If people suffer because of their own negative actions, does that mean that we cannot or should not do anything to help them?
Not at all! We know what it is like to feel miserable, and that is exactly how another person who is experiencing the results of his own destructive actions feel. Out of empathy and compassion we should definitely help! That person's present predicament was caused by his/her own actions, but that does not mean that we stand by and relax and says "Oh that's too bad. You poor thing."
Do not think karma in an inflexible way. Yes, that person created the cause to experience that diffculty by his own actions, but maybe he also created the cause to receive help from us! It does not matter whose pain or problem it is, it should be removed. We should not try to rationalise our own laziness or apathy by misinterpreting cause and effect. A sense of compassion and universal responsibility are important for our own spiritual development and for world peace.
Adapted from "I Wonder Why" by Thubten Chondron
Not at all! We know what it is like to feel miserable, and that is exactly how another person who is experiencing the results of his own destructive actions feel. Out of empathy and compassion we should definitely help! That person's present predicament was caused by his/her own actions, but that does not mean that we stand by and relax and says "Oh that's too bad. You poor thing."
Do not think karma in an inflexible way. Yes, that person created the cause to experience that diffculty by his own actions, but maybe he also created the cause to receive help from us! It does not matter whose pain or problem it is, it should be removed. We should not try to rationalise our own laziness or apathy by misinterpreting cause and effect. A sense of compassion and universal responsibility are important for our own spiritual development and for world peace.
Adapted from "I Wonder Why" by Thubten Chondron
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