Comments on: On Lovingkindness and Happiness http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/248.php Mindfulness and Individualism Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Jim Reed http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/248.php#comment-12609 Jim Reed Sun, 26 Nov 2006 19:15:12 +0000 http://www.zader.com/2006/?p=248#comment-12609 I am now reading Sharon Salzberg’s book so I am a year behind you. During the last year have you gained any further insights into the practice of metta? As an Objectivist the Buddhist emphasis on altruism has bothered me. However, Salzberg describes a more acceptable form of altruism that seems much more acceptable. She indicates that altruism is something we do when the occassion arises and is not necessarily something we go looking for. Also, that we must know our limits and when to say no. Wow, it is OK to say no! The practice of metta feels good. The altruism described by Salzberg is not the outright blind self sacrafice that Rand opposes. Maybe there is a nice middle ground here. I am now reading Sharon Salzberg’s book so I am a year behind you. During the last year have you gained any further insights into the practice of metta?

As an Objectivist the Buddhist emphasis on altruism has bothered me. However, Salzberg describes a more acceptable form of altruism that seems much more acceptable. She indicates that altruism is something we do when the occassion arises and is not necessarily something we go looking for. Also, that we must know our limits and when to say no. Wow, it is OK to say no!

The practice of metta feels good. The altruism described by Salzberg is not the outright blind self sacrafice that Rand opposes. Maybe there is a nice middle ground here.

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