive consumers driven by greed. Instead there needs to come a point where we recognise, or indeed remember, that we are all one and that our true needs are at all times met by a Higher Power in whom we can trust like an infant. Each cell in the body will naturally perform its function at its best when its environment allows it to. The science of Epigenetics is discovering the dominance of the environment, rather than DNA alone, in the expression of the genes. The cell in the big toe has never met his brother in the kidney or the brain but regardless of location (birthright) each cell needs every other in order for a body to be whole. The function and needs of each cell are defined and met by the innate intelligence that brought them into being. This kindly presence sustains our existence and when, through mindful awareness, we bring our efforts into alignment with it then we move toward a greater harmony and best expression of our humanity. It is through ‘Kindfulness’ that we can productively join in the co-creation of our world. One final thought: If Paul looks like a monk, lives like a monk and talks like a monk, perhaps he is a monk? – Please be kind to him though, he’s very much a novice 