Adjust Ourselves

Adjust Ourselves

We are living in an ever changing world. But a very few people realise this fact. One should not cling to the traditions, customs,

manners, habits and beliefs, introduced by ancient people and ancestors thinking that he should follow all those traditions forever and ever. If he is going to be so narrow minded then there will be no progress in this society of ours. There may be some good customs amongst them which had been handed down by the ancestors; but one must consider whether these customs are congenial to modern society. On the other hand parents and elderly people conflict with their younger generation. They would like to see their children follow the same old customs and traditions. However this is not a very good attitude to adopt. Allow the children to move with the times if it is harmless. Parents only have to remember how their own parents had objected to certain modern ways of living prevalent at the time when they were young. This conflict between the conservative people and the younger generation is not a very healthy attitude towards the progress of society. Of course, if children go astray due to misguidance of modern society then parents should counsel

and guide them.

    You must learn how to tolerate the other man’s views and customs even though you do not like them. Here, to tolerate does not mean that you have to follow his ideas and ideals.

    Every man is a part of the world of man, and is responsible for what goes on in it. He must be concerned as to whether or not society is becoming more humanised. He must ask what he himself is doing to bring about a better order of things. This is the ethical view by which life takes on a serious aspect is given an incentive. Such a life is the really happy life. Then we become commendably, constructively discontented with the present order of things, and proceed happily to do something about it.

Mind Your Own Business

    How nice it is, if you can attend to your own affairs without too much of interference to with other’s business. Here is the advice    given by the Buddha:

    “One should not regard the faults of others, thing done and left undone by others, but one’s own deeds of commission and omission.”

    Again the Buddha says: “He who is observant of other’s faults, and is always irritable his own defilements increase. He is far from the destruction of defilement.”

    Further, He says: “Easy to see the faults of others; but one’s own is difficult to see. One winnows other’s faults life chaff; but one’ own hides as a crafty fowler covers himself.”

    “The noble swerve not from the right path, let happen what may and crave no longer after worldly joys. The wise remain clam and constant in mind alike in joy and in sorrow.” No one can live in this world without being blamed and criticized by others.

    The Buddha says: “People blame others for their silence. They blame those who talk much and those in moderation. There is therefore no one in this world who is not blamed.”

    Further, He says: “There never was, nor will be, nor is there now any one who is wholly blamed or wholly praised. “

    Not all those who criticise you are your enemies. You can make use of the opportunity to find out your own weaknesses which you yourself cannot see.

    You should not give up good work just because of criticism. If you have the courage to carry out your good work is spite of criticisms, you are indeed a great man and could succeed everywhere.

Be Unbiased

    You should not come to any hasty decision regarding any matter when you are in a bad mood or when provoked by someone, not even when you are in a good mood influenced by emotion, because at such a time the state of your mind is emotional and any decision or conclusion reached during such a period would be a matter you could one day regret. Allow your mind to calm down first and think over it, then your judgment will be an unbiased one.

    Cultivate tolerance; for tolerance helps you to avoid hasty judgments, to sympathise with other people’s troubles, to avoid captious criticism, to realise that even the finest human being is not infallible; the weakness you find in your neighbours can be found in your own self.