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Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:51 pm
by Individual
In order to be concerned with dhamma, don't we first take for granted that "my" suffering is more important than anything else in the world? And in Theravada, practice is chiefly aimed at this.

Re: Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:00 pm
by Ceisiwr
How can you help others without removing your own ignorance first


Otherwise its like a blind man trying to help another blind man cross the road


metta

Re: Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:18 pm
by imagemarie
Individual wrote:In order to be concerned with dhamma, don't we first take for granted that "my" suffering is more important than anything else in the world? And in Theravada, practice is chiefly aimed at this.
Perhaps it begins like this. But with practice I think, comes the realisation of how "my" suffering causes others to suffer, and how their suffering impacts upon me.
In the end...suffering exists (none who suffer)

Re: Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:42 pm
by cooran
Individual wrote:In order to be concerned with dhamma, don't we first take for granted that "my" suffering is more important than anything else in the world? And in Theravada, practice is chiefly aimed at this.
What was it that caused you to turn to Budddhadhamma, Individual? Was it your own suffering? Why be concerned about the initial motivation of another? What impelled Sidartha Gotama on his search in his last lifetime?

metta
Chris

Re: Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:15 pm
by tiltbillings
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .irel.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:38 pm
by Individual

Re: Does practice begin with selfishness?

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:22 pm
by genkaku
My two cents:

Selfishness is how we begin and how we practice at first. This includes the selfishness of altruism ... after all, if there is no such thing as self and other (as practice makes clear), helping others is, however kind and much-praised, an act of self. It is just the way we practice.

And practice, as anyone knows, makes perfect. :smile: