098 - BANGKOK 02
The Grand Palace, Bangkok.
This might be a complicated topic for some, I don't know. A long time ago, I had a conversation (or maybe I was just listening to him, but it felt like a conversation) with one of the best teachers I've ever had, about how, sometimes, despite being a convinced atheist he used to find a bit of calm and peace in the patios of those big mosques in High Asia when he was working there, joking about the strange ways we look for a bit of spirituality. I am also an atheist, what's more, structured religions scare the heck out of me, maybe, or despite (not sure yet), because I was raised in a catholic school. Which is curious because I received nothing but kindness from the nuns at my school despite the fact that my mum was divorced, and if you know anything about religion and spain, you'll know that, sometimes, that kindness is a rarity for a single mother. And, despite all those years of personal experience, I am a firm non believer and usually, I look at churches, mosques and temples more with an historic, anthropologic, artistic and, not going to lie, ironic eye. Having said all that, I surprised myself by loving all the Buddha's faces, the kind smile usually brings me peace and I guess it's because kindness, in our world, is constantly underrated, when I firmly believe it shouldn't be.
In my part of the world it feels to me that kindness is in fact overrated and people no longer seem to think that being polite, considerate and generally sending positive vibes is enough of "being kind" and they end up not being polite, considerate or send out positive vibes... :(
ResponderEliminarThat's sad because one of the best thing I've experienced traveling is actually kindness, is what I'm keeping with me, like the taxi driver in Sukhothai checking that I was safely inside the guesthouse at ass o'clock in the morning, or the cleaning lady that just smiles at you and calls you "good morning", or the balinese hostel worker that helped me stay one night on the sly in the common room… it feels like being kind is not important, when it actually is!
Eliminarkindness is one of the most important things in the world,i think...sometimes strangers can save us just by smiling or getting a little bit out of their way to help other people :)
ResponderEliminarexactly! we don't seem to find any value in it, but it can save you sometimes...
EliminarOhhh, I saw a quote this morning which fits this perfectly :)
ResponderEliminar"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." ~ Dalai Lama
Sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to go.
That is a wonderful quote, by a wonderful man… thank you for it!
Eliminar