Scripture: The Dhammapada 48-50
The man who gathers flowers (of sensual pleasure), whose mind is distracted, and who is insatiable in desires, is under the sway of Death.
As a bee gathers nectar without harming the flower, its colors or scent, flies away, just so should the sage walk through the village.
Do not be concerned with the faults of others, nor what others have done or left undone, but rather what you have done or not done.
We love to own things and collect things. Seldom do we consider what harm is done to the world when we do. Maybe not so much by the collecting or buying of them, but in the process of manufacturing and shipping. Are rain forests being cleared to grow exotic fruits for us? Are mountains being almost totally hollowed out to get the metals we need for jewelry and electronics? If so, we must accept some of the blame for buying those products. Buddha tells us the village (or city or world) should not be harmed by us being there. Jesus would agree.
He also warns us to not worry about the other person's faults, but instead, take care of our own. Just as Jesus told us to take the beam from our own eye before we worry about the mote in someone else's.
As a bee gathers nectar without harming the flower, its colors or scent, flies away, just so should the sage walk through the village.
Do not be concerned with the faults of others, nor what others have done or left undone, but rather what you have done or not done.
We love to own things and collect things. Seldom do we consider what harm is done to the world when we do. Maybe not so much by the collecting or buying of them, but in the process of manufacturing and shipping. Are rain forests being cleared to grow exotic fruits for us? Are mountains being almost totally hollowed out to get the metals we need for jewelry and electronics? If so, we must accept some of the blame for buying those products. Buddha tells us the village (or city or world) should not be harmed by us being there. Jesus would agree.
He also warns us to not worry about the other person's faults, but instead, take care of our own. Just as Jesus told us to take the beam from our own eye before we worry about the mote in someone else's.
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