[Skeezyks]

Currently I'm reading a book titled": The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Training the Mind by the late Traleg Kyabgon... (Foreward by Ken Wilber.) Lojong is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice. The word "Lojong" actually translates as "mind training". The practice of Lojong is also advanced in the writings of the Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön.

In the Introduction to this book, Kyabgon wrote: "To think that we can put an end to our own suffering without thinking about others is the biggest misconception we have. It is also a misconception we have inculcated in ourselves from time immemorial... we actually need others in order to develop ourselves as human beings. It is not true that we only develop when we feel loved, cared for, appreciated, respected, and admired; we also grow when we are despised, belittled, held back, and denigrated."

There are two important points here. One is that we help ourselves when we help others, & we can only progress when we do. The other is that, while we would certainly prefer to be loved, we can also progress when we are not. Both states can contribute to our development if they are approached from the correct perspective. As Pema Chödrön has written, the people & situations that "push our buttons", that make us angry or frustrated, show us where we're stuck. In that sense, one could even look at them as little teachers themselves. And, as such, we can welcome them into our lives... with compassion...

[Pierro]

Thank you Skeeyks. I looked up some books that were wrote by Pema Chödrön. You talked about her in previous posts. I find them quite compelling but yet down to earth. Thank you again.

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[Artchic528]

I helped my mother shop for an underprivileged family for christmas one year. We bought them food for their Christmas dinner and gifts for their kids. It was one of the greatest feelings I can remember, and one of the most humbling too. Knowing that we gave some kids a christmas they would've never had otherwise is very soothing in a way.

I also volunteered at a shelter for abused women and their kids and wound up playing with the kids in the playroom. The kids were all smiles but the women had a sadness that never left them. Even when they smiled. I guess I wanted to give the kids a bit of happiness that their mothers might not be emotionally able to do at that time.

I love being able to help others who are less fortunate than I.

[BlueEyedMama]

I think it is true at least in my own life when I am able to look beyond myself and help others, I feel really good about myself. We can grow quite a bit through helping others.