Comments on: Putting on Your Oxygen Mask, Before Assisting Other = Buddhism?

By: Wade

Wade — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:04:34 +0000

Thanks Allison,

It’s a VERY hard lesson to learn. I actually got yelled at for not looking after myself in ZMM. I was sick and trying to act strong, yet it was clear I was very week. That iteration of the lesson is still sinking in. I’m very thankful for her love of yelling. It was the only way I could hear it.

May all beings be happy.

Wade

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:02:04 +0000

This is one lesson I never learned growing up, and have since embraced as I neared burnout after 2 years living in Armenia for the Peace Corps. I am still not that good at taking care of myself first, but now that I am mindful of it, it helps a lot.

By: Helping Others out of Suffering at The Middle Way

Helping Others out of Suffering at The Middle Way — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:05:33 +0000

[...] cesation of suffering, and helping others realize this. To be of help others, you first need a solid foundation. However, after developing your own foundation and strength, you will naturally feel the want to [...]

By: Karl Staib | Blog Archive | Getting too Caught up in Being Flexible

Karl Staib | Blog Archive | Getting too Caught up in Being Flexible — Fri, 25 May 2007 01:09:51 +0000

[...] I’m reminded of many teachings about cultivating a certain level of mindfulness, a certain level of experience in the path of practice before doing something that’s nature is know to throw up challenges.Â A recent post of mine about helping yourself before helping others http://themiddleway.net/2007/03/28/putting-on-your-oxygen-mask-before-assisting-other-buddhism/. [...]

By: Karl Staib

Karl Staib — Thu, 10 May 2007 02:54:17 +0000

You’ve put a complicated problem of dealing with our own issues first in a simple expression. I like the analogy of the airplane oxygen mask because I agree the most important person in my life is me. Without me there isn’t anything. It all all stop existing from my perspective. I can’t help my wife if I’m off track. I would be pulling her off the tracks with me until we both crash.

Thanks! I think work will be a little easier to handle tomorrow.

By: Why Workplace Happiness is Important at The Middle Way

Why Workplace Happiness is Important at The Middle Way — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:52:19 +0000

[...] Right Action in such negative environments may be too much at this stage. You have to be able to look after yourself, before you can help [...]

By: honestape

honestape — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:17:53 +0000

This is a really good analogy. I have a long, long way to go on the road to fully committing to Buddhism, but this idea really clicks with me. I work in the disaster response field, and one thing we hammer into people’s minds is that they can not help others if they are not protected. For example, you can’t rush into a blazing building without the right equipment, or you’ll likely need to be rescued yourself. Likewise, when considering things more drastic like biological and chemical weapons, if you don’t stop to put on your mask or chemical suit and try to save someone, you’ll be contaminated and then will go from being a rescuer to a detriment.

Hard to practice, though. We all want to rush to save someone before we save ourselves. Well, not all of us, but you know what I mean.

By: Larry Keiler

Larry Keiler — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:46:38 +0000

The bodhisattva vow is a vast undertaking, in which one promises to lead all sentient beings to the bliss of enlightenment. Sometimes the phrase is added “by myself alone”, which means, I alone am responsible for the state of my world, of my mind and heart.

It automatically follows from that, that one concludes that the best way to achieve this is to attain the state of buddhahood, because power, wisdom , ability, compassion…all these reach their zenith with buddhahood. It’s the most effective way to be of service. You want to be able to provide the highest possible benefit to the greatest number of beings.