I feel that an individual whose actions are motivated by the wish to bring others happiness necessarily meets with less misfortune that one who does not. Sickness, old age, mishaps of one sort or another are the same for us all. But the sufferings which undermine our internal peace - anxiety, doubt, disappointment - these are definitely less.HH Dalai Lama
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"Totes," which means totally in the cool high school girl world.
Ain't it the truth.
Sigh.
Lovely. It would be interesting to count the number of people in our lives we believe to be motivated chiefly by the desire to bring others happiness, wouldn't it? Certainly most of the people in my life are concerned for the happiness and well-being of others in their lives, but chiefly motivated to bring others happiness? Can I say that about me?
I enjoy doing things that bring smiles to people's faces. I NEED to be of use. But is my primary motivation the desire to bring others happiness? One could argue this several ways. I won't go into them here. But this question, that of being "an individual whose actions are motivated by the wish to bring others happiness," that calls into question my every decision, doesn't it?
Once again, I am reminded of the power of my personal choices: If I do this, buy this, omit this, who will benefit, who might be harmed?
Adding "Whose happiness is at stake?" puts any given decision in a little higher relief, doesn't it?
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