Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04
Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.

Should we truly aim for loss of self?

SupertrampSupertramp
edited August 2011 in Buddhism Basics
Lately I've seen my past actions which cause suffering clearly and I understand them. I have to be honest that by seeing this clearly, know the mistakes I made and what caused these mistakes, I find it a lot easier to have compassion for people who do the same kind of things that could cause suffering for me.

I fear that if there will be a day that I don't make any more mistakes, don't cause suffering for others, I won't be able to be compassionate towards those that do. How do you deal with these thoughts?
Or for people that can say they don't cause suffering to others, do you still understand the actions of others that cause suffering to you (and others)? Is this kind of insight something that remains even when you don't cause suffering anymore or do you have to struggle to be able to understand why people cause suffering?

Comments

  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited August 2011
    Hi Supertramp,
    I fear that if there will be a day that I don't make any more mistakes, don't cause suffering for others, I won't be able to be compassionate towards those that do. How do you deal with these thoughts?
    They are just thoughts, you don't have to believe them.
    Or for people that can say they don't cause suffering to others, do you still understand the actions of others that cause suffering to you (and others)? Is this kind of insight something that remains even when you don't cause suffering anymore or do you have to struggle to be able to understand why people cause suffering?
    No struggle is required. Empathy continues to grow, the more you practice the Noble Eightfold Path.

    Metta,

    Guy
  • Omniwolf1Omniwolf1
    Lately I've seen my past actions which cause suffering clearly and I understand them. I have to be honest that by seeing this clearly, know the mistakes I made and what caused these mistakes, I find it a lot easier to have compassion for people who do the same kind of things that could cause suffering for me.

    I fear that if there will be a day that I don't make any more mistakes, don't cause suffering for others, I won't be able to be compassionate towards those that do. How do you deal with these thoughts?
    Or for people that can say they don't cause suffering to others, do you still understand the actions of others that cause suffering to you (and others)? Is this kind of insight something that remains even when you don't cause suffering anymore or do you have to struggle to be able to understand why people cause suffering?
    The day you stop making mistakes is the day you stop being human.
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited August 2011
    You're not aiming for a loss of self, but a loss of ignorance. What we are doesn't change, there's nothing truly "lost", we just gain a new perspective on life and act according to that perspective.

    This whole "self" thing is just a delusion, a wrong perspective about what we are or are not. The only thing to do is wreck that delusion through a practice meant to gear the mind toward a peaceful state (a state that is peaceful despite change, which is the opposite of a "samsaric" state that is always striving).
  • TalismanTalisman Veteran
    There is no self to lose. What better way to understand and ease the suffering of others than to realize its nature and cessation first-hand.
  • Temporary_arisingTemporary_arising
    Just as the others have said, there is no self to lose. Just the realisation that self is only a chain of thoughts.
    In answer to your other question, there are also no mistakes. Just cause and effect. It's not realising this which causes desire in wanting things to be different than they are. That is suffering.
  • SupertrampSupertramp
    The "loss of self" sentence is just semantics guys. :) I had to find a way to put "the goal" in english for the topic title. We all know what I mean I hope. :)
    I think GuyC already answered my doubts, thanks for that. :)
  • ThaoThao Veteran
    There will never come a day when you don't make mistakes, but this should not be how you learn compassion, i.e. by making mistakes yourself, but it helps.
  • SupertrampSupertramp
    edited August 2011
    There will never come a day when you don't make mistakes, but this should not be how you learn compassion, i.e. by making mistakes yourself, but it helps.
    I always keep thinking of the Kalama Sutta, we know the four noble truths are true because we have experienced these truths. Not because they have been told. In the same way I know other people's suffering is true because I have suffered and I know why others cause suffering because I have caused suffering. I know compassion is the way out of this suffering because I have experienced what my compassion can do to people and what compassion does to me. This is how I learn compassion, not because I read that I should be compassionate. :)
  • driedleafdriedleaf Veteran
    There is no greater protection than understanding. :)
  • SeaOfTranquilitySeaOfTranquility Veteran
    Suffering is universal and realizing it through present moment awareness, mindfulness, causes one to become more compassionate, not less and thus act and react appropriately in ways that cause less suffering.

    Best Wishes
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    I think GuyC already answered my doubts, thanks for that. :)
    You're welcome. :)
  • Ch-an_noobCh-an_noob
    Supertramp, start reading Mahayana publications like these.

    http://www.nanhua.co.za/Reading/Master/The Fundamental Concepts of Humanistic Buddhism.htm
Sign In or Register to comment.