Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to the wise and humble philosophy of the Dalai Lama. It’s impossible for me to deny a strong confirmation of my own beliefs with his teachings but he has also opened my mind to the simplicity of these beliefs. Like most of you, I have been seeking out the answer to those nagging existential questions we find ourselves asking. Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who is my Creator?

After experiencing many flavors of religion I’ve found that I’m just not a religious person. It turns me off and, personally, I find religion to be a God killer rather than a God thriller. The purpose of religion is to provide a structure to enhance the spiritual element through fellowship with common believers. What I see, however, is the opposite; a distraction from the spirituality caused by all of the regulations, routines, and dollar signs that are staples in any religion, then and now. Let me digress momentarily to say, if you have found a place within a religious organization that gives you that feeling of completeness and inner peace then I’m sincerely happy for you. My intent is not to offend you, but to give you my perspective; my opinion, of which we’re all entitled.

It’s easy for us to accept what we were taught as children and look no further, but I’m unsatisfied with that. I have a hard time accepting answers that only create more questions and I’m constantly challenged by the all inclusive answer of faith. My skepticism prevents me from buying into the God that modern religion has manufactured. Do I believe there is a higher power? Surely, I do. I can’t reason that the endowment we, as humans, are granted, to be self aware and make decisions based on rationale and logic, is just fluke; a mere product of evolutionary science. There must be something there that facilitates such an incredible capacity. But I have not yet experienced my “God moment” – that point where it becomes evident beyond any doubt that God is really there. I can’t digest the prepackaged “Happy Meal” God moment that I’ve found in church. It doesn’t feel real to me. It doesn’t have that raw, organic sincerity that settles in with ease.

But I’m not seeking God at this point. I’m seeking truth and inner peace. I hope to find God along the way but right now I need to find my existential bearing on life; which brings me back to the Dalai Lama. What is so incredible about his philosophy is that it is truly simple. So simple, in fact, that it has only one basic fundamental practice at its core. A fundamental practice that I’ve been striving to embrace more and more lately: kindness.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Only in striving to live a life of love in which you are expressing kindness at every opportunity can you experience true joy and inner peace. Imagine how this could change the world: marriage, parenting, the workplace, and literally every other aspect of our lives would be improved upon drastically.

It’s not complicated. It’s not greater than what we are capable of. As humans we are given the faculty to choose right from wrong and to respond with either kindness or anger. It’s a decision. I encourage you to make a decision to respond with kindness in all aspects of your life.

Embrace it. After all, who isn’t in need of some kindness?

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