One should never criticize others after observing only a small part of their words and actions.
At first, we fail to realize just how mean and narrow our own mind is—as we bear grudges and curse the world. However, as we gradually develop the power of introspection, and as we begin to understand the nature of the universe, for the first time we are able to appreciate others, and come to understand more clearly the subtleties of human relations and the ways of the world. Only the man who has seen through to the true nature of the world can possess the power to be tolerant of others.
The greatness of a man is commensurate with his ability to understand everything around him—in no way does it depend upon his mastery of theory or his technical skill.
In this world, even among scholars or technical experts, the majority of such folk can hardly be called eminent. Essentially, these people acquire a great deal of one-sided worldly experience underscoring their complete lack of spiritual advancement. The average person, however, still insists on using shallow academic titles as a yardstick for judging others, and the state of the world grows daily more absurd.
There is no greater obstacle to understanding than the harboring of preconceptions. Unless we drop our preconceptions regarding people and things, and look with unbiased eyes, we will still tend to misjudge them.
Worst is to think ill of others and envy them. Nine-hundred and ninety-nine people out of a thousand will excuse their own conduct while blaming others. This is truly reprehensible.
Those whose lives are full of hardship tend to envy and curse the more prosperous. This is a natural human weakness, springing from a self-centered outlook on life.
Because desire for self-gratification is always lurking at the heart of our actions, we consequently tend to denigrate others. As long as everyone wishes to become sole ruler, subordinating all others to the gratification of his own desires, there will always be strife and discord among men.
With good grace, we must acknowledge our faults and errors. No matter how wise we might seem, unless we possess this honesty and introspective strength, we can be of no use.
In as much as we all share the same physical form and the same ground to walk upon, we are all human to the last: there are no gods among us. Truly, what special powers and wisdom do we have to boast of? Our habit of flaunting our puny selves, trying to impress the world with our greatness, is truly childish.
If we cannot comprehend eternity, we cannot understand the present. Without understanding the world, how can we hope to understand our selves? We must stop our foolish measuring of eternity upon the basis of the present, and our judging of others by our own standards.
We must attempt things and reflect upon them with deep humility and thorough gentleness. Seeing our faults, we must bravely seek to rectify them.
Look for the path by introspection, find it through understanding, proceed along it with self-renewal. Those who go through life following their base instincts are no better than brutes. Self-discipline and yet more self-discipline, toil and yet more toil, embarking each day upon a fresh path—this is the true way for man.
With reflection, we realize how mean, puny, and frail we are, and for the first time we are able to attain humility and gentleness. If one goes around thinking, “I am special,” purity of spirit will be extremely remote. Such a person will forever remain but a hard, dark, and dirty lump. One who does not reflect, nor seek understanding or self-betterment, is for all eternity clinging to a form piteous to behold. In proportion to the degree of one’s self-attachment, is one’s divine nature compromised. In proportion to one’s self-renunciation, one’s self grows broader. With self-attachment, we are only able to view God in a narrow and limited way—with self-renunciation, we may always see God in a wide and boundless fashion. Peoples’ innermost spirits draw their vitality from the link between the infinite and the eternal. Therefore, having decided to always strive one’s hardest, without fail one can then attain the infinite. Those who are constantly vacillating, always absorbed in the moment with their petty egos, can never rise above the mundane, nor transcend their limitations.
We should know ourselves with composed hearts, and see all that is around us with open eyes. To know others is to know oneself; to know oneself is to know others. To reflect upon oneself is to search for the path, to come to understand things is to find the path, and to work to better oneself is to advance along the path. These three stages represent the sequence of mankind’s spiritual development. If you ignore them, no matter how much you suffer and fret, you will merely worry your mind and tire your body—of what use is this? In this world, there are many people apparently suffering great hardship, but most of them are lost in a haze of self-attachment, and endlessly repeat the same follies without coming to any enlightenment. Forgetting to blame themselves, they have only anger, resentment, and envy for others; they make no spiritual progress whatsoever.
We should not linger upon the past. Let us also leave matters of the future in the hands of God. Simply, moment-by-moment in the present, let us work hard, reflect well upon ourselves, come to a deeper understanding of things, and strive constantly to improve.
To guide others by not interfering is the highest form of teaching. Those you try to teach by being officious about everything will not come to understand things on their own—this is hardly an effective way.
[If only such persons whose mere presence naturally commands one’s deepest respect were to appear, this world would become a better place.]
Bad habits are not easily cured. To effect such a cure, extreme perseverance, effort, and resourcefulness are necessary. Because it is not easy for us to understand ourselves, we must reflect upon our natures thoroughly and objectively, gradually coming to know our vices and endeavoring to remedy them.
To become able to see oneself truly and without bias is to become fully alive.
I wish each of us could shed our conceited natures. I would also like to do away with all jealousy and envy of others.
We are quick to notice the faults of others, but in our own cases we are never able to see a thing. One way or another we need to exist together with broad minds, forgiving eyes, and tolerant ears, living with one another in peace.
If all people simply tried to raise up their fellow men and bring happiness to each other, they could bring about the best of all possible worlds.
If we quietly reflect upon the hearts of the world’s people, it seems that for some reason or other we are stingy, we argue and fight about the smallest trivialities, and we are always waiting for the slightest chance to fault each other in minor matters.
It is a shame that we cannot reflect more deeply on ourselves, striving to unify our hearts, trusting, protecting, and forgiving one another.
Paying attention to trivial matters, while failing to see the broader issue—this is modern man’s greatest fault.
Those who become ‘wise’ in only that which lies before their noses—these shifty and irresolute types are fast multiplying. Those who envy others over trifling matters I find most despicable. Those who are broad-spirited and composed I like best.
If we reflect upon our thoughts and actions we find that we are wholly unable to blame others for them.
We must guide each and every person with kindness and good will.
No matter how you look at it, there is no way to bring about peace on earth other than to be forgiving of one another.
We must each reflect upon our own nature, never thinking ill of others. We must cultivate a boundless spirit of selflessness. We must be self-effacing in all our affairs. And whatever another’s crimes or faults, we must be large-hearted enough to wholly forgive them.
Those who think only of the future cannot complete their daily work.
Those who only criticize others must necessarily be neglecting their own selves.
What is around you is simply the reflection of what is within you.
Those around you are merely reflections of your own self.
Intuition and reflection—things may seem incompatible when they are actually complementary.
Sometimes we obey our intuition. Sometimes we are guided by reflection.
Intuition comes from God; reflection comes from God as well.
Intuition and reflection—if you lose one, you will go astray, and if you neglect the other, you will be lost too.
