Mind Your Own Business

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.

Humility

Humility is the wise man’s measuring-rod for learning the difference between what is and what is yet to be. “The Buddha himself started his ministry by discarding all his princely pride in an act of self-humiliation. He attained sainthood during his life, but never lost his naturalness, never assumed superior airs. His dissertations and parable were never pompous. He had time for themost humble of men. He never lost his sense of humour.”

Don’t Waste Your Time

To waste a man’s existence in grieving over the past, and in idleness and heedlessness is to show his unfitness for the noble place he holds thus inviting his bad kamma (volitional action) to relegate him to a place befitting his unworthiness. Bear this strongly in your mind, and do good while life lasts. By wasting your time you injure not only yourself but also others, for your time is as much others’ as it is yours.

Patience and Tolerance

Be patient with all. Anger leads one through a pathless jungle. While it irritates and annoys others it also hurts oneself, weakens the physical frame and disturbs the mind. A harsh word, like an arrow discharged from a bow, can never be taken back even if you

would offer a thousand apologies for it. Certain creatures cannot see in the day-time whilst some others are blind at night. But a man driven to great heights of hatred does not observe anything, either by day or night.

With whom and with what do you fight when you are angry? You fight with yourself, for you are the worst enemy of yourself. Mind is your best friend and worst foe. You must try to kill the passion of lust, hatred and ignorance that are latent in your mind by means

or morality, concentration and wisdom. Some varieties of heart trouble, rheumatic disorders, and skin diseases are traceable to chronic resentment, hatred and jealously Such destructive feelings poison the cockles of the heart. They foster the development of latent disease tendencies and invite disease microbes.

Returning Good for Evil

If you want to get rid of your enemies you should first kill your anger which is the greatest enemy within you. On the other hand if you are going to be perturbed hearing from your enemies, it means you are fulfilling the wishes of your enemies by unknowingly entering into their trap. You should not think that you can only learn something from only

those who praise and help you and associate with you very closely. There are many things that you could learn from your enemies also; you should not think they are entirely wrong just because they happen to be your enemies. They may also possess certain good qualities.

You will not be able to get rid of your enemies by returning evil for evil. If you do that then you will be inviting only more enemies. The best and the most correct method of overcoming your enemies is by radiating your kindness towards them. You may think that this is impossible or something nonsensical. But this method is very highly appreciated by every cultured man. When you come to know that there is someone who is very angry with you, you should first try to find out the main cause of that enmity; if it is due to you mistake you should admit it and should not hesitate to apologise to him. If it is due to certain misunderstandings between you both you must have hearts to heart talk with him and try to enlighten him. If it is due to jealousy or some other emotional feeling you must try to radiate your loving kindness towards him so that you will be able to influence him through your mental waves. You may not be able to understand how it works but through the experience of many people it shows that this is the most powerful, intelligent and easiest method which is very highly recommended in the Buddhist religion. Of course, to do this, you must have confidence and patience in yourself. By doing this you will be able to make your enemy understand that he is in the wrong; besides you are also benefited in various ways for not accommodating enmity in your heart.

Loving Kindness

As long as there is one single fellow creature whom you can console by kind words, whom you can enliven and cheer by your presence, whom you can relieve by your worldly possessions,

however scanty that charity may be, you are a precious possession to the human race and you should never be disheartened or depressed.

There may be times when those whom you love do not seem to care for you and you are apt to feel heavy at heart. But there is no just cause for dejection. What does it matter if other are not grateful to you or do not care for you, as long as you know that you are full of tender heartedness for others, full of loving compassion to your fellow men? One should never depend on others for one’s happiness.

“He who expects to secure satisfaction in life from others is worse than the beggar who kneels and cries for his daily bread.”

The Drug Menace

Alcohol has been described as one of the prime causes of man’s physical and moral degradation. Currently another more vicious form of abuse, that of harmful and dangerous drugs, as contained in heroin, hashish and various other forms, have shown their ugly heads, causing much more serious human and social problems to the well-being of humanity. This problem is now world-wide. Its repercussions are more serious and deadly than that of alcohol. Thefts, robberies, sexual crimes and swindling of vast magnitude have taken place due to the pernicious influence of the drug. Murders have been committed and families have been decimated by drug addicts.

Countless millions of hard-earned dollars have been spent by Government throughout the world to rid the addicts of their evil habits and to rehabilitate them but the maddening craze persists. It is our bounden duty, as dutiful citizens, to help in whatever manner we can, through our religious and social organisations, to eradicate this dreadful and obnoxious habit and to prevent our children from ever getting near to it. Life as a drug addict is a life of torture and hell on earth, leading to an early grave.

As human being we should be able to exercise our self-control and to distinguish between what is good and evil. Keep away from the drug menace and help others to do so. That will be the greatest service to humanity.