Born From Intention

"All suffering comes from yearning for your own happiness. The perfect Buddhas are born from the intention to benefit others." - Thogme's 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, verse 11.


Let me share with you this idea, particularly because there is some relevant political chatter these days that might confuse this issue. I want to share with you the idea of self preservation as a Buddhist practice and how it fits into today's underlying political talk.

The foundation of this practice is the first phrase of our quote: you yearn, you suffer. I remember once back in my charismatic fundamentalist Christian days, a visiting Pastor told our congregation that everyone in jail is there because they tried to be happy. It took me a bit of reflecting on that one, but I saw that he was correct. In our own twisted way, we often times do something stupid because our motivation is to be happy, but the twisting that fear and ignorance create makes us resort to a rather convoluted solution to achieve that happiness. We rob, we denigrate, we kill. There is a yearning, but the problem comes because we react. We don't take the time to explore the yearning to see what it really is all about.

It is just that reflecting on the fact that much suffering arise from yearning for happiness that we become motivated to alleviate the suffering of others. And it is precisely that which creates many burnt out do gooders. So what is the solution? Putting the horse in front of the cart of course! And in this case the horse is self interest.

I can hear the brakes already. I assure you though, self interest is definitely something that is Buddhist, and it differs from selfishness as well as self loathing and is a necessary step before you actually discover the delusion of what the self is.

Self interest can be found in these same 37 practices that Thogme wrote. Just look at verse 1. "...listen, reflect, and meditate with diligence day and night." Is that not a lone activity that will benefit you primarily? Verse 3 says we should rely on solitude, not volunteering even for the sangha, the food shelf, animal shelter and soup kitchen. Then verse 26 says, "If lack of diligence prevents you from benefiting yourself, then your wish to benefit others is just a joke." I think that pretty much sums it up. There is a certain level of self interest that needs to occur. And then the bug bites....

Along that way surely you will see through your own experience what relieves suffering, and how that could benefit someone close to you. And the mahayana bug will bite you, and a buddha will be born. I say that because I have learned that when one takes meditation seriously, and begins looking deeply at one's life, you usually don't see a bed of roses. Oh no. You see all the shit that makes for suffering. The shit that makes you do the stupid stuff you do with your body, your mouth, and mind. The hurtful words we spew out, the hatred we harbor, hell, even for strangers who simply hold politically different views than us. Anger, jealousy, attachment, pride, all that stuff. We'll see it. Sounds like fun huh? Pema Chodron said, "On the journey of the warrior-bodhisattva, the path goes down, not up, as if the mountain pointed toward the earth instead of the sky. Instead of transcending the suffering of all creatures, we move toward turbulence and doubt however we can. We explore the reality and unpredictability of insecurity and pain, and we try not to push it away. If it takes years, if it takes lifetimes, we let it be as it is. At our own pace, without speed or aggression, we move down and down and down. With us move millions of others, companions in awakening from fear." 


So what does any of this have to do with political rhetoric? Well, there is a lot being said about Ayn Rand these days, and her worship of selfishness as it's called. What Ayn Rand was in some ways referring to was exactly this self interest. That she had no place for altruism is true apparently, and that is where many will  diverge from her. But in the discussions of the day it will be important to make the distinction between self interest, which looks to make sure I get paid a decent wage to take care of family needs, that sort of thing, and selfishness. Selfishness on the other hand regards little the suffering that actions may cause others. And if Chodron is right, that there are millions in fear, then a voice that brings calm will help present the solutions we need in this world, and will help the political rhetoric be more humane and understanding.

Keep those differences between self interest and selfishness in mind. The analogy of a battery at this point is a fair one. A battery needs to be kept charged to be of continual use. Charging is self interest, so that I am a useful tool as long as possible. Let's see to it that we stay charged as a dharma battery. Remember solitude, reflection, and meditation. Be the tool that is useful to others. Maintain your self interest, your diligence to benefit yourself, so that you can benefit others.

That's no joke.

Tashi Deleg!

Jigme Senge