Seven Points of Mind Training

Point 6 : Disciplines of Mind Training

38: Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness.

Point Six : Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness.

Commentary :

This slogan is quite straightforward: you hope that somebody else will suffer so that you can benefit from it. Here is a very simple analogy: if a member of the sangha dies, you might inherit his or her meditation cushion, or if you are a vajrayana practitioner, you might inherit his bell and dorje. We could expand on that logic in any number of situations, but I don't think it is necessary for us to do so.

We should not build our own happiness on the suffering of others. Although it may benefit us if someone experiences misfortune, we should not wish for that and dream about what we could get out of such a situation. Happiness that is built on pain is spurious and only leads to depression in the long run.