Peter Ralston on Freeing People from Their Suffering

If I saw a rabbit struggling with life, I would give him some water and perhaps some food, since that is all he needs and all I can do. If he is trapped I would release him from the trap. I wouldn’t expect anything in return, and I wouldn’t attempt to teach him anything.

With humans it is both different and the same. Some people I suspect I could only assist in the life they insist on living without them having or being open to any notion of it being a changeable fabrication. Yet, the traps I might see them in require some facilitation or teaching to free them. This can be more difficult than freeing the rabbit.

When freed, the rabbit just hops away, but a human will resist being freed and often even fight off the attempt. Where should I draw the line about when to leave them be and when to persist? I guess the first thing is to inquire if they recognize their suffering in some way, and then ask if they want to be free of it. The rest should unfold from there.

I hope this helps,
Peter

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