Cup of Kindness

From the Sacred Sites Tarot, the Knight of Cups:

In India is the site of Sarnath (from Saranganath, meaning "Lord of the Deer"), known also as Deer Park. Buddhist legend tells of a bodhisattva (an enlightened being motivated by compassion) who took the shape of a deer and offered his life in return for a doe the king was about to kill. The king was so moved, he created a sanctuary for the deer, which today is Sarnath. It was in this place the Buddha first taught the Dharma, explaining the Four Noble Truths. These Truths defined the underlying dissatisfaction with life, the origin of this suffering, the possibility of release, and the path which would enable such freedom. This card reminds me that all beings suffer - I don't have a monopoly on it. When I realize this concept, it may be easier to offer the cup of kindness to those whom I might originally have thought didn't deserve it.

From the Haindl Rune Oracle comes "Bar/Berkano:"

Bar is associated with the birch tree, a pioneer species, and thus a symbol of growth and renewal. Pioneer species are tough plants that are the first to colonize a disturbed or damaged ecosystem. In combining this idea with the Knight of Cups, there is a sense of healing through kindness.