Often people are cruel or hurtful to others because they are cruel or hurtful to themselves. So, learning compassion for yourself often helps you to be compassionate to others. But, often it takes time to learn all this. Often it is through trial and error that we learn to be kind to ourselves especially if people have taught us to be cruel to ourselves while we were growing up.
For Tibetan Buddhist Monks they are taught to think of all living things as having been once their mothers. In this way they learn to be compassionate to all humans and other living beings throughout the past, present and future of the entire universe. But, I suppose if you don't believe in reincarnation that might not work for you.
In that case maybe seeing all living beings as your relatives or family might be useful to you in developing compassion for yourself and all other beings in the past, present and future of the universe.
You might say to me: "Why would I spend time learning compassion for myself and all living beings?"
This is a very easy answer: "When do you want to die?"
The reason this question is important is the more compassion you feel for yourself and others the longer you are likely to live as a human being here on earth.
The more hatred and anger you have towards yourself or others the shorter your lifetime will be. This is a given in life if you understand anything at all about physical and mental health.
So, the question is: "Do you want to die tomorrow or 100 years or more from now?"
This is something to think about that is actually useful to you. The more compassion you have for yourself and others the more likely your lifetime will be a long and happy one.
By God's Grace
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