Achieving Real Kindness on World Kindness Day
True kindness goes beyond relieving material suffering; it uplifts the soul by awakening Krishna consciousness. Following the teachings of Srila Prabhupada and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra helps individuals attain peace, purpose, and lasting spiritual happiness beyond bodily designations.
Real kindness acts like planting a sturdy tree instead of just watering a wilting flower: it addresses the root cause of distress, ensuring long-term spiritual nourishment and peace.
In our pursuit of a harmonious existence, we often ask why peace and happiness remain elusive. The Bhagavad Gita explains that a person who is not in transcendental consciousness “can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace”. Disturbance in the mind is primarily due to the lack of an ultimate goal. When one is certain that Krishna is the ultimate enjoyer, proprietor, and friend of everyone, a steady mind can bring about peace.
Defining Real Kindness
One is traditionally considered kind if they feel for the suffering of others and actively try to alleviate distress. However, the Bhagavad Gita explains that every living entity has a spiritual existence beyond the physical body; everyone is a spirit soul experiencing material life. While alleviating material suffering offers temporary relief, it does not address the core spiritual distress.
Therefore, real kindness is defined as the act of bringing people to transcendental or Krishna consciousness. This spiritual elevation allows individuals to automatically find lasting peace and happiness. By learning that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, is everyone’s true friend, Supreme proprietor, and enjoyer, disturbances in the mind disappear, and one attains fixed consciousness.
The Path to Universal Peace
To effectively show this real kindness to others, one must first practice becoming Krishna conscious oneself. This means feeling Krishna’s presence in all walks of life and learning to love and serve Him in every situation. This exalted state of life is accessible to everyone who adheres to the teachings found in Bhagavad Gita As It Is, written by Viswa Guru Srila Prabhupada.
Around 550 years ago, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a divine incarnation of the Lord, provided the simplest and most sublime method to develop spiritual consciousness: the chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna. This mantra is recommended as the easiest way to transcend bodily and mental difficulties and attain loving attachment to Krishna:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
One should chant this mantra, consisting of the names of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, loud enough to hear the sound oneself. As the sound is heard, hazy consciousness is removed, peace is attained, and freedom from mental disturbance follows.
Kindness in Action
Coming in the ancient Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya tradition, Viswa Guru Srila Prabhupada spread Lord Chaitanya’s teachings globally by establishing ISKCON (the Hare Krishna Movement). He recommended a daily Sadhana for peace and happiness: chanting the Maha Mantra (starting with a minimum of 108 times), eating only Krishna Prasadam (food offered to the Lord), reading the Bhagavad Gita daily, and participating in Kirtans (devotional singing and dancing).
Millions globally have found peace, purpose, and happiness through these simple methods. These simple acts of loving service attract the Lord’s attention and help one attain the highest perfection of life. Importantly, there is no discrimination based on bodily designations—such as gender, caste, colour, creed, or nationality—in elevating oneself to this highest Krishna consciousness. This universal elevation is real kindness to all in action!.
By
Sriman Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji (M.Tech IIT Madras)
President, Hare krishna movement Hyderabad
Phone : 96400 86664
