The Buddha found a way in which you can do both yourself and others at the same time, because when you practice both ways, then everybody benefits. Helping yourself, you help others. Helping others, you help yourself.

"So as you help others, you help yourself. As you help yourself, you help others. It shows that that old Mahayana issue of having to help others first before you help yourself is a non-issue. The Buddha found a way in which you can do both at the same time, because when you practice both ways, then everybody benefits. Helping yourself, you help others. Helping others, you help yourself."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Help Others, Help Yourself"

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