People’s mental states vary with their age and station in life: one cannot expect them to be the same this year as they were last year, much less maintain their present states unchanged for all eternity.
Nevertheless, we are apt to judge everything on the basis of our selves, leading us to criticize others. If, for example, someone is getting on in years and leads a placid life, he is likely to order his children and grandchildren to be quiet and unobtrusive as well. This is a great mistake.
People are surprisingly forgetful—if one becomes prosperous, one completely forgets what it felt like to be poor and suffering, immediately becoming arrogant and scorning others. Unable to sleep ourselves, we cannot demand that others stay awake too; just because one is happy, one cannot heedlessly force others to rejoice as well.
Truly, man cannot comprehend anything beyond what lies before his eyes at the moment. From this we can see just how unreliable human intellect is.
If one does not maintain a strong and stable intellect, when one is confronted with trials and temptations one will tend to waver and go astray.
Even if you think that it is wrong to turn a blind eye to another’s misdeeds, if that person is set in his ways he will be deaf to all your admonitions and advice, and you will simply have to back off and let him do as he wishes. After a while he will find himself stuck in a bad situation, and for the first time will open his eyes and see the truth of the matter.
Because they do not wish to feel regret and disappointment, if people really want to do something they will go ahead and try it no matter what, even if you tell them they should give it up. Then, one can only stand back and wait for them to realize the truth on their own.
The person who has tried and failed at various endeavors, and after failing rethought and tried again, will finally after much hardship have a true understanding of the world.
However, depending on peoples’ natures, there are those who are quickly and easily enlightened, and then there are those who must suffer great hardship before they come to any understanding at all.
If one reflects quietly upon oneself, one will soon realize that one is not all that special. It is also easy to see that everyone naturally possesses a [brutal] side. However, from theory and practice we come to realize that this is a deplorable state, and that through gradual understanding, experience, and guidance our natures can be changed. That is, we can progress from a life of sole self-interest to one of more universal concern.
As tiny cells in a vast world, we must live to serve the interest of this greater world. Unless we clearly realize this truth concerning our existence, we will not truly understand how to live—and our lives will be reckless, foolhardy, and without meaning.
However, to think only of others and to neglect oneself—for example, fasting when one is hungry and seeking only self sacrifice—will not do either. As an essential part of the whole of mankind, one must provide for one’s own self to a certain extent. It is important to strike a balance between concern for oneself and concern for mankind.
