DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**Fuerfsanv** · 12-08-2010, 02:44 PM

What is important with meditation right from the outset is your motivation - why are you meditating? Is it to improve your concentration in order to function more efficiently or is it more spacious to include developing compassion for others - does it include the wish for enlightenment and if so for whose benefit.

I think its worth noting that whilst we may have altruistic motivation towards other sentient beings, we have to recognise the defilements within our own minds and skilfully work towards liberating ourselves from mental delusion first, before we can be of any real spiritual help to others. Otherwise it can possibly develop into an evangelical attitude and 'the blind leading the blind' whilst not being free of imperfections ourselves. It's not much good thinking "I want to be enlightened so I can 'save' others" and then getting into an angry confrontation with someone.

Better to be free from suffering oneself first(which is the result of enlightenment) and then be an example to others afterwards. One thing at a time.

Some general advice from a Vajrayana teacher:

"Reminding ourselves of how others suffer and mentally putting ourselves in their place, will help awaken our compassion and considerably extend its scope.
The next stage in the development of compassion is to work to liberate all beings from their suffering.
The starting point here is our own suffering, for unless we can confront and deal with those situations which give pain and discomfort to ourselves, we can acquire neither the confidence nor skill necessary to be of much use to others."
(Akong Rinpoche - excerpt typed from the book 'Taming the Tiger)

Its worth noting that in Theravada although there's emphasis on kindness and compassion towards others, there's no requirement for "saving all sentient beings". I was never quite sure when I was primarily a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, how other than having an imagined goal as a tool for the purpose of inspiration, everyone was realistically expected to actually do that anyway. Seems to me that if you believe that you can do that, then its a desire for endless becoming. Just a personal opinion however.

Anyway, so sorry, that's another subject altogether and I've gone completely off the topic of meditation now . Back to topic!

Hopefully Element will look in and be able to give you some reliable feedback because he's an established meditator with lots of offline experience.

12-08-2010, 02:44 PM	#7
Fuerfsanv Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 386 Senior Member	What is important with meditation right from the outset is your motivation - why are you meditating? Is it to improve your concentration in order to function more efficiently or is it more spacious to include developing compassion for others - does it include the wish for enlightenment and if so for whose benefit. I think its worth noting that whilst we may have altruistic motivation towards other sentient beings, we have to recognise the defilements within our own minds and skilfully work towards liberating ourselves from mental delusion first, before we can be of any real spiritual help to others. Otherwise it can possibly develop into an evangelical attitude and 'the blind leading the blind' whilst not being free of imperfections ourselves. It's not much good thinking "I want to be enlightened so I can 'save' others" and then getting into an angry confrontation with someone. Better to be free from suffering oneself first(which is the result of enlightenment) and then be an example to others afterwards. One thing at a time. Some general advice from a Vajrayana teacher: "Reminding ourselves of how others suffer and mentally putting ourselves in their place, will help awaken our compassion and considerably extend its scope. The next stage in the development of compassion is to work to liberate all beings from their suffering. The starting point here is our own suffering, for unless we can confront and deal with those situations which give pain and discomfort to ourselves, we can acquire neither the confidence nor skill necessary to be of much use to others." (Akong Rinpoche - excerpt typed from the book 'Taming the Tiger) Its worth noting that in Theravada although there's emphasis on kindness and compassion towards others, there's no requirement for "saving all sentient beings". I was never quite sure when I was primarily a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, how other than having an imagined goal as a tool for the purpose of inspiration, everyone was realistically expected to actually do that anyway. Seems to me that if you believe that you can do that, then its a desire for endless becoming. Just a personal opinion however. Anyway, so sorry, that's another subject altogether and I've gone completely off the topic of meditation now . Back to topic! Hopefully Element will look in and be able to give you some reliable feedback because he's an established meditator with lots of offline experience.
	Quote