< Buddhism Is Pragmatic, Not Moralistic >
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All the safety instruction materials on an airplane always state that, in an emergency, one should put an oxygen mask or a safety vest on oneself first before trying to assist others. They also tell us to move swiftly but calmly and orderly without pushing or pulling other people - in order to maximize the probability of everyone escaping safely. Buddhism views our lives as in a similar situation.
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Venerable Thanissaro says in his book "On the Path" that the Buddha's teachings are like the instructions on what to do when the hotel you are staying at is on fire. The eightfold path (right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration) is the steps you should take to escape. The path includes right speech, right action and right livelihood to remind you not to harm yourself by burdening others, but it does not include "You have to love or help others". (The Buddha did not think highly of love anyway.) Imagine that a lot of people are simultaneously trying to pass through a narrow emergency corridor. If someone falls, other people might also fall on him, causing a chaos and thwarting everyone's effort to escape. So, if you have a sound mind, you will surely aid the person so that he can stand back up.
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However, to love or help others is not a 'moral' 'obligation' in Buddhism. Two reasons for this. First, Buddhism thinks that this world is full of problems and suffering not necessarily because we don't help one another but more because our minds are full of defilements. So, the most urgent task and the most effective cure will be that each and every one of us should focuse on working on one's own mind, rather than trying to help one another while having defilements. One's own practice is the best way to contribute to the world, Buddhism says. (This is why Buddhist monks dedicate all their time and energy to practice, not to some voluntary work such as building homes for the homeless.) Second, the morals are taken care of by karma; your good deeds will bring favorable things back to you, e.g., other people helping you when you fall. Yet, helping others does not take you to the 'exit' ('nirvana', the liberation from the rebirth cycle); only walking the eightfold path with your OWN legs does. (No wheelchair or piggyback ride is possible.) Therefore, as long as he does not harm or burden others, you cannot blame someone for being 'selfish' just because you do not like the way he spends his resources such as time and energy. If he is indeed selfish, karma will take care of it. (Buddhism encourages judging one's own and others' actions not in order to give people a grade but to learn from real life examples, good or bad.)
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Buddhism is realistic to understand that you will be more than busy enough to save yourself with your limited resources. At the same time, Buddhism is utilitarian to know that you will support the person who falls near you so that his/her fall won't endanger everyone including yourself. In Buddhism, every choice is a free trade based on the calculation! of the cost and the gain. Even nirvana is a trade! between the effort to walk the eightfold path and the permanent freedom from endless rebirths. Although he left the teachings on how to escape from the fire of rebirths, even the Buddha cannot save you, and you cannot save anyone else either no matter how much you love him/her. You and only you have all the freedom and all the responsibility regarding your salvation, and this principle applies to every single being in the entire cosmos of 31 rebirth realms.
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You are recommended: (i) to have 'metta' (goodwill) for everyone unconditionally, i.e., to wish him/her to reach true happiness on his/her own by understanding the karma and walking the path; (ii) not to abuse or exploit 'others' (including animals and the planet) even accidentally by your greed, aversion or delusion/ignorance; (iii) to focus on escaping from the fire of rebirths. (I know; just to 'reduce' the amount of damage we inflict on the earth is already a huge challenge for the human race.) But Buddhism does not punish, curse or blame anyone for not following this recommendation. Each and every one without exception will live the consequences of his choices both in this life and in the next one. No need to interfere with others' lives. (What about the 'reparation' for the burden or harm which a selfish or unwise person causes on you? This is why you want to get out of the rebirth cycle, in which you are always in danger of being harmed or hurt by others' unskillful actions.)
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[cf.] 'Metta' Means Goodwill (Not Lovingkindness)
What you have to protect the way a mother would protect her only child is NOT other beings BUT your own goodwill.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1072471653124917&set=a.1042727616099321&type=3&theater
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[cf.] The Buddha's View on 'Pema' (Love).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1104735436565205&set=a.1042727616099321&type=3&theater
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[cf.] #2~39: Fire escape.
https://www.facebook.com/keepsurfinglife/media_set?set=a.1115612452144170&type=3
.
.
All the safety instruction materials on an airplane always state that, in an emergency, one should put an oxygen mask or a safety vest on oneself first before trying to assist others. They also tell us to move swiftly but calmly and orderly without pushing or pulling other people - in order to maximize the probability of everyone escaping safely. Buddhism views our lives as in a similar situation.
.
Venerable Thanissaro says in his book "On the Path" that the Buddha's teachings are like the instructions on what to do when the hotel you are staying at is on fire. The eightfold path (right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration) is the steps you should take to escape. The path includes right speech, right action and right livelihood to remind you not to harm yourself by burdening others, but it does not include "You have to love or help others". (The Buddha did not think highly of love anyway.) Imagine that a lot of people are simultaneously trying to pass through a narrow emergency corridor. If someone falls, other people might also fall on him, causing a chaos and thwarting everyone's effort to escape. So, if you have a sound mind, you will surely aid the person so that he can stand back up.
.
However, to love or help others is not a 'moral' 'obligation' in Buddhism. Two reasons for this. First, Buddhism thinks that this world is full of problems and suffering not necessarily because we don't help one another but more because our minds are full of defilements. So, the most urgent task and the most effective cure will be that each and every one of us should focuse on working on one's own mind, rather than trying to help one another while having defilements. One's own practice is the best way to contribute to the world, Buddhism says. (This is why Buddhist monks dedicate all their time and energy to practice, not to some voluntary work such as building homes for the homeless.) Second, the morals are taken care of by karma; your good deeds will bring favorable things back to you, e.g., other people helping you when you fall. Yet, helping others does not take you to the 'exit' ('nirvana', the liberation from the rebirth cycle); only walking the eightfold path with your OWN legs does. (No wheelchair or piggyback ride is possible.) Therefore, as long as he does not harm or burden others, you cannot blame someone for being 'selfish' just because you do not like the way he spends his resources such as time and energy. If he is indeed selfish, karma will take care of it. (Buddhism encourages judging one's own and others' actions not in order to give people a grade but to learn from real life examples, good or bad.)
.
Buddhism is realistic to understand that you will be more than busy enough to save yourself with your limited resources. At the same time, Buddhism is utilitarian to know that you will support the person who falls near you so that his/her fall won't endanger everyone including yourself. In Buddhism, every choice is a free trade based on the calculation! of the cost and the gain. Even nirvana is a trade! between the effort to walk the eightfold path and the permanent freedom from endless rebirths. Although he left the teachings on how to escape from the fire of rebirths, even the Buddha cannot save you, and you cannot save anyone else either no matter how much you love him/her. You and only you have all the freedom and all the responsibility regarding your salvation, and this principle applies to every single being in the entire cosmos of 31 rebirth realms.
.
You are recommended: (i) to have 'metta' (goodwill) for everyone unconditionally, i.e., to wish him/her to reach true happiness on his/her own by understanding the karma and walking the path; (ii) not to abuse or exploit 'others' (including animals and the planet) even accidentally by your greed, aversion or delusion/ignorance; (iii) to focus on escaping from the fire of rebirths. (I know; just to 'reduce' the amount of damage we inflict on the earth is already a huge challenge for the human race.) But Buddhism does not punish, curse or blame anyone for not following this recommendation. Each and every one without exception will live the consequences of his choices both in this life and in the next one. No need to interfere with others' lives. (What about the 'reparation' for the burden or harm which a selfish or unwise person causes on you? This is why you want to get out of the rebirth cycle, in which you are always in danger of being harmed or hurt by others' unskillful actions.)
.
[cf.] 'Metta' Means Goodwill (Not Lovingkindness)
What you have to protect the way a mother would protect her only child is NOT other beings BUT your own goodwill.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1072471653124917&set=a.1042727616099321&type=3&theater
.
[cf.] The Buddha's View on 'Pema' (Love).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1104735436565205&set=a.1042727616099321&type=3&theater
.
[cf.] #2~39: Fire escape.
https://www.facebook.com/keepsurfinglife/media_set?set=a.1115612452144170&type=3
.
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- 希修 replied 8 replies
