Modern Buddhism 1: Sutra by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Author:Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Buddhism
ISBN: 9781906665852
Publisher: Tharpa Publications
Published: 2011-09-18T04:00:00+00:00

TRAINING IN CHERISHING LOVE

This training has two stages: 1. equalizing self and others; and 2. exchanging self with others.

EQUALIZING SELF AND OTHERS

This practice is called ‘equalizing self and others’ because we are learning to believe that the happiness and freedom of ourself and all other living beings are equally important. Learning to cherish others is the best solution to our daily problems, and it is the source of all our future happiness and good fortune.

There are two levels of cherishing others: (1) cherishing others as we cherish a close friend or relative; and (2) cherishing others as we cherish ourself. The second level is more profound. Through cherishing all living beings as we cherish ourself we shall develop the profound universal compassion that functions as the quick path to enlightenment. This is one of the essential points of Kadam Lamrim.

To train in equalizing self and others we engage in the following contemplation, thinking:

I must believe that the happiness and freedom of myself and all other living beings are equally important because:

(1) All living beings have shown me great kindness in both this and previous lives.

(2) Just as I wish to be free from suffering and experience only happiness, so do all other beings. In this respect, I am no different from any other being; we are all equal.

(3) I am only one, whereas others are countless, so how can I be concerned for myself alone while I neglect others? My happiness and suffering are insignificant when compared with the happiness and suffering of countless other living beings.

Having repeatedly contemplated these points, we strongly believe that the happiness and freedom of ourself and all other living beings are equally important. We then remain on this belief single-pointedly for as long as possible. We should continually practise this contemplation and meditation until we spontaneously believe that the happiness and freedom of ourself and all other living beings are equally important, which is the realization of equalizing self and others.

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