Written by: Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen
Lu
Translated by: Harmony
Edited by: Dance Smith
Proofread by: Jessie
Padmakumara Translation Team
Website: www.padmakumara.org
Chapter 43: Relationships Between People
I have often wondered: in today's human relationships, what makes
a person virtuous or a villain? Later, I realized that the majority
of people are self-centered. Everything surrounding a person revolves
around "self". Not only that, people want the world to
obey "me". This is a prevailing syndrome of present-day
people.
I probed deeper into the minds of mental patients and discovered
that almost all of them are extremely "self" centered.
Mental patients wave their batons, attempting to conduct everything
in the world. Serious mental patients have one thought in mind:
"I am right and others are all wrong."
Taking this attitude even further, people rob each other for their
own benefit by any means available. This is the vilest side of the
human nature. In today's complicated world, the more such people
exist, the worse the environment becomes, and consequently the more
"villains" there are.
Actually, "virtuous" people trust others, respect others
and have concern for the value of the whole society. A human relationship
based on mutual trust and respect is the same as a relationship
based on mutual kindness. In this way, we can create great benefit
for society. Actually, what the world needs is respect and kindness
for others. The same principle should extend to nature, the environment,
society and even to the whole universe.
It is imperative for cultivators to control their own desires and
needs. Real spiritual satisfaction comes from being content, with
the fewest self-centered desires. Unfortunately, modern day people
are sick. There are too many self-centered people and there are
too many mental patients. They both believe the center of the universe
is "me". Consequently, there are many crises hidden beneath
modern-day society waiting to erupt.
