Near Enemies

[Bodhiseed]

My daily draw this morning reminded me of the concept of 'near enemies' in Buddhist psychology. I thought some might find this concept interesting:

 

Buddhism has four virtues that its followers try to cultivate:

1) loving-kindness – active goodwill towards everyone

2) compassion – recognizing the suffering of others, not turning from it, and wishing to relieve it

3) sympathetic joy – celebrating in someone else’s joy and good fortune

4) equanimity – calm awareness regardless of what is happening

 

It also describes four 'near enemies' of these virtues; unlike the ‘far enemies’ which are the direct opposites (hatred, cruelty, envy, and bias), the near enemies are sneaky and may masquerade as the real virtues unless a closer look is taken.

 

~The near enemy of loving-kindness is attachment; it is revealed as insecure clinging, the desire to control or love based on certain conditions.

~The near enemy of compassion may be cloaked in pity (keeping us at a distance from someone's suffering) or self-absorbed grief (we drown in the feeling); neither side allows us to take any helpful action.

~The near enemy of sympathetic joy is comparison; our joy for others is tainted by trying to identify if we have more, less or the same as the other person.

~Equanimity's near enemy is indifference; instead of accepting reality with calm awareness, we simply withdraw or numb ourselves.

 

 

[DanielJUK]

thanks for posting this Bodhi, you gave me a thought to think about on a Sunday morning  :)  <3

[Bodhiseed]

You are welcome, dear Daniel! :)

[Whisper]

My daily draw this morning reminded me of the concept of 'near enemies' in Buddhist psychology. I thought some might find this concept interesting:

 

Buddhism has four virtues that its followers try to cultivate:

1) loving-kindness – active goodwill towards everyone

2) compassion – recognizing the suffering of others, not turning from it, and wishing to relieve it

3) sympathetic joy – celebrating in someone else’s joy and good fortune

4) equanimity – calm awareness regardless of what is happening

 

It also describes four 'near enemies' of these virtues; unlike the ‘far enemies’ which are the direct opposites (hatred, cruelty, envy, and bias), the near enemies are sneaky and may masquerade as the real virtues unless a closer look is taken.

 

~The near enemy of loving-kindness is attachment; it is revealed as insecure clinging, the desire to control or love based on certain conditions.

~The near enemy of compassion may be cloaked in pity (keeping us at a distance from someone's suffering) or self-absorbed grief (we drown in the feeling); neither side allows us to take any helpful action.

~The near enemy of sympathetic joy is comparison; our joy for others is tainted by trying to identify if we have more, less or the same as the other person.

~Equanimity's near enemy is indifference; instead of accepting reality with calm awareness, we simply withdraw or numb ourselves.

 

This is wonderful, dear Bodhiseed. Thank you.  <3 So true.

 

I'm reading Stepping out of Self Deception, a book about Anatta which is amazing. Do you know of it? I think you might really enjoy it.

[Bodhiseed]

 

I'm reading Stepping out of Self Deception, a book about Anatta which is amazing. Do you know of it? I think you might really enjoy it.

 

Just had a peek at it on Amazon; it's definitely going on my list of books to read! Thanks for letting me know about it. :)

[Whisper]

 

I'm reading Stepping out of Self Deception, a book about Anatta which is amazing. Do you know of it? I think you might really enjoy it.

 

Just had a peek at it on Amazon; it's definitely going on my list of books to read! Thanks for letting me know about it. :)

 

You are very welcome, dear Bodhiseed.  <3