On the whole, those who fawn upon their superiors tend to be particularly cruel to their subordinates. A self-centered and superficially amicable relationship is liable to quickly turn into one of bitter enmity.
One may spend an entire day in silence with a member of one’s family and not mind a bit, but to do this with a stranger is likely to lead to mutual suspicion and prejudice. Within one’s family, everyone relates smoothly and freely with one another without constraint. Conversely, with two strangers, because both are guarded, reserved, and constantly concerned with showing themselves in a good light, even their most insignificant words and actions cast a dark pall upon their relations.
Young children are superior to adults in this respect, and because they exist wholly without ambition, they are completely free from fear. Since their behavior springs directly from their true feelings, they neither deceive themselves nor do they misinterpret the words of others.
For those who hold a secret or a weak spot within, their paranoia breeds demons. They come to harbor a self-created shadow deep in their hearts, and so their lives are filled with fear and suffering.
Wisdom and foolishness aside, the true man of virtue is he who all people naturally feel at ease around, and who, though inaccessible at first, grows on one with every meeting.
If those in a position of authority lack the ability to clearly judge others, already the doom of the organization is sealed.
If we come to realize, “Ah, so this is how the world works,” then we will never be excited or disturbed by trivialities or whether something is good or bad. The world consists simply of the actual state of things as they are, and the changes in this state.
All people possess compassion and mercy. They simply only possess these to the degree of their own advancement. Because God’s mercy is boundless, it is not readily comprehended by man.
We must not put our intellect before all else, nor try to accomplish things by force. Leaving things to nature, we must strive in a wholly unconstrained manner. Yet, to strive at all is already in part a manifestation of shallow human intellect. Let things develop as they will.
He who wholeheartedly invokes God will without fail be uplifted. If one is uplifted in this way, one will naturally come to know the true way of thinking, and one’s way of looking at things will evolve.
Those who are narrow-minded become strangely suspicious at even the most trivial of things, and tend to see everything in a bad light. Such small-mindedness can amount to nothing. In all things, to look upon the actions of others with good will is the divine path.
To earnestly absorb oneself in shallow and petty emotional conflict is beneath criticism.
It is difficult to trust the nervous/restless person in the slightest bit. This is because such a person, though quick to make promises, is likely to readily double-cross one as well.
Because people are without fail egocentric and nearsighted, they tend to become perplexed and upset by even the most inconsequential matters.
One who holds a position of responsibility, above all must reflect with great care upon his words and actions. This is because what one thoughtlessly does and says has far-reaching consequences on a great number of people.
If a group’s leaders are coarse, narrow-minded, and careless, already that group is hopelessly doomed to failure. If even a few of these leaders are clear-minded and reliable, however, then any kind of work at all may be easily accomplished.
If one relies too heavily on one’s superiors, one will come to lack self-reliance, and if one relies too heavily upon oneself, one’s mightiest efforts will be in vain. A true leader will not simply instruct an underling, but will skillfully induce him to come to an understanding of the matter on his own.
Most people live in a prison of ideology, all the while cackling about each other’s stupidity.
Scientists are enslaved by their science, and religious folk have fallen into superstition. Scientists are quick to say, “that is not rational!” So, bound by mistaken reason, and taking joy only in mere theories, they are forever being flustered by reality. Religious people are always quick to say, “If you do such a thing, you will call God’s wrath down upon your head!” So, while in truth acting in a manner bound to offend God, they go about thinking that they are actually doing good.
All in all, there is none free from the fetters of human thinking, save for the newborn babe.
Because people are by nature hardly more than masses of egotism and self-interest, one must always start by pleasing one’s fellow man in order to get anywhere. Unless we are able to impress upon others that we can be of benefit to them, it is very difficult to accomplish anything.
However, we must not let ourselves get carried away, showing the mean and petty man unmerited benevolence. Striving to be wholly impartial, we must relate to each person in a manner appropriate to them. Unless one does this, one will attract a swarm of toadies to one’s side, and come to be in a truly hopeless state. Looking beyond merely a person’s superficial words and actions, we must clearly discern the workings of their heart and mind.
Unless they are assigned to a particular rank or status, people seem unable to accomplish any work.
