BE KIND TO YOURSELF

The Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard likes to tell an anecdote about the Dalai Lama. 
"During a conference on how East meets West in the Indian town of Dharamsala, one of the American psychologists talked about ‘self-loathing’. At first, the Dalai Lama thought he’d misheard, and he asked the interpreter to repeat his translation several times. He then asked for someone to explain what on earth this concept was, since it was inconceivable to him that a human being could hate himself."


It’s important to stem the flow of negative thoughts about ourselves.
We also need to stop the negative flow of thoughts we have towards other people.
It’s only by freeing ourselves from this habit of criticising others so harshly that we can in turn be freed from the voices judging us.

Fii bun cu tine insuti

Calugarului budist Matthieu Ricard ii place sa relateze o anecdota despre Dalai Lama.
"In timpul unei conferinte despre cultura occidentala si cea orientala in orasul indian Dharamsala, un psiholog american a vorbit despre ura de sine a occidentalilor. La inceput, Dalai Lama a crezut ca nu a inteles bine si i-a cerut interpretului sa repete ceea ce ii tradusese. Apoi i-a cerut altcuiva sa-i explice ce poate sa insemne asa ceva, lui ii era imposibil sa perceapa cum o fiinta umana se poate uri pe sine."


Este important sa oprim fluxul gandurilor negative despre noi insine.
Trebuie, de asemenea, sa oprim fluxul gandurilor negative despre altii.
Doar prin eliberarea de acest obicei al criticii permanente putem sa ne eliberam si de vocile rele din mintea noastra.

Test of Three - about backbiting

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for   
his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an   
acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates,   
do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"   

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like   
you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."   

"Test of Three?"   

"That's right,"Socrates continued "Before you talk to me about   
my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to   
say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure   
that what you are about to tell me is true?"   

No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."   

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's   
true or not. Now let's try the second test, the test of   
Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student   
something good?"   

"No, on the contrary..."   

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad   
about him even though you're not certain it's true?"   

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.   

Socrates continued. "You may still pass though, because there   
is a third test - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want   
to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"   

"No, not really..."   

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is   
neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at   
all?"   

Testul Filtrului Triplu - despre bârfă

O anecdota adevarata, din viata si filosofia lui Socrate, de eterna actualitate.

In Grecia Antica, Socrate era renumit pentru respectul cu care isi trata prietenii. Intr-o zi o cunostinta l-a intalnit pe marele filosof si l-a intrebat:
“Stii ce-am auzit despre prietenul tau?”

“Stai putin”, a replicat Socrate.”Inainte de a-mi spune ceva as dori sa facem un test. Se numeste testul Filtrului Triplu.”

“Filtrul Triplu?”

“Exact”, a continuat Socrate.”Inainte de a vorbi cu tine despre prietenul meu , ar fi o idee buna sa stam un pic si sa filtram ceea ce vei spune. Acesta este motivul pentru care il numesc testul Triplului Filtru. Primul filtru este Adevarul. Esti absolut sigur ca ceea ce vrei sa-mi spui este adevarat?”

“Nu”, spuse omul. “De fapt doar am auzit despre asta si……”

“In regula”, a spus Socrate.”Deci nu stii daca este adevarat sau nu. Acum hai sa incercam si al doilea filtru, filtrul Bunatatii.. Ceea ce vrei sa-mi spui despre prietenul meu este ceva bun?”

“Nu, din contra………”

“Deci,” A continuat Socrate, “Vrei sa-mi spui ceva rau despre el dar nu esti sigur ca este adevarat. Totusi poti sa treci testul, deoarece mai este un filtru: filtrul Utilitatii.Ceea ce vrei sa-mi spui despre prietenul meu imi va fi de folos?”

“Nu, nu chiar.”

“Bine”, a concluzionat Socrate, “Daca ceea ce vrei sa-mi spui nu este nici adevarat, nici bun, nici chiar folositor, de ce mai trebuie sa-mi spui ceva?”