self-love

In Buddhist teachings, self-love or self-acceptance is not seen as a necessary component of the path to enlightenment. In fact, the idea of a “self” that is separate from the rest of the world and capable of loving itself is seen as one of the root causes of suffering.

Instead of focusing on self-love, Buddhists aim to cultivate selflessness, compassion, and loving-kindness towards all beings. This includes oneself, but is not limited to oneself. By cultivating these qualities and letting go of the ego and the illusion of a separate self, one can find true happiness and freedom from suffering.

In this sense, self-love in Buddhist terms might be better understood as self-acceptance and self-compassion. This involves recognizing that we all have flaws and make mistakes, and being kind and understanding towards ourselves when we do. It also involves recognizing that we are all interconnected and interdependent, and recognizing the suffering of others as our own.