This Buddha quote segues in nicely: Do not judge yourself harshly. Without mercy for ourselves we cannot love the world. -- Buddha
"Love the person you are , as much as you would care about any person
dear to you, but don't love the self or any other mind object." BUDDHA'S BRAIN, Rick Hanson, et. al.
Dr. Hanson goes on to even defend the "self" (which appears to be his word of choice instead of the demonized "ego"): "The apparent self is useful for relationships and
for a healthy sense of psychological coherence over time. Humans have a sense of self
because it served vital survival functions during our evolution. It is pointless to be averse to the self, since aversion intensifies the self. The point is to see through the self and let it relax and disperse.
The self grows through identification, possession, pride and separation from the world and life. We explored many ways to disengage from these and, instead, center increasingly in openhearted spaciousness, goodwill towards one's own thriving, and in contented peaceful relationships with other beings."
It is so refreshing to read the above without hearing about how we have to "trash the ego" "as being "averse to the 'ego', strengthens the 'ego'. Needless to say I highly recommend BUDDHA'S BRAIN! ron alexander
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