Happiness in this World » Compassion

The Right To Die

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:00:58 +0000

Photo: rjhuttondfw

The notion that dying is a right seems nonsensical to argue: death is given to all of us equally without the need of anyone’s sanction. The right to die well, on the other hand—well, that’s another matter entirely. A good death is, in many cases, something our fellow human beings have [...]

The Courage To Hear The Truth

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 22:00:59 +0000

Photo: pichado photography

Years ago, I was having lunch with a friend who’d developed a reputation for being difficult. He complained frequently and bitterly, often about things no one else found bothersome. In general, he was perceived as negative and over-entitled. I thought most of the time the points he made were valid [...]

Crazy Makers

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:00:44 +0000

Photo: Maks Karochkin

“The Buddha’s compassion is perfectly equal and impartial. The Buddha views all beings as his own children and strives to elevate them to attain his same enlightened state of life. It’s not that there are no differences among people. Rather, it’s that the Buddha, while fully recognizing people’s differences, [...]

How To Overcome Shyness

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:00:32 +0000

Photo: kaibara87

When I was a teenager, I was afflicted with terrible shyness. Not in every context or with all people—mostly just with girls. Not unlike millions of other adolescent males, when in the presence of a girl I found attractive, I would become tongue tied, awkward, and lose all self-confidence.

As I [...]

When Someone You Love Is Unhappy

Alex Lickerman — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:00:25 +0000

Photo: Alex E. Proimos

A patient of mine has a mentally ill brother who’s depressed and anxious, as well as manipulative and stubborn. He often refuses to take medication that’s helped him in the past and as a result often ends up lying at home in his bed, unwashed and unkempt, for days [...]