What is the benefit of an altruistic mind? It will destroy self-grasping. When self grasping collapses; on their very ground, all sentient beings are Buddhas. Lord Buddha said: " The Buddha is within all sentient beings. Yet they are obscured by adventitious stains." What are these adventitious stains? All thoughts and afflictive emotions are contained within a single turn of mind; the root of all sentient beings of the three realms is self grasping. In reality self grasping is a mental fixation, a thought grasping at a reality. Tilopa said, " Son! You are not fettered by the appearance; you are fettered by grasping at them." Once all grasping is cleared away, there is nothing that can obscure the mind. Even if thoughts arise, they will not obscure mind, if you do not grasp at them. If you grasp at them, you will be hurt like being pricked with a thorn, you will become obscured. This is called 'fettered.' We are not fettered by the extend of thoughts that arise, as long as we do not grasp at them. All the practitioners, retreatants, mountain hermits, know this, yet listen to the advise of me, a man with experience. I have gathered many experiences of suffering and difficulties in this lifetime. It is said. " An elder sick person is the best doctor."

-- Garchen Rinpoche