"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." So says the Dalai Lama. "Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked." So says Jesus Christ.
In our time: "Kindness--an everyday by-product of all the great virtues--is at once the simplest and most weighty discipline human beings can practice," according to Krista Tippett in her spiritual memoir Speaking of Faith.
I was thinking about the meaning of kindness this week, and I turned to a bunch of online dictionaries and found the following.
1. Sensitive
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
2. Tender
RhymeZone
3. Gentle
Infoplease
4. Favorable
AllWords.com Multilingual Dictionary
5. Forbearing
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
6. Well-disposed, benign
Online Etymological Dictionary
7. Benevolent
The Wordsmyth English Dictionary
8. Compassionate
Encarta
9. Easily governed
Webster Dictionary, 1913
10. Showing consideration and anticipation of needs
Ultralingua
11. Having feelings befitting our common nature; congenial; sympathetic
Free Dictionary
12. The nature or quality of something; it's essence
Merriam-Webster
13. The bread and the wine of the Eucharist
OED
Thursday Thirteen
37 Comments
What a lovely post! It must have been very calming and comforting to put it together. Thanks for sharing it. (And thanks for visiting my TT)
ReplyDeleteSandy, marvelous post! Wonderful the extended meanings of kindness! Yes, they all fit! Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. It is great to know there are that many meanings for one word! :) Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to be kind.
ReplyDeleteI hope I grow kinder and kinder as the days move on...
Kindness. Not enough of it in the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! We could sure use a great deal more kindness in this world.
ReplyDeleteI especially like #10 - Showing consideration and anticipation of needs - if we slow down a little we could probably see other's needs clearer.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. The music is delightful. Your T13 was great. Kindness is a diminshing comodity these days. Too many people are caught up in the rat race to be kind to others. That's a shame especially in this country where so many are so blessed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my Thursday Thirteen #67 13 (Not So) Romantic Tips
What a great list. Kindess can go so far.
ReplyDeleteOur Happy Happenings
Livin' With Me
That is a great post!
ReplyDeleteNow that you've done all this research, do you feel more kindness?
ReplyDeleteSandy,
ReplyDeleteI've got a Valentine's Day gift for you
here. Happy ♥Day!!
I find kindness everywhere! Sometimes you just have to look a bit harder. But it's there. Wonderful post Sandy! Happy Valentine´s Day ♥
ReplyDeleteA lovely post indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect post for today! The quote I used today is from Mother Theresa advocating kindness. We must be on similar wave-lengths.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
My comment about how I like #10 because it includes action words, and kindness without action is like faith without good works, got erased.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could remember what it was about...
Not feeling up to doing my own list this week, but wanted to wish all my fave 13ers a Happy Valentines Day :)
ReplyDeleteOh Sandy, this is so beautiful! Very nice indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Thursday Thirteen! Very appropriate for Valentine's Day, kindness. :-D
ReplyDeleteI just completed my very first Thursday Thirteen, hope you'll take a look, although it's not nearly as compelling as yours.
Who knew that kindness has so many variations...good to know!
ReplyDelete~Harris.
My Mom always told me it was better to be kind than to be right.
ReplyDeleteI like definition #10. Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteAll words that bring a sense of peace even to read. I love the Dali Lama's quote and agree.
ReplyDeletePS My friend Mara's bumper sticker says: Human Kind: be both.
ReplyDeleteNo kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves. (Amelia Earhart)
ReplyDeleteAt least we hope it does. At any rate, we know that good, truly kind people raise the same type of kids.
thank you for expounding upon the meaning of kindness.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post. You are such a gifted writer. Every single day, you touch me. Thank you. And Happy Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteI also like a variation of the word--it's legit--but one doesn't hear it often : "lovingkindness."
ReplyDeleteThank you, that was lovely. Happy Thursday!
ReplyDeleteI've never done that kind of research before in my life.impressive.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a beautiful and inspiring website. Thanks. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely list :) Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteI had to look at this post again since it really spoke to me the other day. One of my favorite spiritual teachers, Dr. David R. Hawkins, speaks of compassion and kindness a lot. Kindness is something that, not all, but most humans can truly respond to. If they are not able to respond to it, they will at least never forget it. Thanks for taking the time to look these up.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! I truly made me smile... and think kind thoughts! :)
ReplyDeleteAs always, thanks... :)
That's a lovely post. It's amazing how many meanings a single word can have. Thanks for visiting my TT. Sorry for taking so long to repay the visit.
ReplyDeleteNice! :)
ReplyDeleteCompared to the others, the bread and the wine of the Eucharist definition threw me off a bit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.