Having Experienced the Same Thing in This Long Course

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.

Whenever you see anyone in misfortune, in misery, you can conclude: We too have experienced the same thing in this long course…

Whenever you see anyone happy and fortunate, you can conclude: We too have experienced the same thing in this long course.

It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your mother … your father ... your brother ... your sister … your son … your daughter.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.

It is enough to experience fading away of strong feelings towards all conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards them, enough to be liberated from them.

(Reference: SN 15.11)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how each of us have experienced the same thing as that which we see other beings experiencing.

“Whenever you see anyone in misfortune, in misery, you can conclude: We too have experienced the same thing in this long course…” therefore, if you observe someone in unfortunate circumstances, you too have experienced that same situation at some point in the past or in past lives. This can help a Practitioner to develop loving-kindness and compassion for all beings who are experiencing situations that are unfortunate.

Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.

Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.

“Whenever you see anyone happy and fortunate, you can conclude: We too have experienced the same thing in this long course” therefore, if you observe someone in fortunate circumstances, you too have experienced that same situation at some point in the past or in past lives. This can help a Practitioner to develop sympathetic joy eliminating any jealousy or envy.

Sympathetic joy (Pāli: muditā) is joy for others’ success, even if you did not contribute to it.

If you are finding it challenging to cultivate loving-kindness, compassion, or sympathetic joy for others, you can keep in mind that all beings that exist today have been your relative at some point in the past. The Buddha explains, “it is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your mother … your father ... your brother ... your sister … your son … your daughter”.

You can consider that all animals and humans have been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter at some point in a past life.

Are you truly interested in doing harm to your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter?

Keeping this in mind and treating people as they are members of your family can help you to cultivate deep loving-kindness, compassion, and sympathetic joy towards all beings eliminating anger, hatred, ill will, indifference, uncaring, jealousy, and envy. This can even help the mind choose to no longer eat other beings as part of your food supply.

Would you eat your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter?