Kindness in a World of War and Conflict

Tutorial for December 2023

Kindness in a World of War and Conflict

Acts of kindness in the conventional sense, such as helping others, showing empathy, and practicing generosity, are profoundly valuable at all times. They are expressions of the underlying wisdom and compassion that arises from the direct realization of the nature of mind. Expressions of kindness can open hearts and minds, even in the midst of war and conflict.

​Looking for kindness in your world, as well as in your Self, while experiencing war and conflict can be challenging. When you see conflicts and disputes escalating easily, with little willingness to compromise, understand different perspectives, or find peaceful resolutions, you may feel that kindness is lost. Society may seem to be callous and indifferent. With difficulty finding kindness, you may feel more isolated and alienated, leading to a sense of loneliness. Kindness is a force that facilitates cooperation and collaboration. In its absence, you may experience individuals and groups challenged to work together for common goals, hindering progress and collective well-being.

Kindness is essential for building trust. In a world of limited kindness, trust between individuals, communities, and nations is compromised, leading to a more distrustful and suspicious global environment. What you experience in your world as a lack of trust, may also be experienced in your Self as a disconnect from the inner reliable wisdom that guides you on your path. Without the presence of kindness, you may feel unable to address the needs of those who are vulnerable or in distress, leading to increased suffering in your world and your Self.

Right now you see wars and conflict in many forms and in many places. Amidst the complexity of war and conflict, individual and collective efforts toward kindness and compassion can contribute to cultivating a peaceful world as well as a peaceful self.

It's important to note that kindness is a complex and multifaceted concept, and its absence doesn't necessarily mean the complete breakdown of society. However, a lack of kindness contributes to an environment that is challenging for everyone to navigate. War and conflict are manifestations of ignorance, attachment, and aversion—three of the primary causes of suffering.

War usually arises from a lack of understanding, misperception, and delusion, with ignorance considered a fundamental cause of all conflict. From a One Life perspective, individuals and societies caught in the cycle of war are operating under the influence of ignorance, failing to recognize the interconnected and interdependent nature of all beings.
The attachment to resources, power, and ideologies, are common drivers of conflict. Recognize the importance of transcending attachments and aversions, understanding them as illusions that perpetuate suffering. From a One Life perspective, the solution to war lies in part with cultivating non-attachment and equanimity.

War often arises when interconnectedness is ignored, and individuals or groups perceive themselves as separate entities with conflicting interests. Recognizing the interdependence of all beings and cultivating a sense of universal responsibility can be key to addressing the root causes of war. War reflects a lack of compassion and understanding while resolving conflicts requires cultivating genuine compassion for all beings, including those involved in perpetuating violence. Wars are often fueled by a sense of ego, nationalism, and the desire to protect a perceived self-interest. Understanding the emptiness of the ego and realizing the unity of all beings can be transformative in addressing the root causes of conflict. War also arises from impulsive and reactive behavior. Through mindfulness practices, and the cultivation of kindness, you can develop greater self-awareness and make more skillful and compassionate choices, reducing the likelihood of engaging in or supporting war. Promoting kindness in the midst of war and conflict can be challenging, but the simple principles and practices of non-attachment, compassion, and mindfulness can cultivate and spread kindness even in difficult circumstances.

True kindness goes beyond conventional notions of kindness as mere altruism or compassionate actions. It is rooted in the understanding of the true nature of reality and the recognition of the inherent purity and wisdom within all beings. True kindness involves recognizing the fundamental nature of mind, which is considered to be open, spacious, and free from inherent limitations. This recognition naturally leads to a deep sense of compassion and kindness that transcends ordinary concepts of self and others. In this One Life view, the ultimate kindness is to help others recognize their own inherent wisdom and compassion by pointing them to the nature of their own mind.

​What can you do to find kindness in a world of war and conflict? Find your compassion not only for those who may seem to be directly suffering, but also for individuals on all sides of any conflict. Recognize shared humanity. Kindness can be expressed through all efforts to promote communication, negotiation, and peaceful resolution. Encourage empathy and open conversation and foster mutual understanding and cooperation whenever you can. Kindness can be expressed through participation in activities that promote reconciliation, tolerance, and understanding. Any place and anywhere that you can be kind to anyone cultivates peace in the world and peace within your Self. Do what you can to allow kindness to arise in your heart and always be who you really are.

---