Member-only story
Tibetan Buddhist Lamrim: Recognizing That all Living Beings Are Our Mothers
Buddhism guides us to examine our natural behaviors and responses, assess the pain they cause, and use our insight to choose more wisely, lessening our suffering and that of others.
The Buddha’s teachings highlight the importance of developing equanimity, encouraging us to see ourselves as valueless and to treat others with a similar high level of respect, challenging our innate tendencies to categorize people as friends, enemies, and strangers.
Equanimity is about maintaining a calm and fair stance toward all beings avoiding biases, dislikes, or apathy.
The journey to equanimity begins with the acknowledgment that every sentient being shares an equal wish to be happy and to steer clear of pain. This understanding applies universally, from our closest associates to our adversaries, and extends to all creatures across different planes of existence.
The Lamrim teachings stress the importance of moving past our fondness for friends and family and our hostility towards foes or those we find disagreeable. Such feelings of attachment and aversion stand in the way of true equanimity.
