Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, via the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive,
We are responsible for the happiness and peace of all the sentient beings around us, including humans, animals and other living beings. How are we responsible for their happiness, peace and success?
If we look at others with negative thoughts, such as ill will, anger, jealousy or a selfish mind, and if we are only concerned about ourselves, with no feeling for their happiness or problems, then our actions and behavior will also be negative and we will have a negative vibration. Our negative attitude affects others—it makes them unhappy, sad, depressed and unpleasant, and it creates an unhappy, depressed environment. Our negative attitude and disrespectful, harmful behavior towards others causes anger and negative thoughts to arise in them. This causes them to create negative karma and to harm us, and this destroys any peace and happiness that they have.
If we look at others with loving, compassionate thoughts and if we cherish them with bodhicitta and a positive mind that is patient and peaceful, our positive attitude creates a warm feeling for them. There is respect and other positive behavior, such as kindness and non-harming, and on top of that, we help them. We give peace and happiness to other sentient beings—we bring peace to their hearts and we bring them happiness and harmonious relationships. If we help others and avoid harming or interfering with others’ wishes, we bring them success. If we have a loving, compassionate mind, we also have a loving, compassionate smile and a kind face, and that brings happiness to others.
Read the complete talk here.
Image: Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Tarzana, CA, 1975. Photo by Carole Royce-Wilder (via the the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive)
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