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F ORUM TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 555

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circumstances, then one can resort wings that work together for flying to do that for one’s other virtuous
to equanimity by accepting the or two eyes that work together to actions.
fact that we are all products or see deeply. Min Wei: In fact, real happiness or
victims of causes and conditions love always brings joy not only to us,
oftentimes beyond our control. Dadul: We do not start out with the but also to the ones we love. If our
Despair should not happen if will power or the capacity to solve happiness or love does not bring joy
one truly understands that since all the problems that exist. Nor to both of us, it is not true love or
we are all products of causes does our practice of these positive happiness. However, we should not
and conditions, all the time and attitudes immediately bring us all give up one’s own welfare, even for
effort expended to deal with the confidence and clarity to face the sake of much welfare to others.
such adversity also contribute the setbacks of ourselves and others.
to the ever changing causes and One has to go slowly in pace with Some commentators have said that
conditions and may help to bring the growth of one’s inner strengths. sympathetic joy means the happi-
about the desired outcomes to While persisting with our inner ness we feel when others are happy.
some extent. Even if they don’t, be work, we should focus on where However, the explanation is too
satisfied that at least we tried our we can have impact, no matter how limited. It discriminates between self
best and we should accept that small that effort may feel. We have and others. In fact, real sympathetic
there are other more powerful to aim at creative, effective, and joy should be filled with peace and
causes and conditions at work. realistic solution to problems that contentment. We rejoice when we
are within our power to shift. Also, see others happy, and of course we
Min Wei: Mahāyāna Buddhism we practice to not get fixated on and rejoice in our own well-being as
greatly emphasized our stuck in our own feelings of suffering well. How can we feel joy for another
compassionate work must be that may arise in relation to seeing person when we do not feel joy for
accompanied along with wisdom to the suffering of others. This mind ourselves? Joy is for everyone.
ensure we achieve the right effect. caught up in its own suffering is not
able to be so helpful and can even Dadul: Scriptures emphasize that
Wisdom without compassion leads cause more harm. With a heartfelt it is equally important to rejoice in
to suffering, as we should also take desire to be of real help, our focus is one’s own virtuous actions. Certain
care of ourselves during the process shifted from our own suffering to a texts suggest rejoicing in the innate
in benefitting others. Wisdom is the mind intent on doing what it can to Buddha potential in oneself and
result of understanding the true support the sufferer. This empathic others, something that we each,
nature of all things. We usually go concern is a natural step toward the always possess. All the virtuous
through our lives seeing the world mind of compassion that moves into deeds are nothing but incidental
from our ego-based perception. action to benefit, even if that benefit expressions of that nature. Keeping
Therefore, we have to understand is simply a calm and loving presence. the practice of muditā from falling
boundaries and the way in into self-adulation, arrogance, and
benefitting others to the best. When we mention sympathetic conceit would require us to generate
joy (muditā), it is always referring a realistic assessment of the

Compassion without wisdom is to rejoicing in the goodness or situation and circumstances around
often misguided. We should always happiness of others. It is possible the achievement, and appreciation
contemplate how to truly relieve to rejoice in one’s own virtuous of the far-reaching benefits that
others’ suffering, and how should actions, but without it becoming may accrue from it. Scriptures
we go about etc. All these require self-adulation, arrogance and mention that rejoicing in one’s
wisdom. conceit? own and others’ virtues is the least
laborious yet the most effective way
Therefore, in order to have a truly Aggacitta: Among the 10 of accumulating more merit from
balanced and complete compassion, recollections (anussatis), two existing merit.
we must develop both wisdom are about cultivating joy when
and compassion. In some Buddhist reflecting on one’s own virtuous For equanimity to arise, one
teachings, wisdom and compassion moral conduct and liberality. So by needs to cultivate an attitude of
are sometimes compared to two corollary, it should also be possible non-attachment towards people

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