May 30, 2026
The Pathway to Integrated Living
— Daily reminders for a conscious, connected life —
Self-concern is the root of all our troubles—our fears, our conflicts, even our sleepless nights. It makes us cling to what we have, exploit others without thinking, and remain isolated despite our hunger for connection. Yet within each of us lies the capacity to reverse this pattern entirely. By gradually shifting our attention from "What will happen to me?" to "How can I ease their suffering?" we unlock a wellspring of courage, generosity, and peace that no external circumstance can diminish.
The focus for today is:
Reversing self-concern into genuine concern for others transforms both our inner peace and our outer world.
Today's message is inspired by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, author of the book: The Bodhisattva Vow
Geshe Sonam Rinchen teaches that our endless pursuit of personal happiness has failed us precisely because we have used the wrong method. When we cherish only ourselves, we live in constant fear—of losing what we have, of what others might do to us, of our own insignificance. But when we invert this priority and practice giving without expectation of return, protecting others' wellbeing as fiercely as we protect our own, something miraculous happens: our fears dissolve, our isolation ends, and true happiness emerges naturally. This is not sacrifice; it is awakening to our deepest nature.
CONTINUE READING the complete article here:
Attitudes Transformed: Reversing Our Attitudes Towards Ourselves and Others
Author: Geshe Sonam Rinchen
A Reminder:
Reversing self-concern into genuine concern for others transforms both our inner peace and our outer world.
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RELATED BOOK: The Bodhisattva Vow
By Geshe Sonam Rinchen (edited and translated by Ruth Sonam). Before the Dalai Lama bestows the Bodhisattva vow, he often teaches the short text known as the Twenty Verses on the Bodhisattva Vow, which discusses the most important features regarding the vow—from whom it should be taken, how to prepare for receiving it, what constitutes transgressions, and how they should be purified. Geshe Sonam Rinchen explains in clear and accessible terms how to take and safeguard the Bodhisattva vow.
For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as a Kindle edition and Audiobook.
About the Author
Geshe Sonam Rinchen was born in Tibet in 1933. He studied at Sera Je Monastery and in 1980 received the Lharampa Geshe degree. He is currently resident scholar at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India, where he teaches Buddhist philosophy and practice, mainly to westerners. He has also taught in Japan, Australia, Great Britain, South Korea, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. He is the author of several books on Buddhist thought and practice.
Author's website: Snow Lion Publications
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