The Medicine of Altruism
In Tibet we say that many illness can be cured by
the one medicine of love and compassion. These qualities are the
ultimate source of human happiness, and need for them lies at the very
core of our being. Unfortunately, love and compassion have been omitted
from too many spheres of social interaction for too long. Usually
confined to family and home, their practice in public life is
considered impractical, even naive. This is tragic. In my view point,
the practice of compassion is not just a symptom of unrealistic
idealism but the most effective way to pursue the best interest of
others as well as our own. The more we- as a nation, a group or as
individuals - depend upon others, the more it is in our own best
interests to ensure their well-being.
Practicing altruism is the real source of
compromise and cooperation; merely recognizing our need for harmony is
not enough. A mind committed to compassion is like an overflowing
reservoir - a constant source of energy, determination and kindness.
This is like a seed; when cultivated, gives rise to many other good
qualities, such as forgiveness, tolerance, inner strength and the
confidence to overcome fear and insecurity. The compassionate mind is
like an elixir; it is capable of transforming bad situation into
beneficial ones. Therefore, we should not limit our expressions of love
and compassion to our family and friends. Nor is the compassion only
the responsibility of clergy, health care and social workers. It is the
necessary business of every part of the human community.
Whether a conflict lies in the field of politics,
business or religion, an altruistic approach is frequently the sole
means of resolving it. Sometimes the very concepts we use to meditate a
dispute are themselves the cause of the problem. At such times, when a
resolution seems impossible, both sides should recall the basic human
nature that unites them. This will help break the impasse and, in the
long run, make it easier for everyone to attain their goal. Although
neither side may be fully satisfied, if both make concessions, at the
very least, the danger of further conflict will be averted. We all know
that this form of compromise is the most effective way of solving
problems - why, then, do we not use it more often?
When I consider the lack of cooperation in human
society, I can only conclude that it stems from ignorance of our
interdependent nature. I am often moved by the example of small
insects, such as bees. The laws of nature dictate that bees work
together in order to survive. As a result, they possess an instinctive
sense of social responsibility. They have no constitution, laws,
police, religion or moral training, but because of their nature they
labour faithfully together. Occasionally they may fight, but in general
the whole colony survives on the basis of cooperation. Human beings, on
the other hand, have constitutions, vast legal systems and police
forces; we have religion, remarkable intelligence and a heart with
great capacity to love. But despite our many extraordinary qualities,
in actual practice we lag behind those small insects; in some ways, I
feel we are poorer than the bees.
For instance, millions of people live together in
large cities all over the world, but despite this proximity, many are
lonely. Some do not have even one human being with whom to share their
deepest feelings, and live in a state of perpetual agitation. This is
very sad. We are not solitary animals that associate only in order to
mate. If we were, why would we build large cities and towns? But even
though we are social animals compelled to live together, unfortunately,
we lack sense of responsibility towards our fellow humans. Does the
fault lies in our social architecture -the basic structures of family
and community that support our society? Is it our own external
facilities - our machines, science and technology? I do not think so.
I believe that despite the rapid advances made by
civilization in this century, the most immediate cause of our present
dilemma is our undue emphasis on material development alone. We have
become so engrossed in its pursuit that, without even knowing it, we
have neglected to foster the most basic human needs of love, kindness,
cooperation and caring. If we do not know someone or find another
reason for not feeling connected with a particular individual or group,
we simply ignore them. But the development of human society is based
entirely on people helping each other. Once we have lost the essential
humanity that is our foundation, what is the point of pursuing only
material improvement.
To me, it is clear: a genuine sense of
responsibility can result only if we develop compassion. Only a
spontaneous feeling of empathy for others can really motivate us to act
on their behalf.
