How happiness is linked to working for the good of others

The Bodhisattva Path is one of the eighteen Buddhist spiritual paths. It teaches that the key to our own happiness is to dedicate ourselves to the happiness of others.

There are an infinite number of people all over the world whose hearts have been broken for one reason or another. They are in need of our assistance, and we must provide it. In addition, we are in the process of saving ourselves by exerting such efforts.

When something unfavourable occurs, people have a tendency to believe that no one could possibly be more upset and helpless than they are at that moment. They are so consumed with feelings of pity for themselves that they are unable to see anything that is not directly related to their predicament. But focusing entirely on their own suffering and giving in to frustration and hopelessness are surefire ways to further sap their vitality and life force.

What gives people the willpower to keep living their lives when faced with such challenges? It seems to me that the human bonds are responsible for it, specifically the desire to live for the benefit of other people. There is no way that we can experience happiness so long as we continue to withdraw into ourselves. Only when we show bravery for the sake of other people can we feel a renewal in our own lives.

When we worry about other people and take care of them, that is, when we assist them in bringing out their life force, our own life force grows as a result. When we contribute to the improvement of the life state of others, we improve our own life state as well.

The practise of benefiting others is inseparable from the practise of benefiting one's own self; this is the wondrous facet of the bodhisattva path.

To merely talk about doing good deeds for other people breeds arrogance. There is an element of self-sufficiency present there, as if we were doing the people we are "saving" a favour by doing what we are doing.

When we finally come to terms with the fact that the things we do for the benefit of others also advance our own personal growth, we are able to experience genuine humility. In the process, we also become better versions of ourselves.

In the end, our lives and the lives of those around us are inextricably intertwined. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to walk the path of the bodhisattva.

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