Try a Little Tenderness: Compassionate Fibre

My understanding of mindful compassion is that compassion is a deep sympathy for the suffering of others, coupled with the desire to ease that suffering.  Compassion differs from sympathy in that it requires action along with feeling. 

If we see others suffering and do nothing to help them to the best of our ability, we may be sympathetic, but we are not necessarily practising compassion.  Of course, because mindfulness is simple, but difficult to practise, there is always the possibility that doing nothing is the required compassionate act.

Expressing sympathy while acting contrary to our words is hypocrisy.  If, for example, you claim to be sympathetic to the plight of the homeless, yet insist on taking actions which limit housing opportunities for the poor, you are being hypocritical.  (I'm looking at you, city councillors and the mayor of a certain city.)  At best, ignoring your beliefs will make you a shallow person with your hollow words.

So what does any of this have to do with fibre?  We may not be able to change the world, but we can act compassionately, one handmade item at a time.  I've talked about Random Acts of Knitting, still my favourite way to distribute fibre work to people who may need it.  If you've been using fibre arts as meditation practice, give away the things you've made.

The acts of spinning, knitting, etc. can express compassion.  Volunteer to demonstrate fibre practice at a home, a shelter or a school.  If you have more time, teach someone to knit or spin.  Give away some of that fibre stash to a person who may not have the means to build her/his own stash.

Be mindful in your actions; if someone isn't interested in accepting your beautiful scarf or having you demonstrate your craft, don't push the issue.  Don't attach conditions to what you do.  Give freely and quietly, without the expectation of a positive outcome, for you or the recipients.

Never think that your small actions will not make a difference.  You may never know whether that gift of a warm winter hat kept someone safe from the cold, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.  Your few hours spent knitting can save lives, so do the best you can and give from the heart.

We never know what footprints we leave behind.

Namaste.

Random Acts of Knitting: A Meditation on Kindness (Kinda)

Because I use knitting as meditation practice, my collection of small, simple items-scarves, cowls, hats and socks-tends to build quickly.  I don't sell these items, and have more than I can use, so the question is: what do I do with them?

People have many ways of dealing with their fibre surplus.  Our extra knitting is given to friends, as gifts, to charity.  There are shelters and organizations which collect for the homeless and thrift shops which sell practical items.  Some people belong to prayer ministries; others knit chemo caps or layettes for premature babies.  Some folk help as many organizations as they can.  It's all wonderful work, but the one that attracts me the most is Random Acts of Knitting.

As far as I know, RAK was the brain child of a friend of mine who came up with the idea several years ago when she was looking for partners in yarn bombing.  She-who-wishes-to-remain-anonymous wanted to do something other than the usual "attach pieces of fabric to random objects," which is a common theme in yarn bombing.  I call her idea "knitting with intent."  The concept is simple: distribute handmade articles around your city as gifts to anyone who may want them.  The items may be practical or whimsical; all that is asked is that they be worked with best intentions and be given freely.

What does this mean?  First of all, the work should be the best you can do, using the most suitable materials you have available.  If you wouldn't wear it because it's too scratchy or poorly made, why would anyone else?  An article doesn't have to be flawless, but it should suit its intent-a hat should fit someone, and be at least potentially attractive.  It should be warm or keep the sun off or do whatever you would expect a hat to do. "With best intentions." Simple.

"Given freely" means you have no agenda.  That hat is left where anyone can find it, regardless of income, or life history.  There is no judgment attached.  If the hat ends up in the trash, then so be it.  You offer something and then let it go.  The odds are that you will never know what happened to your work or whether it was appreciated or even used.  Certainly, no one will know that the work was yours.

Random Acts of Knitting outings can be a lot of fun.  You can use stealth and subterfuge to get your stuff out there.  You can add explanatory labels so that people don't think your knitting is a lost item.  You may want to work around a theme or a season or target an area of your community.  You can stretch your imagination. 

As inspiration, I offer you some photographs from past RAK excursions.  The photos are mine; in keeping with the RAK spirit, the donors are not named: