Does practice begin with selfishness?

[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.

[clw_uk]

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

[imagemarie]

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)

[cooran]

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

[tiltbillings]

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .irel.html

[Individual]

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.3.02.irel.html

Very nice!!

[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.