"People are always accustomed to understand others in their own way. This often causes misunderstandings and even hatred and dislike for one another. They can also get hurt in the process.
Let me share a story that took place in Qinghai province, China: Once, on my way to Qinghai, I saw a moving truck with one of its tires turning abnormally. From experience, I knew that the screws of the wheel had loosened and if it comes off, it could hurt someone else. I waved to the driver, pointing to his rear tire and signaling him to look at it. The man gave me a stare and scolded me, “Why, you want a free ride?” Apparently, he thought I wanted to take advantage of him. I frowned and shouted, “It’s serious!” He ignored me and drove driving away. . Shortly after, the wheel came off and flew towards the hillside. He had to run almost a kilometer to get the wheel from the hillside that was at least 50 meters in height. By the time he climbed down to pick up the heavy tire that weight almost 50 kg, he was too tired to get up. Eventually, I helped him to fit the tire. I said, “Friend, didn’t I try to remind you of your wheel?”
Some people always assume that they are always right when they make judgement or decision. They are not open to other’s opinion. Such mentality and attitude could cloud one’s objectivity and ultimately lead to a bias decision. In more serious case, such wrong decision might even cause harm to them or others."
- Master Jin Bodhi
Commentary by Jerome:
Learn to look in the perspective of others. In this way, you can understand them better. Having a rigid and fixed outlook on things usually cloud your judgement. Many people like others to do things in a certain way. If others do not do things in their way, they can very unhappy. But who suffers? It is the person who attach to their own fixed views who suffers as a result of their mental thoughts. Learn to be like water which fills and assume the shape of the container it fills. Similarly, we should suit our thoughts, speech and actions to other's needs out of compassion but be firm in our stand.
Learning to look in the perspective of others is also a characteristic of compassion. Only by doing so can we experience what others are suffering and be able to emphatise with them.
More information available at:
1) Master Jin Bodhi Facebook
2) Official Bodhi Meditation Website
Author:
Jerome is a Buddhist practitioner that has learnt from Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions and is still learning! He first learnt meditation and Dharma from Theravadan monks and practitioners in the lineage of the Arahant Venerable Amatha Gavesi Maha Thero from Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist temple in Singapore. Then, he completed a Diploma in Buddhism from the Buddhist and Pali College in 2016. He also learnt from Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian (85th Zen Patriach) from the LingJi lineage in Taiwan in 2014 - 2015. Subsequently, he learnt from Garchen Rinpoche from the Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling tradition (Tibetan) and attended annual Om Mani Padme Hum and Om Ami Dewa Hrih retreats from 2015 till date. Currently, he is a disciple of Master Jin Bodhi (Mahayana) from Bodhi Meditation in Singapore and is an active volunteer there. Master Jin Bodhi is his main Dharma teacher. Jerome feels that Buddhism is not a religion but is a practical way to reduce our life's problems. The essence of Buddhism is not in the books or sutras but in the way we apply it into our lives. Having understood some aspects of Buddha's teaching, he wants to give back to the society and hopes to share his insights with everyone who has the affinity with him.
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