Buddhism Quote by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
“When we want a cup of tea our main wish is to drink tea, but to fulfill this wish we naturally develop the secondary wish to find a cup. In a similar way, the main wish of those who have great compassion is to protect all living beings from their suffering, but to fulfill this wish they know they must first attain Buddhahood themselves and so they naturally develop the secondary wish to attain enlightenment.”
About This Quote
Source Teaching: Buddhist Compassion and Enlightenment, 2015
Great compassion motivates protecting all beings, but attaining enlightenment first is essential, creating a secondary desire for personal awakening.
In simple terms: Compassion leads to enlightenment, which then fuels deeper compassion.
Key Takeaway
Pursue personal awakening to deepen compassion.
Themes
compassion
enlightenment
spiritual practice
Mood
calm
inspired
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation retreats
- ethical volunteering
- personal study
Key Concepts
Buddhism
ethics
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- Can personal growth enhance compassion?
- What practices support both aims?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on self may seem selfish.
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