When love is drawn from its totality and applied in action there is no longer an abstractness to philosophize about. Even kindness alone finds its limitation in one’s own self-identification and its "demand" upon oneself or upon others to necessarily "show" that toward everyone.
Lovingkindness draws its impulse and its power from love, imbuing kindness with a release from self in the fuller expression of one’s true nature.
The source of that nature is love, and ever was love. The source drives the force of action, and
guides it all, as does Krishna the chariot of
Arjuna on the battlefield.
If I acknowledge myself to be a mere drop of water, then it's a matter
of course that I draw something from a river current which is constant, which
has no beginning or end. And that river
has its source in the sea, in the ocean by whichever name – likewise, wending
its way through life’s terrains, gathering and losing and being wet, returning
to that sea or that ocean by whatever name.
So neither orthodox nor heretic, nor the zealous fundamentalist nor the atheist, need impress me in the least; for, it not being "about me" I can concern myself with the source, practice lovingkindness without "being right" or "expecting" tolerance from anyone at all. It is one of the sincerest proofs of real independence, if it is anything.
Lovingkindness is not developing a head in the clouds but a head on your shoulders, with two eyes focused straight ahead on the living being right in front of you, and a full-bodied love pouring from the heart getting you wet and everyone in proximity to you. Wet with light. It doesn't "belong" to you, so you don't have to sweat "owning" it or "proving anything. Even proximity is but as limited as your own imagination.
My beloved friend Joe Miller often said, "what is needed are three things: common sense, a sense of humor, and more common sense."
This in turn cultivates a real and authentic generosity.
Spending more time with that source, rather than eating up one's valuable time and energy over "being right" or "expecting kindness" or spouting "tolerance", would profit the very depth of anyone actively appreciating the precious opportunities one's own life has presented one without going out and looking for anything to "confirm" one's self-identity.
And one would find more confidence in prayer, if one cared to discover the value in that.
Lovingkindness is not collecting clothes or money, or dragging care packages all over - one may do that of course, it's alright. When the Beloved Embodiment in my life, of relying on the source, first communicated to me in three simple instructions: love everyone, serve (or feed) everyone, remember God - that "serving" meant being conscious toward all and that "feeding" meant nourishing. Food and goods are but forms of nourishment. Christ said there is water from which to drink, by which none shall ever after know thirst. And that by immersing in the source, streams of living water will flow from your belly.
It is also lovingkindness to take a stand, to hold the unpopular position, to not shrink from battle when faced with the gravest challenge on the field of endeavor from the very forces who are not bringing with them any manner of lovingkindness.
It behoves one to probe what taking Human form is about.
