Dec 3, 2025
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All negative actions are motivated by delusions, which in turn arise from self-cherishing. First we develop the thought, “I am important,” and because of this we feel that the fulfillment of our wishes is of paramount importance... Then we desire for ourself that which appears attractive and develop attachment, we feel aversion for that which appears unattractive and develop anger, and we feel indifference toward that which appears neutral and develop ignorance… From these delusions all other delusions arise...
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
All the violence, fear and suffering that exists in this world comes from grasping at "self"(the notion of self). What use is this great monster to you? If you do not let go of the “self" there will never be an end to your suffering…
Shantideva
The stopping practice
5.5 mins read
At the very beginning of How to Transform Your Life, on page 3 to be precise, and maybe just in case people don’t read any further, the author Geshe Kelsang Gyatso evokes the heart of the Buddhist mind-training teachings – which is basically to get over ourselves and be concerned about others instead.
In this “stopping practice”,* we stop thinking about our own happiness all the…
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Selfie Culture
Why is it so much more interesting to look at pictures of ourselves than others? Come, on, you know it’s true: how many times have you browsed rather apathetically through Facebook posts and then suddenly sat up and paid attention because that photo has meeeee in it? ‘Oh look, there I am: the most important person in the universe!’ This culture of placing the self first, while deeply instinctive,…
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Learning to like yourself
Learning to like yourself
We usually spend quite a bit of time worrying about whether other people like us, but it’s really much more important to like ourselves. Do you feel comfortable in your own skin? Do you even know how you feel, really? We need to feel happy with ourselves if we’re to make authentic spiritual progress. Otherwise, it’s very easy to misinterpret some of the teachings and end up undermining ourselves.…
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If our wishes are not fulfilled and we begin to feel unhappy, we should immediately remember that the fault does not lie with the other person or the situation but with our own self-cherishing mind, which instinctively feels, "My wishes are supremely important." Remaining continually mindful of the dangers of our self-cherishing will strengthen our resolve to abandon it, and instead of feeling sorry for ourself when we have problems, we can use our own suffering to remind us of the suffering of countless mother beings and develop love and compassion for them.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - "Eight Steps to Happiness"
We should not be in a hurry to see results but instead practice patiently and sincerely. Expecting quick results is itself based on self-cherishing and is a recipe for disappointment. If we practice with joy and steadfastness, while at the same time purifying negativity, accumulating merit, and receiving blessings, we will definitely succeed in reducing and finally abandoning our self-cherishing.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - "Eight Steps to Happiness"