Buddhism emphasizes love and compassion for all beings without any discrimination or favoritism,
and Buddhist doctrine shows individuals the way to acquire freedom from their own destructive emotions and how to secure total freedom from samsara for all sentient beings. The Buddhist path takes a practical and rational approach in determining what will benefit oneself and others. Above all, as a Buddhist it is important not only to learn about Buddhist teachings, but to put the teachings into practice by skillfully applying what one has learned from a qualified teacher into one's life. Thus, a practitioner must first listen to teachings from the Buddha and his disciples, then contemplate the advice again and again, and finally put the advice into practice in order to make progress in one's spiritual development and to cultivate positive change for oneself and others.