Post #12 - 4/28/09 Got Benefits?

Earlier this week I had to write an essay about whether or not people help others simply to help themselves, which is what I like to call "self-beneficial," without mutual benefits or gains. I'm sure you've seen some examples of people using other people to accomplish their own selfish goals, turning the other person into a used, meaningless bystander.

Did you know that this can actually be a 'good' thing? I bet you didn't.

"...In the practice of Dhamma, even if one specifically looks to the benefit of other beings, the results that are most assured are those that arise within oneself. Thus it is said that by helping oneself one helps others, and by helping others one helps oneself. "

That is what the Buddhists believe. They believe that this cultivates virtue. After reading the story in the link below, I may be starting to agree with them. The practice of Dhamma is co-productive in that its effects extend to all beings.

What do you think? Is it possible to do good for others by helping yourself? Can helping someone to achieve their goals help you to achieve your own? Feel free to share any thoughts.

Link to story and more info:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/9280/helping.htm

Post #11 - 4/21/09 Declaration of Independence

Yes, the good ol' Declaration of Independence. That crafty document that laid out the very foundation of the United States we know and love today. The phrase that rings in every American's head when they read it would most likely be:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Inspiring words, aren't they? I bet you didn't know that that isn't the only document with such words crying for independence. Yes, my fellow Americans, there is more than one type of Declaration of Independence, a different one for various states and countries. I bet you didn't know that there was a Texas Declaration of Independence, or a Romanian Declaration of Independence, did you? My point here is that the United States as a whole wasn't the only country to be subjugated by another country. Even some of its own states, and other countries shared a similar fate. Vietnam and the Philippines had one too.

If you know your history, then there's no need for me to explain what country was in control of another. I'm pretty sure that every state, country, town, village or colony that has been oppressed and/or subjugated has fought for independence and has their own Declaration.

What do you think? Should every free, independent nation have their own Declaration? Would doing so help the rest of the world clearly realize their rights to independence? Feel free to share any thoughts below.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_independence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence