Human beings have all the potential to create good things, but its full utilization requires freedom, liberty. Totalitarianism stifles this growth. In a complementary way, individualism means that you do not expect something from the outside or that you are waiting for orders; rather, you yourself create the initiative. Therefore, Buddha frequently called for "individual liberation," meaning self-liberation, not through an organization. Each individual must create her or his own positive future. Freedom and individualism require self-discipline. If these are exploited for the sake of afflictive emotions, there are negative consequences. Freedom and self-discipline must work together. -- page 44, The Dalai Lama, Advice on Dying: and living a better life (translated by Jeffrey Hopkins, Ph. D.)
Yes, indeed! We have the potential to create good things.
Without freedom and liberty, what good we create may be trampled by uncaring people.
In the political realm, totalitarianism wipes out individual freedom.
So too does right-wing conservatism.
As an individual, what good is expecting something good from the world to happen to you?
While awaiting the orders of a master, does that not make you less of a disciple and more of a slave?
Of course, most of us admire initiative from one person out of many, to do good for others.
In doing so, the spiritual seeker learns how to discipline herself, with the hope that what help she may provide will inspire others to help others in return.
This is the seed of self-liberation, and is on the right path to nirvana.
By doing so, the seeker creates his positive future.
All it takes is freedom and self-discipline.
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