The New Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness

by Kelsang Gyatso

All negative actions are motivated by delusions, which in turn arise from self-cherishing. First we develop the thought ‘I am important’, and because of this we feel that the fulfilment of our wishes is of paramount importance. Then we desire for ourself that which appears attractive and develop attachment, we feel aversion for that which appears unattractive and develop anger, and we feel indifference towards that which appears neutral and develop ignorance. From these three delusions all other delusions arise. Self-grasping and self-cherishing are the roots of the tree of suffering, delusions such as anger and attachment are its trunk, negative actions are its branches, and the miseries and pains of samsara are its bitter fruit.