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54 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

Min Wei: The rest of the have died because of war and there is no point in talking about
three sublime qualities of the conflict reveals another side of loving and accepting others.
Brahmavihāras are mutually human nature. This sounds like
important and should be cultivated a faulty syllogism. How to be Dadul: Compassion is a broad
alongside. Therefore, one who compassionate when others term. It can include the very coarse
cultivates loving-kindness will also are not? attachment-mixed instinctual sense
cultivate compassion, sympathetic of care to one’s offspring to a fully
joy and equanimity. This is the Aggacitta: I am not aware of such refined universal compassion of
nature of the Four Immeasurable a concept of innate compassion a Buddha. This points us to the
Minds. in Theravāda Buddhism. On the universality of the potential to not
contrary, I think that the concepts just generate it, but also to develop
The aim of compassion is to remove of latent defilements (anusaya) and and refine it further to the fairest
suffering from our hearts and minds, tendencies (vāsana) carried forward possible state one can imagine.
so we can do it for others. from past lives determines the Indeed, millions have died because
Sympathetic joy means seeing predisposition of an individual. So of war and conflict triggered by
others freed from suffering. It for some people, compassion may anger, attachment, apathy, and
is simply to extend our loving- need to be deliberately cultivated. jealousy. That is because we have
kindness and compassion by yet to achieve universal practice of
rejoicing in all the good deeds that Those who are not compassionate these immeasurable attitudes. We
others did. can be viewed as pitiful beings can be quite sure about how many
overwhelmed by the three roots more would have died and suffered
Equanimity is giving up all things, of unwholesome states: greed, if it hadn’t been for the restraint of
e.g., distinctions of friend and hate and delusion because they many others. If we choose not to be
enemy, love and hate, etc. It takes lack wisdom. Forgive them. They compassionate because others are
a person beyond love and hatred eventually have to suffer the dire not, then that would only mean more
as well as helps one to get rid of consequences of their actions. destruction and more suffering.
attachment and aversion. Besides, being compassionate in
Min Wei: As the Buddha always the face of opposition and threat
The goal of the three sublime taught us that, “Hatred never need not impede our ability to stand
qualities is built on the foundation ceases through hatred. Hatred up against them and respond to
of having a kind disposition in all is only overcome by love.” them appropriately. It does require
our actions, words, and thoughts as Therefore, only when we practice our calm and a response out of
we interrelate with others. loving-kindness and compassion, intelligence and concern, not out of
otherwise war and conflict will anger or rudeness.
Dadul: Yes, that is the same for the never come to an end. Strictly
other three as well. These practices speaking, if there is no compassion, There’s so much in the world
are called “immeasurables” because there will be no peace at all. that calls for our compassion,
they are directed to immeasurable but when it is all consuming and
beings, have the potential to Violence, conflict and war happened overwhelming, grief may set in
generate immeasurable merits due to our wrong perceptions and we fall into despair. How
thereof, can lead to immeasurable towards each other. It just cannot do we deal with such adversity
qualities, and generate be removed by weapons. In fact, like a warrior without falling
immeasurable insights into our own compassion and understanding are victim to grief and despair in our
skills and capabilities. One goal is the two main keys which can help to compassionate work?
to free ourselves from the hard grip remove it.
of those afflictions and to allow our Aggacitta: That is the purpose
innate potentials to flourish. Understanding is the key that opens of the fourth brahmavihāra,
the door of love and acceptance equanimity. Initially one tries to
Buddhism believes that of oneself and others. All should practice the first three, but when
compassion is innate in us. But start from ourselves. If we cannot none can work any longer because
a look at history where millions understand our own true nature, of insurmountable unsupportive

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