Altruism - Matthieu Ricard - Book Review

Altruism

The Power of Compassion to Change

Yourself and the World

Book by Matthieu Ricard

Main Ideas in the Book

Key Message: The key message in this book is, even despite all the selfishness and friction in the world, there still exists altruism or selflessness in the world. And once we recognize this kindness in others, we can incorporate it in our lives via meditation, helping others and concentrating on interrelatedness of everything which surrounds us.

Actionable Advice: The advice is to meditate. Not only it calms our minds, it also acts as an anti-aging agent.

When we imagine a perfect world, we often envision it with caring altruistic people. World will certainly be a better place if instead of being on top alone, we start helping others and be on top together. But how do we achieve this altruism?

In this write-up following points have been stressed upon –

• How neuroscience has proven the power of altruism;

• How you can use Buddhist thinking to lessen feelings of pain; and

• Why the worst of times can bring out the best in people.

Altruism can be of two types – the one we are born with (i.e. the natural altruism) and the one we practice as we grow (i.e. the one which is not innate, but needs to be cultivated within a person).

With altruism, world will certainly be a better place. But how do we foster altruism? Turns out it is not that difficult, all it needs is meditation, practicing empathy.

To foster altruism, it is important that we have a look within ourselves. In that way, we’ll realize that we generally dislike sufferings and desire happiness. When we expand this view point, we can experience altruism.

One creature’s joy and pain is connected to another’s. Thus, the greatest altruistic effort would be to free every being from all suffering. Someone who devotes herself to this effort is known as a Bodhisattva. To become which, one has to take certain vows.

According to Buddhism the ultimate reason for suffering is ignorance. Altruism is linked to love which is a contagious emotion, the more we give, the more we receive.

But love isn’t the path to helping. Often the love we feel tends to depend on external conditions, with practice, everyone can learn to love regardless of the situation or the person. In this way, love is energizing too.

But that’s not all the power of love. Another benefit of love is that it will help you draw positive social benefits from others without even trying. That’s because your brain have so-called ‘mirror neurons’, which are special cells that let you feel what another person is feeling.

Scientists claim that how we think can even change our DNA, making us more altruistic.

Acting positively actually has several benefits. A research based on the concept of neuroplasticity, infers that people in quintessence become more loving by having altruistic thoughts.

Dismissing the myth about our brains shrinking as we grow up, scientists believe that when we perform a certain action, the part of our brain connected to that action “becomes stronger,” that is, grows more neurons, which in turns leads to growth of our brain.

There is also another study by the name of Epigenetics, which how externalities impact working of a person’s genes. We can actually change our genes. The idea is that if we act more altruistically, our actions can potentially influence the expression of your genes, changing them.

Humans are not born selfish, but several reasons or circumstances may push them towards it. Though some people believe that to be successful one needs to look after their own needs first, it is not essentially sure shot way to success.

As social animals, humans crave community and only focusing on one’s self is said to be a ‘sure path to misery’.

Much of the justification for selfish actions stem from the misunderstanding of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

People often misinterpret Darwin’s theory in order to support individualistic, behaviour. Many think that the phrase “survival of the fittest” means that only the strongest will survive, and that cooperation is opposed to our survival instincts. However, Darwin clearly advocated that animals benefit each other is various ways too.

Yet people are so focused on their own ego that they build their entire worldview around it. This focused dedication to self is called egocentrism.

Meditation can help us foster altruism and do more good for others. It is an introspection technique being used for more than 2000 years now for several reasons, cultivating altruism being one of them. It is very successful in cultivating positive changes in our mind.

One of the direct practices to cultivate altruism is ‘metta meditation’. Metta is a Pali word which means “love.” While practicing metta meditation, one has to sit still, remain relaxed and send love to one’s self. After a period of time, one begins expanding this love to the people in their home, then to the ones who live in their city, country, the planet and eventually, the entire universe.

Ruchika Verma

If you liked these ideas you should read the wonderful book which can be purchased here