Learning Kindness: The Problems of "Near and Far Enemies" in Buddhism 

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Doug thank you for the video and so happy to see you have recovered!

Always great to start the morning with a bit of solid wisdom and a new understanding. Thanks as always, Doug!

'Pity' ... bingo! Thank you, Doug. Will be listening to this many times in the future.

Your Buddhism wisdom is highly knowledgeable. I been a Buddhist since birth. Everyone can attain Buddha but ignorance, anger (hate), delusion will cloud people mind. We all need to place loving, kindness, genorsity, compassionate and positive thoughts, actions, words, speech and other positive things. The Four Nobel Truths as follows. (1) What is suffering? Why is suffering occurring in our daily lives? Where does these suffering(s) come from in our daily lives? When does suffering come from in our daily lives? How does suffering arises and then persists for a while and then goes away? (2) What is the cause of these suffering? Why is suffering and it's causes occurring in our daily lives? Where does suffering and it's causes come from in our daily lives? When does suffering and it's causes come from in our daily lives? How does suffering and it's causes arises then persists for a while and then goes away? (3) How to improve these suffering and it's causes? (4) How to liberate/remove these sorts of suffering? This will lead you to the Nobel Eightfold Path.

Near/far enemy in Pali is āsannapaccatthiko/dūrapaccatthiko and those terms seem to be used only in the commentarial literature.

I love this perspective. Thanks so much for sharing

I'm Buddhist from Himalayan kingdom. I don't know if it is abnormal! I have a great sympathetic towards criminals, as a Buddhist we are aware of karma, I can't imagine the sufferings of their deeds, they have to endure in this life. :(.

It seems that the difference between the emotions of kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity and their near enemies is one of attachment. Those beneficial states of mind have the quality of non attachment, and the near enemies are of the same emotion but fostered with attachment.

Hey Dough, I just commented on your New Buddhism Video. I think you should know What Dr. Ambedkar said before writing Buddha and His Dhamma, which is really important.

Dear Doug, can you make a video on concrete exercises or ways to practice each of theese (or how to avoid the enemies you mention). Thank you!

I guess, if the Ven. Buddhaghosa could say his understanding about the "near enemies" and "far enemies" to the Buddha, then the Buddha would approve it. And it is not difficult to understand that it makes sense.