Our Ultimate Quest: The Simple (Yet Complex) Answer

The Quest & Answer

We're all on a journey, aren't we? Searching for that elusive "ultimate solution" to better ourselves. Whether you're focused on personal growth, spiritual enlightenment, or just trying to be a decent human being, the quest is the same.

For me, the spiritual aspect is paramount. Honestly, every action, every choice, can be seen as having a spiritual dimension. And in this pursuit, I've stumbled upon what I believe is the key: kindness.

Yes, kindness. It sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? Want to improve? Be kind. Want to find salvation? Be kind. It's the answer, plain and simple.

But here's the catch (the "but" that makes everything a bit more complicated): how do we know what true kindness is in any given situation?

That's where things get tricky. For someone like me, who believes in rebirth, I suspect it will take countless lifetimes to fully grasp the nuances of kindness. It's a journey, a continuous learning process.

The Example(!)

Let's take an example: the story of Lord Krishna and Shishupala. On the surface, it looks like a simple act of violence. Krishna kills Shishupala. How can that be considered kindness?

Well, if you delve deeper into the story, you'll find that Krishna's act was one of liberation. By ending Shishupala's life, Krishna freed him (Jaya or Vijaya) from a curse, allowing him to rejoin the divine. It was, in essence, an act of mercy, fulfilling Shishupala's deepest desire.

Most people, even those present at the time, didn't understand this. And honestly, that's unsurprising. We often struggle to see beyond the surface, to grasp the true nature of kindness in complex situations.

This brings us to the heart of the matter: figuring out what kindness means is incredibly difficult. It's a lifelong, perhaps multi-lifelong, endeavour. Please don't think that I condone murder based on this example. It is just an extreme example to make my point - knowing what is kindness in every moment is very difficult, and it can also be difficult to follow through with it.

The Non Answer - A new quest

There is no real answer in here. All I have done is point you to another quest. To figure out kindness and act with it. So, what do we do? We acknowledge that we need help to navigate this complex path. We ask for guidance. I pray.

Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize and embody kindness in all our interactions. Let us seek the Lord's guidance as we strive to be kinder to all living beings.

Lord, only you can guide us. We take refuge in you.

Aum sarvam SriKrishnarpanam astu.