gentle along the way

Be kind, be gentle, do no harm.

Expect that from others. IF I am not treated gently and kindly than I may be harmed and I may disengage from those people. Self-protection is ok. On another hand a Buddhist way might have me continually treated badly since that would excercise my patience and humility and forbearance, etc.

Do I need that testing? Maybe!? Do I need that grief? Maybe. Stuff sucks sometimes. While I must be good in my actions I must be able to deal with those actions of others, whatever they are.

The actions of others are not in my control. I am only in control of myself. AND - CONTROL is to be seen as not real, either. Even self-control. BUT I may have this a bit incorrectly exaggerated! The exaggeration is that I can have control over my actions and reactions. Controlling what I see and experience is NOT to be controlled! All "out-there" is beyond my control but how I think, and feel about stuff are things I can choose to do in a variety of ways. I can choose to not feel anything. I can choose to think a story. I can, instead! - choose to be simple and just see and feel. HMMM... JUST SEE AND FEEL? Much easier to say than do.

A general mode of behaviour which is practiced and which is to be gentle and kind is a way to proceed so as to do little harm. My being safe is one thing but keeping others from harm that I might do is THE OTHER! It is good to be harmless!