If anything here is in conflict with your own experience, please let me know via comments or email. Some even say that it is your responsibility to speak up :).
As a junior in high school, I applied to study abroad in Honduras. On my application I wrote “I aim to transcend cultural differences and find humanity’s common bonds.”
That experience abroad eventually resulted in the following insight:
Human behavior creates the society in which we live.
If we are to answer the problems of the world, we must answer with our behavior, and unwaveringly examine the forces that drive behavior.
Behavior is motivated by suffering and compassion. That is, all beings want to move away from suffering, towards happiness.
All beings wish to move from suffering to happiness.
Now, for the time being, set aside your personal opinions on the subject and imagine that human nature is fundamentally compassionate.
Human nature tends towards compassion.
A being who has realized the fullness of her/his compassion wishes for nothing more than for all beings to be free from suffering. This is the aspiration of the Bodhisattva (a being devoted to ending suffering for all living things).
Let’s pretend that you and I are Bodhisattvas. Now our purpose is to help all beings move to the right end of this spectrum. By fulfilling our purpose, we ourselves also move towards happiness.
We move in conjunction with all beings.
In effect, we could pretend we are all one massive being, working for our own benefit.
If this were the case, then:
- A living being in suffering sets us all back on the spectrum.
- Bringing happiness to a living being brings happiness to everyone
Now the question is, “How do we bring maximum joy to all living beings and ourselves?”
With our behavior. This is where we create suffering or happiness. Ethical behavior maximizes happiness and minimizes suffering.
Practically speaking, our capacity for ethical behavior is limited by selfish habits.
As our capacity for ethical (selfless) behavior grows, so does our capacity for joy.
To expand your capacity for ethical behavior, practice these instructions:
- Stop doing everything that causes harm
- Do that which is perfectly good.
When my friend read these instructions, he asked “How can I know what is perfectly good? Trying to follow these instructions could lead to paralysis!” YES! It should lead to paralysis, unless that paralysis results in harm.
If these instructions are still unclear, then you should cultivate clarity. Clarity arises from a settled mind.
How to Settle the Mind
Pay attention. Observe what causes agitation and what dispels agitation. Observe what brings peace and what ends peace.
The mind will naturally over time and with practice be drawn to dispelling agitation and attracting peace.
As the mind settles, the subtle, often unnoticed agitations become more clear.*
Ending agitation brings peace
Peace brings clarity
Clarity brings ethical behavior
Ethical behavior ends suffering and brings joy
May all beings attain perfect, complete, unmistakable enlightenment.
Resources:
Here is a relevant talk on the subject.
*Retreats of silence and simplicity provide opportunities to observe and end the subtle causes of agitation. An internet search will provide plenty of information on available retreats.
You have used happiness and joy interchangeably. The LORD says there will be suffering and speaks of joy “in The Lord”. I see happiness as circumstantial and joy as eternal. In this life we are not able to do perfect good, however we are able to choose to respond as CHRIST would/does in His Spirit. Our response produces joy. Can compassion truly be realized outside of our spiritual nature? I don’t think so. Having run my mouth, and probably stuck my foot in, I would love to discuss any of this. I think your blog is thought provoking and will challenge what is in people’s hearts.
Hi Jan, thanks so much for your kind words!
I really appreciate your emphasis on distinguishing between circumstantial happiness and spiritual joy. It reminds me of a quote,
“If you knew as I do the impact of generosity, you would not let a single meal go by without sharing it.”
I think your other statements are spot on as well. To me it seems that to have joy “in the Lord” is to have joy in our spiritual growth, the depth of our generosity and compassion.
As to whether compassion can truly be realized outside of our spiritual nature… that is a very deep question.
Hey, I like where this article is going. I’ve done some writing of my own in a similar direction and I’d be interested to know what you’d have to say about it. I’m glad to send you a copy if I can get your e-mail address. Thanks!
Looking forward to it! I’ll send it to you via Facebook.
Behavior is one focus of Judaism, and teaches the same thing from a different angel or angle.
[Torah] is a Tree of Life for all who hold fast to it.
And the Sh’ma focuses our attention on the Unity of Everything.
What is a tree of life? Also, it’s amazing how when you look at the mystical core of the world’s traditions, the similarities become so apparent.
A Tree of Life is way to be truly, completely alive, human and holy.
Jacob, this is a very great post. I think of you and everyone else at CML regularly. I hope your practice is progressing well.
Thanks Michael, we remember you fondly as well. Come back when you can!