Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.
People share similar needs.2-4
People need food and drink.
People need clothing and shelter.
People need physical and mental health.
People need safety from threats and dangers.
People need friendship and a sense of belonging.
People need to feel their lives are worthwhile.
People need clothing and shelter.
People need physical and mental health.
People need safety from threats and dangers.
People need friendship and a sense of belonging.
People need to feel their lives are worthwhile.
When people’s needs are not satisfied, they suffer. Other people want to avoid suffering, just as I do.
When people’s needs are satisfied, they experience happiness. Other people want to experience happiness, just as I do.
When I help people satisfy their needs, so they are able to avoid suffering and experience happiness, I treat them in the same way that I would like them to treat me. I am loving them as I love myself.
References
- Lao Tzu. Tao Te Ching. Translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English (1972). New York, NY: Knopf. Second Vintage Books Edition (2012). Quote taken from page 15.
- Larry Litwack (2007). Basic Needs – A Retrospective. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 26: 28-30.
- Mark Koltko-Rivera (2006). Rediscovering the Later Version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Transcendence and Opportunities for Theory, Research, and Unification. Review of General Psychology, 10(4): 302–317.
- Roy Baumeister and Mark Leary (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117: 497-529.