Loving kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity are the four immeasurable virtues talked about by Gautama Buddha. These may not be quantified or ranked, but their impact far surpasses any statistical high known to us. A story in Readers Digest reports an incident in Canada that demonstrates the kindness of strangers and what a difference it can make to one's life.

Marilyn Kinsella writes: "I forgot about the rule preventing liquids in carry-on luggage, so when I hit security at the airport, I had to give up all my painting supplies. When I returned a week later, an attendant was at the baggage area with my paints. Not only had he kept them for me, but he'd looked up my return date and time in order to meet me."

The story goes that Tolstoy was taking a walk when a beggar put out his hand, but Tolstoy had no money on him. He gently touched the beggar's shoulder and said, "My friend, please forgive me, I have nothing to give you." To which the beggar replied that by calling him a friend and apologising to him with compassion was a priceless gift he would treasure.

Helen Keller was blind but she was full of appreciation for life and felt the joy of living. And she achieved a lot more than those who had the gift of sight. When a monk's shelter burnt down, he thanked the fire with equanimity for opening up the sky so he could see the stars.

The power of these immeasurable virtues far surpasses that of any quantifiable action.