Every person I have known who has
been truly happy, has learned
how to serve others.
Albert Schweitzer
.....
In Buddhism altruistic love is
defined as the wish that all beings find happiness and the causes of happiness. These altruistic wishes must be accompanied by
a determination to do everything in our power to make them come true. This
determination will drive the activity, but it must be enlightened and empowered
by discernment and wisdom.
Compassion is the form altruistic
love takes when it is confronted with suffering.
Buddhism defines compassion as the
wish that all beings be freed from
suffering and its causes.
Empathy is the capacity to enter
into resonance with the other person, to resonate
with his feelings and become aware
of his situation.
...
Mindfulness,altruism, compassion,
and other basic human qualities that contribute to happiness can be cultivated through
meditation.
Meditation consists of getting used
to a new way of being, of perceiving the world and mastering our thoughts.
Meditation is a matter not of theory, but of practice.
Cultivating loving-kindness and
compassion is, according to Buddhism, central to happiness.
......
Altruism, thus, appears to be the
most direct way to accomplish both the happiness of others and one‘s own. This
concept is not only central to Buddhist philosophy and practice, but has been
corroborated in recent years by extensive research in psychology and
neurosciences. It, therefore, seems that promoting altruism and compassion not
only in one‘s personal life, but also within education and in society at large
is a much needed and direct way to address the challenges of the modern world.
Source:
Matthieu Ricard. Chapter 8: Altruism and Happiness.
