On Saturday morning, November 17, 2007, I, Norman Kozak, a long-standing Skokie, Illinois resident, experienced the pleasure and privilege of delivering an informative, moving lecture on "KINDNESS" to twenty seven adult learners, reflecting diverse cultures, enrolled in an advanced ELL (English Language Learners) class at the Lake View Learning Center, a satellite language school of the Harry S. Truman College, located in the Lake View community, in Chicago.
Here are some of the worldwide, native countries, represented by the students: Ecuador, Argentina, Poland, Guatemala, Venezuela, Bolivia, etc.
After I introduced myself to the class, I began by reciting the following poem written by Etienne De Grellet: "I shall pass through this world but once, Any good, therefore, that I can do, Or any kindness that I can show to any human being, Let me not defer or neglect it, For I shall not pass this way again."
"I hope this day will be a red-letter one, one of special significance, a day to remember, and one that will really make a difference in your lives," I said to the students. So, I asked them to please "Listen Up."
On kindness, I first quoted His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the political and religious leader of the Tibetan people, who, when asked what his religion was, said: "That's very simple. My religion is kindness." The following quotes on kindness were also offered-up by me. "The greatest wisdom is kindness. Do you know of any greater wisdom than kindness?" (Rousseau). "Kindness is more important than wisdom and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom" (Theodore Isaac Rubin, MD). "Always be a little kinder than necessary" (James M. Barrie). "No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."
I wanted each of the students to experience a "helper's high," the high of giving. "Nothing feels so good, as when you do something to make someone else feel good," I told them. I, myself, stated "an act of kindness" that I performed and one that I received. I asked each of the students to do likewise. The students were a little reticent at first, but when one got the "the ball rolling," the others followed suit.The students really came to life, right before my eyes.
I brought with me two books that I showed to the students. One was the Dalai Lama's "How to Expand Love," and the other was titled "Make Love your Aim," by Eugenia Price. I, then, encouraged the students to expand their "love" beyond their nuclear and extended families, to God and all of humanity, and to animal and plant life, as well. I encouraged them to "Make Love their Aim." I said that the "greatest teachers" of the ages said, that, although money is necessary for making a really "good life," it is not sufficient; and that people who worship the "god of money" will not find true happiness. The renown, eminent author and motivational speaker, Wayne W. Dyer, put it well: "When your life is on purpose, you're dwelling in love. When you're not dwelling in love, you're off purpose."
I gave the students more than twenty commentaries on "love" to read, written by the "greatest teachers" of the ages. (commentaries enclosed). The students applauded and greeted me warmly at the end of my presentation, and asked me to please come again.
Submitted by Norman Kozak
Skokie, IL
Commentaries on love by the "greatest teachers" of the ages
In his book, "I Have a Dream," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated emphatically: "I have discovered that the highest good is love....The law of love as an imperative is the norm for all of man's actions."
Grace Speare in "Everything Talks to Me'" wrote: "Love is the sole reason for our existence....If love doesn't determine our every action, we have lost a lifespan.... Whatever a person does well, he does if motivated by love....Deep love should be your only motivation."
The famous anthropologist, Ashley Montagu, affirmed: "Life and love are one and the same. To live is to love and to love is to live....Love is the only thing you can't give anyone too much of....Eternal life is linked up with love....To love eternally is to live eternally."
Psychologist Gordon Allport said: "No one mature or immature, can ever be loved enough."
William Blake, in his "Songs of Innocence," stated: "And we are put here on earth...so that we may learn love."
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return," (words from the song "Nature Boy").
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "Give all to love. Nothing refuse." "Most people pass on before they wake up."
Love—it will produce peace, happiness, and abundance.
True greatness comes from finding and living in perfect love.
"Perfect love is perfect Patience and Perfect Harmlessness" (from "As A Man Thinketh," by James Allen.
Teilhard de Chardin said: "Love is the most powerful and least exploited energy on earth."
"When the evening of nightfall comes, you'll be judged on love. In the end, the only thing that matters is what was the quality of your love."
"When a person dies, the people ask, what property has he left behind him? But the angels. as they bend over his grave, inquire, what good deeds past thou sent before thee?"
"Can there be any greater wisdom than kindness? (Jean Jacques Rousseau).
"Too often love is the unlived value" (Herbert Otto).
"Why aren't we living the exuberant life style of love?"
"Love makes good sense."
"Social cooperation is the great means of attaining all our goals" (Hazlitt).
"You can get anything you want out of life, if you help enough others get what they want" (Ziglar).
"Send love," "It is in giving that we receive. Have Christmas in your heart every day of your life."
"Become the person that you were meant to be." "As you choose, so shall you be."..."MAKE LOVE YOUR AIM." The CHOICE is yours.