2007-07-19 16:27:11 · 9 answers · asked by ANyone but you 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thank you all for you great inputs.
I guess I was wrong to even doubt it!
2007-07-19 16:56:36 · update #1
Although some more conservative Hindus might give you a different answer, I think a Buddhist would be obligated to help relieve the suffering of any being in pain. I do not know of any great spiritual leader in history who was big on punishment or segregation.
Jesus hung out with the poor and lepers, and spoke against the powerful. The Buddha didn't meditate with kings; he sat in the street in rags with the poor and spoke of enlightenment. It is not the job of the Buddhist to decide who is "worthy" of help, and whether one is suffering because of their own bad karma, or because of other reasons.
Do not ask why they suffer, only ask whether you can do anything to ease their pain.
2007-07-19 16:38:23 · answer #1 · answered by yodasminion 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why wouldn't you?
Being Buddhist doesn't mean you have no compassion, or desire to help others. It means the exact opposite of that.
There is no such thing as, "he got what he deserved", in buddhism, and no room for that kind of thinking either.
You can always alleviate suffering in another human being.
This is a misunderstanding of the Buddha's teachings that is used to keep unwholesome regimes in power and suppress lower classes. This is not a proper understanding of Buddhism. First of all, nobody deserves to suffer. We cannot say that people are morally inferior because they suffer. It's true that people create the causes of what they experience, but that does not mean that they deserve to suffer. In Buddhism, we do not judge or criticize people when they suffer. Suffering is not a punishment for what we did; it is simply a result. Happiness is not a reward; it's a result of our good karma. It's just a result. Whether we experience happiness or suffering has nothing to do with being punished or rewarded or with being morally inferior or superior.
2007-07-19 23:31:01 · answer #2 · answered by Sapere Aude 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The central truth of Buddhism is 'compassion'. the Buddha stressed on 'compassion' or Karuna.
Karma is an entire holistic network. the person suffering from bad karma is an opportunity for you to liberate your own Karma, in doing so, you add to his good karma because he is beniffited by giving you the opportunity to enhance your karma.
2007-07-19 23:34:58 · answer #3 · answered by krishna 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course. We should never take the attitude that someone else deserves to suffer. We should only take the attitude that we deserve our own suffering. We should have compassion for all living entities, and not let our own suffering harden our hearts against helping others.
2007-07-19 23:33:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, compassion is a very important virtue for buddhists. Buddha declared that he developed his teachings out of compassion, to relieve the suffering of all living creatures. .
2007-07-19 23:33:24 · answer #5 · answered by tenno1234 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Showing compassion toward those that suffer is what lead the Buddha to enlightenment.
2007-07-19 23:35:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe it's your duty, but if you CAN help I think that would make the world a little bit better for your kindness.
2007-07-19 23:32:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am drawn to help people. I think we all are.
I see people as whatever aspect of myself that they represent. Of course I want to help them/me.
2007-07-22 10:53:07 · answer #8 · answered by Teaim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you, trying to fuse Buddhism and Christianity?
2007-07-19 23:31:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋