Kindness in words, creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love

This week our thought comes from Laozi, a Chinese philosopher who is regarded as one of the founders of Taoism (also spelt Daoism).

Around the 6^th century BCE he is believed to have written the main book of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching, or ‘The Way and its Power’, which is a collection of poetry and sayings that guides Taoist thought and actions.

Taoism holds that humans and animals should live in balance with the Tao, or universe. The Tao Te Ching and other Taoist books provide guides for behaviour and spiritual ways of living in harmony with Chi, the energy which is present and guiding everything in the universe.

One of the main ideas of Taoism is the belief in balancing forces of yin and yang and it is likely that you are familiar with the symbol of Taoism which represents the harmony and unity of opposites.

Taoism is probably better understood as the Way rather than a set of beliefs to be accepted. The Tao (Dao) is a moral code which promotes harmony or union with nature through developing the virtues of, humility simplicity and kindness, referred to as the three treasures.

Our quotation describes how kindness impacts our lives in many different ways. It starts by drawing a comparison between kind words and the building of confidence. I am sure we have all been reassured by words of kindness when lacking in confidence and I have witnessed the power of kind words on many occasions between girls at Wychwood.

Next it draws comparison between kindness in thinking and profoundness (profound thoughts). What we think when we are in a kind mood may not seem profound at that moment, but our personal decisions tend to be a little better.

It concludes by comparing kindness in giving, to love. Kindness in giving leads to gratitude or compassion and that leads to love.

If we ever doubt the importance of kindness as a virtue, perhaps we should consider what life would be without it. It really can be the one thing that creates a web of improvements in the world around us.

And that kindness is something that should not only extend to others humans but to the non- human world too. On Sunday 23^rd it is World Turtle Day, one of many such days in which we are encouraged to show kindness to other creatures with whom we share the planet.

The Way of kindness is surely a pathway we can all seek to tread, and in doing so we might contribute to greater harmony and unity within our world.

 

Christine Crossley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laozi also spelt Lao Tzu