Introduction to Buddhism His Holiness The Dalai Lama Translated by Dhondup Tsering

Engaging in bringing destruction to others is like breaking your own legs. No one benefits. Although yours legs and hands are different in the shape and have separate functions, they belong to the same body. The hands have to removed the pain of the legs. If the countries of the east have a problem,the western countries should extend help.If there is a problem in the western countries, the eastern countries should render assistance. Both sides will benefit in the end. helping others is,in fact, helping yourself because your future is completely depended on others.

Take for instance your Ladakhi society. If your community is happy, then every individual is happy. If the community faces difficulties, then every family and every person faces hard times. If your family is in a good state, then all of its members are happy. Take a family of ten people. If some of the family members become ill, then the rest of the family members are beset with worry, although their own bodies are perfectly healthy. Being concerned only about your own physical and mental suffering and not about others is wrong. If you possess intelligence, you should know that even if the suffering of others is not directly causing you harm at present, it might in the future. Therefore, people should realize that the happiness of others results in their own contentment. Intelligence grows even greater with education. However, enhancing your intelligence by acquiring additional learning should make you more aware that your long-term future happiness depends on society, on your fellow human beings, and on the environment.