Okay - inserting some basic self-awareness - that's pretty close to how I live my own life, actually.
It's also extremely perverse to inflict on others. My life has arguably been made much worse for it.
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Continuing my tipsiness-fuelled confession, I'm the sort of guy who can't let it go when I see someone else suffer. I get obsessive about that shit.
That's a demonstrably terrible way to live life. I've not only harmed myself doing that, but often also the people I tried to help
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Not just in Buddhism, but everywhere in life, the people who do the most harm to others are often the self-professed healers - those who believe they can "fix" others.
Distancing myself from that identity is a work in progress. It's difficult, but probably worthwhile.
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I find the whole idea hilarious. How many people have they actually enlightened? And did that actually help others?
I wouldn't be so cynical about it if they didn't keep demonstrating how fatuous and narcissistic it can get.
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Out of curiousty - what do you think about it? Does the idea hold merit to you? If so, how?`
Genuinely curious to hear a different perspective that isn't just laced in Mahayana mythology.
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I think "hopefully that will make me a better person" is about as much as any of us can hope for. In some sense it's even laudatory.
Mystics don't have a very impressive track record when it comes to improving the human condition.
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Yeah, I'm endlessly obsessed with treating the people I'm close with better.
I'm also aware I'm rather bad at that, let alone saving the world or helping strangers. It's worth it to make the effort, of course, but it rarely helps.
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Maybe it is. I'm just very much averse to assuming I do good. Let others decide if my work helps them.
I'm just a guy who wants to do good. Nothing better than that.