Is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering' or 'inner kindness'?
Just expanding on this answer is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or of 'inner kindness' i.e. kindness to oneself. Or is it both or neither. I've come across both themes and both seem right but to me they contradict.
Of course Buddhist is about many other things including outer kindness (to all beings) but right now I'm interested in these two aspects.
Many thanks as always
self compassion loving-kindness
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
add a comment |
Just expanding on this answer is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or of 'inner kindness' i.e. kindness to oneself. Or is it both or neither. I've come across both themes and both seem right but to me they contradict.
Of course Buddhist is about many other things including outer kindness (to all beings) but right now I'm interested in these two aspects.
Many thanks as always
self compassion loving-kindness
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
add a comment |
Just expanding on this answer is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or of 'inner kindness' i.e. kindness to oneself. Or is it both or neither. I've come across both themes and both seem right but to me they contradict.
Of course Buddhist is about many other things including outer kindness (to all beings) but right now I'm interested in these two aspects.
Many thanks as always
self compassion loving-kindness
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
Just expanding on this answer is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or of 'inner kindness' i.e. kindness to oneself. Or is it both or neither. I've come across both themes and both seem right but to me they contradict.
Of course Buddhist is about many other things including outer kindness (to all beings) but right now I'm interested in these two aspects.
Many thanks as always
self compassion loving-kindness
self compassion loving-kindness
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
asked 2 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
13k544123
13k544123
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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The two contradict only to a "confused" (=normal) mind - in which "self" and "others" are two separate things. To the enlightened mind, what's good for one is good for the other, because they dependently-co-emerge.
Even in a regular worldly sense, if you think about it, it's impossible to 100% neglect one and only care about the other. If you attempted to completely stop taking care of yourself and only help others, you'd die - and how do you help then? If you attempted to only take care of yourself at the expense of the others you'd soon run into problems with society and the law, and with the nature at the bigger scale.
Sedaka Sutta SN 47.19:
Looking after oneself, one looks after others.
Looking after others, one looks after oneself.
And how does one look after others by looking after oneself?
By practicing, by developing, by doing a lot.
And how does one look after oneself by looking after others?
By patience, by non-harming, by loving kindness, by caring.
(Thus) looking after oneself, one looks after others;
and looking after others, one looks after oneself.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
add a comment |
'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or 'inner kindness'
Let's put it this way:
When one want to offer selflessly, one needs to have the right resources and capabilities as pre-requisites.
One can cultivate resources and capabilities through various means, to the context of your question, "inner kindness", is definitely one of the MANY pre-requisites.
Then, within your scope of developed capabilities, such as Wisdom, Time, and any other resources, you offer to others appropriately.
So the two aspects do not inherently contradict to each other, and can be approached with tact and careful considerations.
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
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The two contradict only to a "confused" (=normal) mind - in which "self" and "others" are two separate things. To the enlightened mind, what's good for one is good for the other, because they dependently-co-emerge.
Even in a regular worldly sense, if you think about it, it's impossible to 100% neglect one and only care about the other. If you attempted to completely stop taking care of yourself and only help others, you'd die - and how do you help then? If you attempted to only take care of yourself at the expense of the others you'd soon run into problems with society and the law, and with the nature at the bigger scale.
Sedaka Sutta SN 47.19:
Looking after oneself, one looks after others.
Looking after others, one looks after oneself.
And how does one look after others by looking after oneself?
By practicing, by developing, by doing a lot.
And how does one look after oneself by looking after others?
By patience, by non-harming, by loving kindness, by caring.
(Thus) looking after oneself, one looks after others;
and looking after others, one looks after oneself.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The two contradict only to a "confused" (=normal) mind - in which "self" and "others" are two separate things. To the enlightened mind, what's good for one is good for the other, because they dependently-co-emerge.
Even in a regular worldly sense, if you think about it, it's impossible to 100% neglect one and only care about the other. If you attempted to completely stop taking care of yourself and only help others, you'd die - and how do you help then? If you attempted to only take care of yourself at the expense of the others you'd soon run into problems with society and the law, and with the nature at the bigger scale.
Sedaka Sutta SN 47.19:
Looking after oneself, one looks after others.
Looking after others, one looks after oneself.
And how does one look after others by looking after oneself?
By practicing, by developing, by doing a lot.
And how does one look after oneself by looking after others?
By patience, by non-harming, by loving kindness, by caring.
(Thus) looking after oneself, one looks after others;
and looking after others, one looks after oneself.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
add a comment |
The two contradict only to a "confused" (=normal) mind - in which "self" and "others" are two separate things. To the enlightened mind, what's good for one is good for the other, because they dependently-co-emerge.
Even in a regular worldly sense, if you think about it, it's impossible to 100% neglect one and only care about the other. If you attempted to completely stop taking care of yourself and only help others, you'd die - and how do you help then? If you attempted to only take care of yourself at the expense of the others you'd soon run into problems with society and the law, and with the nature at the bigger scale.
Sedaka Sutta SN 47.19:
Looking after oneself, one looks after others.
Looking after others, one looks after oneself.
And how does one look after others by looking after oneself?
By practicing, by developing, by doing a lot.
And how does one look after oneself by looking after others?
By patience, by non-harming, by loving kindness, by caring.
(Thus) looking after oneself, one looks after others;
and looking after others, one looks after oneself.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
The two contradict only to a "confused" (=normal) mind - in which "self" and "others" are two separate things. To the enlightened mind, what's good for one is good for the other, because they dependently-co-emerge.
Even in a regular worldly sense, if you think about it, it's impossible to 100% neglect one and only care about the other. If you attempted to completely stop taking care of yourself and only help others, you'd die - and how do you help then? If you attempted to only take care of yourself at the expense of the others you'd soon run into problems with society and the law, and with the nature at the bigger scale.
Sedaka Sutta SN 47.19:
Looking after oneself, one looks after others.
Looking after others, one looks after oneself.
And how does one look after others by looking after oneself?
By practicing, by developing, by doing a lot.
And how does one look after oneself by looking after others?
By patience, by non-harming, by loving kindness, by caring.
(Thus) looking after oneself, one looks after others;
and looking after others, one looks after oneself.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
38.1k331108
38.1k331108
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
I'd like to complement this wonderful answer by hanging on the idea of the illusive nature of the bounderies between "selves" and beings. When helping yourself, in general*, you diminish the amount and intensity of suffering in the world; when you help others (without neglecting your progress on the Path), you also diminish the amount of net suffering in the world. When you help other with underlying wholesome intentions, you benefit others and contribute to your own growth in wisdom. *I say in general because you can't predict how will others react to your actions, even if done in good will.
– Brian Díaz Flores
1 hour ago
add a comment |
'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or 'inner kindness'
Let's put it this way:
When one want to offer selflessly, one needs to have the right resources and capabilities as pre-requisites.
One can cultivate resources and capabilities through various means, to the context of your question, "inner kindness", is definitely one of the MANY pre-requisites.
Then, within your scope of developed capabilities, such as Wisdom, Time, and any other resources, you offer to others appropriately.
So the two aspects do not inherently contradict to each other, and can be approached with tact and careful considerations.
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
add a comment |
'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or 'inner kindness'
Let's put it this way:
When one want to offer selflessly, one needs to have the right resources and capabilities as pre-requisites.
One can cultivate resources and capabilities through various means, to the context of your question, "inner kindness", is definitely one of the MANY pre-requisites.
Then, within your scope of developed capabilities, such as Wisdom, Time, and any other resources, you offer to others appropriately.
So the two aspects do not inherently contradict to each other, and can be approached with tact and careful considerations.
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
add a comment |
'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or 'inner kindness'
Let's put it this way:
When one want to offer selflessly, one needs to have the right resources and capabilities as pre-requisites.
One can cultivate resources and capabilities through various means, to the context of your question, "inner kindness", is definitely one of the MANY pre-requisites.
Then, within your scope of developed capabilities, such as Wisdom, Time, and any other resources, you offer to others appropriately.
So the two aspects do not inherently contradict to each other, and can be approached with tact and careful considerations.
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or 'inner kindness'
Let's put it this way:
When one want to offer selflessly, one needs to have the right resources and capabilities as pre-requisites.
One can cultivate resources and capabilities through various means, to the context of your question, "inner kindness", is definitely one of the MANY pre-requisites.
Then, within your scope of developed capabilities, such as Wisdom, Time, and any other resources, you offer to others appropriately.
So the two aspects do not inherently contradict to each other, and can be approached with tact and careful considerations.
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
answered 1 hour ago
Krizalid_13190Krizalid_13190
4157
4157
add a comment |
add a comment |
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