3.3.12

Lesson 3.3.12 Piyatarasuttaṃ – Who Is Dearer than Oneself?

The ancient saying, ‘Who Is Dearer than Oneself?’, exists in manifold variations echoed in various religions and reproduced by many philosophers throughout the ages, including in the teaching of the Buddha. That is why he advised his son to consider the harm that could possibly occur to himself as well as to anyone else by any action of word, deed or mind. Additionally, it is reflected in the reply the Buddha gave to the royal couple, King Pasenadi and Queen Mallika, in this Piyatarasutta when one day they both individually pondered the same question, ‘Who is dearest to me?’, to which they both recognized that apparently the one ‘dearest to oneself’ seems to be ‘oneself only’. After they reported their conclusion to the Buddha, he appreciated their epiphany and summarised in a well-known verse that the ‘well-being of others’, their desires and yearnings, can always be reflected in one’s own wishes and longings. Therefore making oneself especially conscious to observe the welfare of others would result in wholesome attitudes and beneficial altruism.