I’m not a particularly devout Buddhist, but I would like to share the only teaching that has ever truly resonated with me, that I’ve ever “learned”:

Be kind to life and aware of reality, in that order.

On the surface, this seems like a reversal of the order of The Four Noble Truths, but in my opinion, fostering a sense of kindness in one’s practice should be a greater priority for novices than awareness.

We say that the goal of our practice is to liberate all beings from suffering, but if we ourselves don’t respect life, then we cultivate a walled garden: beautiful, lonely, and separate.

I won’t be so arrogant to state that centuries of doctrine need to be rewritten, but certain societal realities must be kept in mind when spreading the dharma. The people of the United States, for example, tend to be extremely detached from the consequences of their choices, myself included. We express outrage at the BP oil disaster, yet don’t hesitate to drive less to reduce our petroleum dependence. We condone racism and desire peace, yet vote for people and political parties who send our military to further selfish and unethical interests in the name of “exporting democracy.”

There are countless examples, but awareness requires empathy and empathy has it’s own prerequisites. For example: I thought I “understood” race and class struggles from growing up in Detroit, but until I recently experienced adversity and poverty myself, working a menial, unskilled job, I didn’t know the depth of my white privilege. The experience of the past few years completely altered my perception, and I have a somewhat more focused path for my awareness; I’m no longer stumbling in the dark. I may be fumbling around in a dimly-lit room, but I stand a chance of finding the light switch!

I don’t encourage everyone to voluntarily subject themselves to adversity if they don’t have to, but I do recommend engaging in acts of kindness to grow one’s empathy and compassion, such that the path to awareness is more clear. Here are some suggestions:

• Volunteering at a charity is something I highly recommend. Soup kitchens, homeless or animal shelters are always popular. The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, The United Way are all staples that fall under this banner. It’s usually best to volunteer locally, if possible.
• Your local church can also make good recommendations, though you might want to make sure it’s not one of those entertainment megachurches.
• Several government websites have been created to facilitate local volunteerism. Serve.gov is the first that comes to mind.
• Random acts of kindness do make a difference. Do a case study with one of your coworkers or family members! One of my favorite things is smiling and waving at people who absolutely do not expect it, such as fellow drivers on the road.