"Practice loving kindness to
overcome anger. Loving kindness has the
capacity to bring happiness to others
without demanding anything in return.
Practice compassion to overcome
cruelty. Compassion has the capacity to
remove the suffering of others without
expecting anything in return.
Practice sympathetic joy to overcome
hatred. Sympathetic joy arises when one
rejoices over the happiness of others and
wishes others well-being and success.
Practice non-attachment to overcome
prejudice. Non-attachment is the way of
looking at all things openly and equally.
I call these the four immeasurables.
Practice them and you will become a
refreshing source of vitality and
happiness for others."
~Buddha's instructions to his son Rahula
Translation by the Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn
Photo: Iris
Basel, Switzerland
Basel, Switzerland
(c) Bruce Behnke 2011