Something That Arises

When we’re looking for kindness, we’re usually doing the wrong thing.

Kindness is only something we can give, not something we can get or have. It’s something we can always give; there’s no limitation to it.

Once you know what it’s about, you don’t find the world a disappointing place because there are always opportunities to give a little bit, to venture out a little bit.

The sense of self, of being the known, is an illusion; there is nothing but the unknown. There isn’t any self, so we have to go out towards everything because nothing here is ‘me’ or ‘mine’ or ‘my own’.

It’s all strange; it’s all a mystery. Where these thoughts come from, where these sounds come from, where they go to, what this feeling is about is a mystery.

We don’t create it; we don’t find it anywhere; it’s just something that arises.

This reflection by Ajahn Sucitto is from the book, The Most Precious Gift, (pdf) p. 66.