Given this truth, the
Mahayana goal of universal liberation is simply a realistic approach.
When we understand our deep connection to each other, the dichotomy
between self and other—which is basic to our usual psychological,
ego operations—is exposed as a provisional fiction. Ultimately we
are each distinct expressions of one whole, not separate competing
entities. It is impossible to be truly free and enlightened oneself
if others down the street are in misery. To ignore the suffering of
others is to ignore some part of oneself. This does not mean that we
destroy the ego, or deny the presence of our particular body and
mind, our own life situation. Rather, we more fully engage in and
care for our own unique personhood by understanding the larger view
as well. We begin to live and practice with awareness of the illusory
nature of this self-other separation that is continuously produced by
our conditioned mentality.
---Taigen Dan Leighton, in
Faces of Compassion---
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