A ‘Simple’ Precious Gem

Truth, perhaps one can say, is ‘simple’. And so, generally (or, perhaps even always), even the profoundest truths can be expressed in at least a fairly simple manner—that is to say, in a manner that is concise and rather easily understandable for people at large. This certainly is the case with the widely known saying of the Venerable Dalai Lama: ‘My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.’ With this, the Dalai Lama encapsulates a most profound truth in a manner that could hardly be simpler.

Speaking for myself (and this might be true for many other people, too), I find it easy to relate with and comprehend simple definitions and descriptions of things. Simple things can be expressed in seemingly complex forms, but then such expressions may not resonate with, and be understandable to, many people simply because of the fact of their being complex. If the purpose of formulating an expression is to enable as many people as possible to understand it, the simpler the expression is, the better it is in terms of enabling more people to easily and clearly understand it. This certainly is the case with how the Dalai Lama has beautifully expressed what religion means to him in a most simple, and, because of that, most appealing, way.

Both parts of the above statements, ‘My religion is very simple’, and ‘My religion is kindness’, express deeply profound truths that are no mere theoretical formulations but, rather, are of immense practical significance for everyday living. The message I draw for myself from the first part of the statement, ‘My religion is very simple’, is that for me, religion ought to be as simple and uncomplicated as possible. It should also be something easy and joyful, not complicated and burdensome. This, in turn, means that at least as far as I am concerned, I’ have no need at all to engage in needless metaphysical speculations, unwanted theoretical formulations and pointless elaborate ritualism and to believe in unverifiable and convoluted dogmatic truth claims, all of which would likely make religion unnecessarily complex, burdensome and very ‘un-simple’ for me.

The second part of the seemingly simple statement, ‘My religion is kindness’, is equally profound. It reminds me that ethical living (expressed here through the word ‘kindness’), ought to be the very core of one’s belief system or religion. In other words, a basic purpose of religion ought to make us kinder people. Put differently, religion should be to help us become better and kinder people and enable us to grow in our awareness from ‘me’ and 'mine' to an ever-widening ‘we’ (with the ‘we’ in the ultimate sense being the entire cosmos). That ought to be the criterion for gauging a belief system and also of one’s adherence to it.

‘Kindness’ here, in line with the teachings of the Buddha, is to be extended to all beings and things—so, this would include not just fellow humans but all other sentient beings, on Planet Earth and in all other realms that there may be, and even seemingly inert objects present on Earth and throughout the rest of the cosmos. This indicates concern for all beings and things that exist and recognition of our interconnectedness with them. Such ‘kindness’ is not mere sentimentalism. Rather, it is something to be expressed through one’s deeds (mental, verbal and physical) in the business of day-to-day living. The ‘kindness’ that is called for here thus ought to make us sensitive to the needs and interests of all beings and things that exist, no matter where, throughout the vast cosmos and to do whatever we can, in practical terms, in this regard in our own personal capacity.

Another aspect of this ‘kindness’ is that if understood in its depth, it points to the underlying oneness of all of reality behind the seeming multiplicity of phenomena, transcending the conventional notion of each of us as separate selves who are distinct from the physical universe in which we find ourselves. This is one of the most profound realizations, with immense practical significance in terms of how we lead our lives.

Among the many blessings that the world has received from the Dalai Lama are his words of wisdom, including through many publications that are based on his teachings which have made him one of the most widely read spiritual teachers of contemporary times. And among these words of wisdom that he has shared with us, his comment about his religion being very simple and it being kindness is, to my mind, an immensely precious gem. It neatly expresses, in a most simple manner, a most profound truth.