Question

Can you talk about human qualities that deserve to be respected?

Answer

We can start with the Ten Paramis: Generosity, Morality, Renunciation, Wisdom, Energy, Patience, Truthfulness, Determination, Compassionate/Lovingkindness and Equanimity. We can start with those. Those are good qualities to respect.

However, let's take "Determination". Should we always respect someone just because they are determined? No, we really shouldn't. It's interesting.

What about Compassion/Lovingkindness? Should we always respect someone just because they have a lot of Compassion/Lovingkindness? Yes, that makes sense.

Energy. Should we always respect someone just because they have a lot of energy? No.

Equanimity. Should we always respect someone just because they have a lot of equanimity? No, because the equanimity might not be balanced enough, there might not be enough compassion. They might walk right by somebody in need of help, but they're too indifferent.

So, it's interesting, even in the Ten Paramis, although we look at them and we say those are what we want to develop, individually some of them don't necessarily mean anything unless they're connected to the others. Which is why they're all together, as ten. So when we look at human qualities, any human quality, really, even ones that are not included, for example, Forgiveness. It's not one of the Ten Paramis, but if a person's very good at forgiving others, isn't that something we could respect? Yes, that makes sense.

So when you look at human qualities, in themselves they may or may not be something to respect. But the minute you look at them a little more, e.g. you have a compassionate person who's determined to be compassionate. Wow, yes, right! You have a compassionate person who has energy to keep to their determination? Yes, right! So the minute we connect determination with Compassion/Lovingkindness, we will respect them. As long as the energy and the determination are going in a positive way.

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