<http://www.tricycle.com/issues/2_693/dailydharma/4435-1.html>
The foundation and initial goal of [our] transformation is avoiding
doing harm to others. Whether alone or with others, we must strive to
avoid doing harm either directly with our words or deeds or indirectly
with our thoughts and intentions. We may injure others with abuse,
slander, sarcasm, and deceit, or by acts of omission due to
insensitivity and thoughtlessness. The most subtle way of harming others
is indirectly by means of our thoughts, judgments, and attitudes. When
the mind is dominated by hostility, we may be viciously attacking others
with our thoughts. Although no apparent injury may be inflicted, these
thoughts affect us internally and influence our way of interacting with
others, and the long-term effect is invariably harmful. So the initial
theme of Dharma practice is a nonviolent approach to our own lives, to
other living beings, and to our environment. This is a foundation for
spiritual practice, and can provide well-being for both ourselves and
others. On this basis of nonviolence we can look for ways to serve
others keeping in mind that any work will be altruistic if our
motivation is one of kindness and friendliness.
--B. Alan Wallace, /Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up/ From /Everyday
Mind/, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith
