Reply to Inquiry on "Guide to Self-Improvement"

~ translated by B.F.

A recent inquiry to my poem on "Guide to Self-Improvement" posted in May lead to quite an extensive explanation that I've decided to post the response as a new post. To see the original poem, click here.

The original question was written in Chinese and translated as follows:
As ancient sayings go: "Govern oneself strictly, Treat others mercifully." Why do you say: "Observe others and Reflect upon myself, Forgive others as I have excused myself"?

This is the reply:

Originally, the ancient teaching of “Govern oneself strictly, Treat others mercifully” is very good, but it is also very difficult for practical application. There are three reasons for this.

First, without set standards, each person speaks and acts from his/her own mindset and point of view. Due to this, one would always consider one’s decision or way to be complete and correct, achieving the standard of that ancient saying, and not knowing that there are still flaws.

Second, everything that appears in this world co-exists in opposition, such as yin and yang, self and others, right and wrong, and so on. Neither extreme is absolutely correct or has absolute truth because siding with any one side is considered “biased.” Bias, or prejudice, cannot represent the whole because it is incomplete. Therefore, a wise person would observe the complete picture, and at the appropriate time and place, come up with the best course of action given the circumstances.

Third, most of our knowledge is learned by “compare and contrast” from which arises “correct understanding.” For example, if one has never seen a fire, one would not know the variety of consequences it creates, such as light, smoke, burnt smell, heat, ashes, etc. But having seen such event, when one observes black and white smoke from afar, one will know there is a fire somewhere. Furthermore, with some logical reasoning, one may deduce the severity and conditions related to it as well. Therefore, the more information gathered for such contrast and comparison the richer the “comparable weight.” From this can one finally have a correct conclusion, also known as “correct capacity.” This so called “capacity” has two meanings. One is measure and the other is volume. Many people learn by seeing outcomes, which is the visible consequences, analyzing these events from contrast and comparison and finally finding what the correct course of action is.

“Observe others and reflect upon myself” is to observe the speech and actions of others as our object for learning. When seeing the consequences of a person’s actions to be good and benefiting to the masses, then it is something to be learned and applied at the right time. If the outcome is bad and harmful to others, then it should be held as a warning so that such example would not be followed, in other words not to let history repeat itself. (The aforementioned “masses” and “others” are used to refer to those not related to “self”, being the object of selflessness, without even a little bit of selfishness or personal benefits. Anytime the “self” involved it’s not considered as ‘masses’ or ‘others.’) The other significance of that line is that when we observe others’ speech and actions, we use that as a measuring too and reflect upon ourselves, measuring ourselves with that same rule or scale, to see if the same exists in ourselves, consequently being able to coexist with others under negative conditions, which is lessening the attachment to “self.”

People often forgive themselves for any wrongdoing by giving themselves excuses. Even if not for excuses and truly admitting to fault, since they’ve still got life, they would give themselves another chance. Therefore, we should always treat others with the same openness and forgiveness that we have for ourselves. The purpose is hoping that the situation could be fixed or would we better rather than to condemning or destroying others.

All in all, this explains why “Observe others and reflect upon myself, Forgive others as I have excused myself” is part of my “Guide to Self-Improvement.” Its purpose is to find the correct standard to nurture a heart of equality, mercy and compassion. If one can abide by these two lines and apply as taught, one would definitely achieve worldly happiness and good fortune. “Growth in happiness and wisdom, attachment to self is easily severed, entering the state of Zen meditation of stillness and serenity, and achieving enlightenment, seeing one’s own nature.”