Random Acts of Kindness

No actions are random. The definition of random is: without a particular method, pattern, or purpose. Nothing in this creation happens without a purpose. It’s mostly deliberate acts of kindness. Why I say so is that one always has a reason for doing something. Whether its matter of duty, gaining name, fame, monetary gains, a simple pat on the back, boosting ones false ego or just plain ‘it feels good’. If we want to progress on our spiritual path, we must come to a point of changing our consciousness, our way of thinking that we are not the doer, and come to the understanding that everything comes from Krishna, even our ‘random’ acts of kindness.

Many places we can see in the scriptures it’s told that Krishna, as the super soul, is present in all living entities. He is present in every atom. So not even an atom has anything random going on. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna mentions in chapter 15, verse 15, a very famous verse:

sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham

I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.

Source: https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/15/15

We can understand Krishna in two aspects: generally as being the omnipresent Lord in all things and specifically as the super soul within our heart as our guide. In the first aspect, He understands our desires and is the overseer and permitter within this world. In the second aspect He is the intrinsic intelligence we have which constantly guides us from within.

With these two aspects, and being all caring and loving, the Lord knows who needs what and sends the appropriate person to perform that act of kindness. We are just instruments of His mercy. In order to better tune this instrument, so it is not playing ‘randomly’, we first have to come to a platform of goodness (sattva). As we progress on our spiritual path we automatically gain qualities such as kindness and compassion. The holy names of the Lord have the potency to purify our mind and heart. As our consciousness becomes purified we start to differentiate between matter and spirit. We understand and can sense the direction that the super soul gives us from within. We extend that kindness, warmth and compassion to others under the direction of the Supreme. So goes the tuning of this instrument.

In the Bhagavad Gita chapter 11, verse 33 Krishna tells Arjuna, His dear friend, to become an instrument in the epic fight Mahabharata.

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin

Therefore get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasācī, can be but an instrument in the fight.

Source: https://www.vedabase.com/en/bg/11/33

This entire creation is moving according to God’s plan, a symphony if you will. This cosmic manifestation is a chance for the conditioned souls to go back home to Krishna and serve Him eternally. Arjuna was just an instrument. He got all the glory of winning the war as he fought by acting for Krishna’s desire. Similarly, we may perform any so called “random act of kindness” but ultimately it’s being sanctioned by Krishna alone. The correct consciousness would be that we work under Krishna’s direction and guidance, we play this instrument for Him and at his instruction.

The ultimate act of compassion is to save the soul from the clutches of Maya and go back home to Krishna. To give someone the holy names is the ultimate Act of Kindness. The holy names have all the potency of the Lord. The person who hears the holy name just once can be delivered from the clutches of illusion, Maya, and he can then eternally serve the Lord. There is a saying as you sow, so shall you reap. If we sow the seeds of devotional service in the hearts of the conditioned living entities, eventually that seed will sprout and become a creeper of devotion. By watering the seed of devotion by constantly hearing about His form, qualities and pastimes and by chanting the Lord’s holy names one can sprout this seed and take shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Sri Mahaprabhu also spoke the following words to Sri Sanatana Gosvami:

bhajanera madhye sreshtha nava-vidha bhakti
‘krishna-prema’, ‘krishna’ dite dhare maha-sakti

tara madhye sarva-sreshtha nama-sankirtana
niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana

“Among the various methods of performing bhajana, the best is to execute the nine prescribed processes of bhakti. These processes carry the outstanding potency to bestow both krishna-prema and Krishna. Among the nine processes of bhakti, chanting the holy names is foremost. If one chants without committing any offences, one easily receives the treasure of pure love for Krishna.”
Source: Sri Caitanyacaritamrita, Antya-lila 4.70’71

On a lighter note coming back to random acts of kindness, continue to be kind to oneself and to all living entities. But do it with the consciousness that Krishna is in charge and only by His mercy is any of this possible.

Also, enjoy this week’s Kirtan tune!