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CONTENTS
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From the
Editor |
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It is our very
sad experience that sometimes people fear the word kindness
when we mention it. We found that they are afraid that the next
thing we will do is to ask them to pay some subscription or make
some donation. We wish to state emphatically that we do not collect
any subscriptions or accept any donations. There are a lot of
spurious organizations and individuals around who take out receipt
books and request for subscriptions or donations as soon as they
come across a person likely to be generous with the
wallet.
Donating money for a good cause may be
charity, and if it is genuine it can be called a kind act. However, there are a lot of
people in power who collect donations for their own institutions as
a trade-in for dispensing some favour. Such donations are definitely
neither charity nor kindness. They are nearer to bribery.
The kindness we propagate is the habit of
doing frequent small acts of courtesy and kindness to persons you
come across without any expectation of gain. Once acquired, the
kindness habit makes you think of others and have a desire to be
fair and generous. Kind people do make donations and engage in
voluntary work for charity if and when they feel they can. We never
ask or request them.
“ A word of sincere
sympathy, a look of love, a smile of true affection, can give to the
recipient much more than a heartless cheque, even if it be for a fat
sum. So be charitable in this diviner sense.” --Swami Chinmayanand
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All the
News |
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The “Coin-spiracy”
Project of the Kind Acts Network Association of British Columbia in
Canada offered us an opportunity to participate by sending us the
UNI Coin #071. On the eve of the World Kindness Day, on the
12th.November, a simple function was held at the
St.Mary’s Convent High School, when Mr. Vasant Kalbag presented the
UNI #071 to Sr.Lucina, the Principal, and formally inaugurated the
project in India.
The project
envisages each recipient doing of three kind acts, one for self, one
for the environment, and one for another, before passing on the UNI
to another person or group who/which agrees to do likewise. This can
start a long chain of kind acts which benefits the performers, the
environment and others. A ripple of kindness can be
observed.
The passage of the
UNI #071, the persons or groups receiving it, and the kind acts done
are all entered by the people concerned on the specialweb page
created by the Kind Acts Network Association at http://www.investinakinderworld.com/. It will be very interesting to track the
progress of the UNI #071 on this site, and we hope readers will do
so frequently during the next few months.
Our thanks to
Sr.Lucina and Mrs. Juliana Pinto of the St.Mary's Convent High
School, and to Nadine Marshall, Debbie Riopel and their colleagues
at the Kind Acts Network Association in Canada.
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Dated: 12-11-2003
Thank you Mr. Kalbag for making such a
difference to our lives through your message of kindness. We hope to
carry the torch forward.
Gratefully,
We the students of St.Mary’s Convent High
School, Mulund. |
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A Kindness Group at St. Michael’s
Church
At its meeting in
September 2003, the Central Committee of Kindness Unlimited took an
important decision: The Kindness Unlimited Network, so far existing
and working only through the Internet, wouldnow go “physical” by
starting or affiliating groups of individuals at different locations
to propagate the idea of doing frequent small acts of kindness among
people who have no access to the Internet.
Our Committee
member, Mrs. Nirmala Mehendale arranged to introduce our ideas to a
support group of widows that meets once a month at St.Michael’s
Church at Mahim in Mumbai. Mr. Kalbag addressed them on Thursday,
the 30th.October, 2003 and they agreed to adopt the
kindness program and report regularly.
We invite other
groups including senior citizens associations, youth groups,
business associations, trade unions, etc. to adopt our kindness
program. The program has the potential to increase harmony,
cooperation and mutual support among members, more team spirit and
better performance in all fields. Scientific evidence supports this.
Speakers or background material will be provided free on
request.
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Your Smile Can Change the
World
This was the subject of a
talk at the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport on the 13th.October, by
Mr.Kalbag. The talk was about how the habit of smiling can help one
connect with the world and achieve success in many fields including
personal health, personality development, social relations, success
in business or career, etc. The talk was laced with stories to
illustrate the points. |
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What our Logo
Conveys |
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Our logo
(at the top left corner of the page) depicts a person balancing two
loads while walking a tight rope. This symbolizes our situation when
we try to balance Self-interest with the Common Interest of our
world. It reminds us to constantly attempt this balance so that we
help create a better world for all. |
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| The newly appointed Police Commissioner of Mumbai,
Dr.P.S.Pasricha, said in his first media conference on the
18th.November:
"One should always keep smiling. It is not only good for
health but it also helps you win over the confidence of
persons you come into contact with everyday"
Dr.Pasricha actually smiled throughout his 30 minute
meeting with media persons.Sure he will be very successful in
his arduous duties. |
To UNSUBSCRIBE please
send a blank email with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in the subject line
to kalbag@ankhnet.net | |
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The easiest way to
communicate with anyone is to smile. A genuine smile of goodwill is
recognized and understood by anyone, speaking any language. Even
very young children understand and appreciate such a smile. The
smile says that we mean well by the other person or persons. It is
said that with very clear visibility a smile can be recognized at a
distance of 200 to 300 feet, the distance one can throw a spear or
javelin!
A genuine friendly
smile is not to be confused with a sly or evil grin, or a smile of
contempt. The genuine smile begins in the mind when we think well of
another and mean to be friendly. The eyes are said to be the windows
of the mind, so others see our smile first in our eyes, but soon it
spreads to our mouth, which curves downwards, hollow side up. The
well known “smiley” figure illustrates this.
The benevolent smile
is the easiest act of kindness we can do to anyone, even a
stranger.If we adopt smiling as a habit, we can connect easily to
more people and in many cases this can lead to enduring
friendships.
The person who
smiles benevolently by habit, develops a better personality and
enjoys a less stressful life with the resultant health benefits. She
can tackle difficult situations more successfully, is more
proficient in negotiations, and generally more successful in
life.
Within a group such
as a family, project team, or a corporate entity, when most people
are given to smiling at each other, social capital is built up fast.
There is better understanding and cooperation, the goals are reached
more easily, and everyone is happier. Recently I read that the
Kyosei Consulting Company runs special courses for its clients on
the use of smiling and other kind acts as a means of promoting
better cooperation and team work leading to better social and
economic performance.
So what are you waiting for? Start
smiling and the world will smile with you. Do this kindness
frequently to yourself and others, reap the benefits. It is
easy.
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Let's Start An
Epidemic!
Smiling is
infectious,
You catch it like the flu.
When someone
smiled at
me today, I started smiling too.
I
passed around the corner,
and someone saw my grin.
When
I smiled I realized,
I'd passed it on to him
I
thought about that smile,
Then I realized its worth.
A
single smile, just like mine,
Could travel round the
earth.
So if you feel
a smile begin,
Don't leave it undetected.
Lets start an
epidemic, quick!
And get the world infected.
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A True Story |
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The Power of a Warm Smile and
Greeting
Near
the city of Danzig lived the wealthy Rabbi, Samuel Shapira, Chief
Rabbi of the Polish village of Prochnik. Dressed in a tailored back
suit, wearing a top hat, and carrying a walking cane, the Rabbi
would take his daily morning stroll, accompanied by his tall,
handsome son-in-law. During the Rabbi's morning walk, it was his
custom to greet every man, woman and child whom he met on the way
with a warm smile and a cordial "Good morning." Over the years the
Rabbi became acquainted with many of his fellow townspeople this way
and would always greet them by their proper title and name.
Near
the outskirts of town, in the fields, he would exchange greetings
with Herr Mueller, a polish Volksdeutsche (ethnic German). "Good
morning, Herr Mueller!" the Rabbi would hasten to greet the man who
worked in the fields. "Good morning, Herr Rabbiner!" would come the
response with a good-natured smile.
Then
the war began. The Rabbi's strolls stopped abruptly. Herr Mueller
donned an S.S. uniform and disappeared from the fields. The fate of
the Rabbi was like that of the rest of Polish Jewry. He lost his
family in the death camp of Treblinka and, after great suffering,
was deported to Auschwitz.
One
day, during a selection at Auschwitz, the Rabbi stood on line with
hundreds of other Jews awaiting the moment when their fates would be
decided, for life or death. Dressed in a striped camp uniform, head
and beard shaven and eyes feverish from starvation and disease, the
Rabbi looked like a walking skeleton. "Right. Left, left, left!" The
voice in the distance drew nearer. Suddenly the Rabbi had a great
urge to see the face of the man with the snow-white gloves, small
baton and steely voice who played God and decided who should live
and who should die. He lifted his eyes and heard his own voice
speaking: "Good
morning, Herr Mueller!"
"Good Morning, Herr Rabbiner!" came
the instant reply, " How are you here? Please Step
aside."
Samuel Shapira was gently led to
another camp and spared his life, though he had to put in some hard
work there. |
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Feedback: |
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Liane Pedro, from
London, U.K.
Wed, 29 Oct 2003 20:31:08
+0000
Hello,
My name is Liane from London, England and I just by
chance came across your group chatpage when looking for another
group. Am really impressed with your aims and visions. It is so good
to find like-minded people. Had a look at your great website and it
is so refreshing to know about people who have the same ideas about
kindness of people towards each other and caring about creatures,
plants and the planet. Will keep coming back to your site for
inspiration. Am already practicing kindness as best as I can but
know that there is always room for more.
Will recommend your group and website to friends of
mine who have the same ideas as well.
Best regards
Liane
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