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So all along the way； there are countless kind individuals who are aiding us to enjoy these products； countless individuals involved in their production。 So then one contemplates their kindness in aiding us to enjoy various products。 So through this contemplation； we develop the exalted remembering the kindness of sentient beings。 This is extremely important and without this； it is very difficult to actually engage in the main part of this pith instruction or meditation。
This is the same for any situation in which we find ourselves。 For example； now we are all sitting here enjoying the Dharma teaching in this beautiful building。 So this building didn't e from nowhere and it certainly didn't e about through our efforts。 Rather countless individuals in the past … hundreds or perhaps even thousands … were involved in the planning of this building； the building of the foundations； then of the actual building itself； putting the windows in and whatever … so that now we can just e to this building and enjoy the Dharma teaching which Rinpoche is giving。 But if we contemplate that hundreds or thousands of individuals have been instrumental in bringing about this Dharma talk we are now enjoying … it's not just those of us who are assembled here； rather hundreds and thousands of kind mother / father sentient beings have aided us； whether knowingly or not； in the past by having built this court…house。
So all of our enjoyments are brought about through the kindness of sentient beings。 Our body came into existence through the bined efforts of our mother and father and the union of the white and red fluids。 Then everything we own； every possession which we have； came into existence； came into our possession； through the kindness of sentient beings。 In fact everything we can imagine came into being through the kindness of other sentient beings … so thus we should contemplate。
The faults of self…cherishing and the benefits of cherishing others
So then after this contemplation； we need to bring to mind the next step which is contemplating on the faults of self…cherishing and the benefits of cherishing others more than oneself。 So it is said that self…cherishing leads one by the head； as it were； into all kinds of dissatisfaction or suffering。 So let us understand what is meant by self…cherishing： If we think of certain situations which we might find ourselves in … let us say we want to have some particular object； a table or whatever。 Then if we don't have the money to purchase such an item； then really wanting the best for ourselves and thinking that this 'best' will only be achieved through having such an object （in this instance； the table）； then we will engage in the practice of stealing。 Then； wishing the best for ourselves； we may think that if we kill an enemy we may have greater status or greater peace or whatever … then we may engage in the practice of killing another； purely through wishing to have the best for ourselves。 Again for example； we might wish somebody to perform an action for us； and in order to bring that about； we may confuse that person or lie to that person so that they engage in such a negative action； through which we might engage in some temporary benefit。
But in all three of these examples； through wishing the best for ourselves； what we have generated is negative karma； the ripening results of which； that is to say rebirth in the lower realms of existence； are thus to be experienced in the future。 Thus it is said that this attitude … wishing the best for oneself； cherishing oneself above everything else … is that which is going to lead one to into all states of dissatisfaction And then cherishing others more than oneself is said to be the basis or the ground of all good qualities。 So if we talk from the point of view of generating the various spiritual grounds and paths； whether they be of the greater or the lesser vehicles； all of this es about through relating with others in a positive way。 For example； if we wish to engage in the practice of the various perfections … the perfection of giving then is only possible through the kindness of others。 Then if we talk about engaging in the practice of morality； which is the cause of achieving human existence … this is only possible through relations with others。 So we can see that all good qualities； all positive karmas； are brought about through viewing one's kind parent sentient beings in a positive light； and thoroughly ridding oneself of wanting the best for oneself； of this self…cherishing attitude。
So these qualities are enumerated in great detail in Shantideva's book The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life （Bodhicaryavatara） where he says that
All happiness and joy in the world es about through cherishing others；
whereas all suffering in the world es about through cherishing oneself。
So as we have seen； having this attitude which puts oneself above all others is one which is just going to lead one to engage in negative actions； the ripening results of which are nothing but that which one is trying to escape … the state of dissatisfaction The Bodhicaryavatara gives manifold reasonings for the benefit of cherishing others and how terrible it is to engage in this attitude which holds oneself above others。 And in essence it concludes with
What need is there for many words？
Full enlightenment es about through the attitude of cherishing others；
whereas all states of woe e about through cherishing oneself。
So we can see through this last quotation that the state of Buddhahood with the incredible qualities which are contained therein； es about solely through cherishing others； whereas all the states of suffering； in their various forms； e about through this self…cherishing attitude。
So if we wish to achieve positive states； positive qualities； then we should engage in this attitude of cherishing others； and if we wish to thoroughly abandon the causes of ddissatisfaction then we should thoroughly understand what is meant by self…cherishing； then contemplate the faults of that and then strive to change that attitude。
So these quintessential instructions … the six cause and one effect； and this equalising and exchanging self for others … these contemplations are to be emphasised； and if one can practice these as much as possible； this will give great impetus for achieving or generating the mind aspiring to highest enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings。 After having generated this mind； we have the basis for engaging in the Bodhisattva activities and whatever kind of activities we are engaging in； for example the practice of the Secret Mantra and so forth； they will bee useful and beneficial； not only to ourselves but to others。 If we engage in the practice of the mantras without this basis of bodhicitta； it's not really going to be of much use and can in some instances be rather harmful or detrimental to one。 So having this practice as the core of our whole being is one which will bring great benefit to one in one's manifold practices。 It is said that if all the wise ones came together and contemplated for aeons and aeons about which is the most beneficial thing for one； they wouldn’t find anything