Research Paper on:
Compassion Ethic of the Dalai Lama in Kindness, Clarity and Insight

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Rather, it is the ethic of compassion, upon which a persons spiritual foundation is built. According to the Dalai Lama, there can be no enlightenment without first understanding  the significance of compassion. As he has explained in countless lectures and in his 1985 book, Kindness, Clarity and Insight, the one common denominator of the human experience has  always been the desire for happiness. He observes, ">From the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education  nor ideology affect this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment... Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of  happiness. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes" (Gyatso Compassion and the Individual). The Dalai Lama contends that compassion  is essential not only for a persons emotional health, but also for physical well-being (Gyatso Compassion and the Individual). He explains, quite simply, that anger is counter-productive, and subjects  the body to unnecessary stress which can ultimately lead to illness (Gyatso Compassion and the Individual). However, when the mind concentrates on positive thoughts, rooted in compassion, the body  responds in kind (Gyatso Compassion and the Individual). It is important to understand what the Dalai Lama means by compassion. He is not merely referring to the inner  feelings of an individual; he is referring instead to the outward expression of these feelings in the assistance of others. The Dalai Lama contends, "True compassion is not just  an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason... Whether people are beautiful and friendly or unattractive and disruptive, ultimately they are human beings, just like oneself... when you