Compassion

Our minds give rise to many different kinds of appearances. To avoid confusion, we need to recognize and discriminate among the various different ways in which our minds make things appear to us.

This Theravada sutta is one of the most complete sets of instructions on how to use the practice of loving-kindness to reach enlightenment. It can be found in the “Sutta Nipata,” the collection of sermons of the Buddha.

To reach enlightenment and benefit all others, we need to regard everyone as equal and instead of cherishing only ourselves, cherish all others as our primary concern.

Helping others, if possible, but at least not harming them is the way to live an ethical life.

Renunciation is the determination to be free of our sufferings and their causes. When focused on others, with the determination that they be free, this is compassion.

The true source of happiness is thinking, speaking and acting in constructive, compassionate ways.

The four immeasurable attitudes, also known as “the four Brahma abodes,” are found in the various Hinayana, Mahayana and Bon traditions. Different schools and texts interpret them slightly differently.

How to build up a feeling of love and extend it to all others.

Genuine happiness and satisfaction come from within, from compassion and human affection.

An in-depth presentation of the self, self-centeredness and love in Islam, based on the “Quran,” and in Buddhism, based on the Mahayana teachings.