~ "Kindfulness" ~
Many years ago, Ajahn Brahm, the Abott of Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia, coined the word “kindfulness” as a hybrid of mindfulness and kindness. Kindfulness is about intentionally bringing a sense of kindness to one’s experience of oneself, others and the world.
Mindfulness without kindness is not enough because it can be harsh or critical. Similarly, kindness without mindfulness can be indulgent, permissive, or selfish. But when we bring kindness to our mindfulness, we can befriend all of our experience – whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. We can bring kindfulness to anyone or anything we criticize or judge. This doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to violence or harm, but it does mean trying to respect and understand others.
At this point, you may be wondering “Why bother?” or “Why should I be kindful?” Well, I think that kindfulness has many benefits, including:
- Kindfulness helps us to relax and feel peaceful. It calms the body and the mind and this leads to a sense of contentment and well-being.
- Kindfulness makes us feel happier because it enables us to tap into our basic goodness – that place deep inside that is at the very heart of our being.
- Kindfulness is also good for our physical hearts because it can release a hormone called oxytocin which protects the heart by lowering blood pressure.
- Kindfulness improves our relationships with ourselves and others. When we are kindful towards ourselves, we are likely to look after ourselves better. And when we are kindful towards others, they are more likely to be kind towards us.
- Our kindfulness cultivates community because it inspires others to be kindful too. Just as a pebble creates ripples when it is dropped in a pond, so kindfulness ripples outwards in ever widening circles.
- Kindfulness may slow the aging process. Recent research has shown that loving kindness and compassion meditation can slow down the unraveling and deterioration of chromosomes, which is associated with aging.
So with all these benefits, who wouldn’t want to practice kindfulness? As Ajahn Brahm says:
“Kindfulness is the cause of relaxation. It brings ease to the body, to the mind and to the world. Kindfulness allows healing to happen. Don’t just be mindful, be kindful.”
I invite you to try out some kindfulness in your life and see what happens!
Mindfulness without kindness is not enough because it can be harsh or critical. Similarly, kindness without mindfulness can be indulgent, permissive, or selfish. But when we bring kindness to our mindfulness, we can befriend all of our experience – whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. We can bring kindfulness to anyone or anything we criticize or judge. This doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to violence or harm, but it does mean trying to respect and understand others.
At this point, you may be wondering “Why bother?” or “Why should I be kindful?” Well, I think that kindfulness has many benefits, including:
- Kindfulness helps us to relax and feel peaceful. It calms the body and the mind and this leads to a sense of contentment and well-being.
- Kindfulness makes us feel happier because it enables us to tap into our basic goodness – that place deep inside that is at the very heart of our being.
- Kindfulness is also good for our physical hearts because it can release a hormone called oxytocin which protects the heart by lowering blood pressure.
- Kindfulness improves our relationships with ourselves and others. When we are kindful towards ourselves, we are likely to look after ourselves better. And when we are kindful towards others, they are more likely to be kind towards us.
- Our kindfulness cultivates community because it inspires others to be kindful too. Just as a pebble creates ripples when it is dropped in a pond, so kindfulness ripples outwards in ever widening circles.
- Kindfulness may slow the aging process. Recent research has shown that loving kindness and compassion meditation can slow down the unraveling and deterioration of chromosomes, which is associated with aging.
So with all these benefits, who wouldn’t want to practice kindfulness? As Ajahn Brahm says:
“Kindfulness is the cause of relaxation. It brings ease to the body, to the mind and to the world. Kindfulness allows healing to happen. Don’t just be mindful, be kindful.”
I invite you to try out some kindfulness in your life and see what happens!