~ 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.”
本來古云：「嚴以律己，寬以待人」這話是很好的，但卻讓世人難以使用。其原因有三：（一）在未有標準的情況下，每個人的言行都是由他自己的思想意識為出發點，所以都必定認為自己的做法是最完美正確的，已經達到古云「嚴以律己，寬以待人」的標準，而不知尚有很多不足。（二）在這世上任何事物的出現都是矛盾共存的，如：天– 地，陰–陽，人–我，是–非等等，都不存在那一邊是絕對的正確，因為執于任何一方都屬于“偏”。“偏”則不能代表全（完整）。所以有智慧的人會以完整的“觀”，審時勢之應，而“點”于實況之用。（三）一切的學習是由“對比”而生“正知”，例如： 未見過火燒的情況，不會知道火燒產生的種種果，如火光，煙，氣味，溫度，煙灰等等變化，但見過后，若再見到遠處有黑白煙冒起，就會知道那處火燒，進而推理得知其真實情況。所以“比知”的資料越多，即“比量”越豐富。由此產生的結論就更正確，稱之為“正量”。“量”的意思有二，一是測量，另一是容量。世人的學習都是由事相上〔即可見的事物之果相（結果已經出現）〕對比而得知正確的做法。
所謂「察人觀己」就是以觀察別人的一切言行，作為自己學習修行的對象。若見到他人的行為結果是對大眾好、益的，就去學習，審時勢而效行。若那些言行結果是對大眾壞、損的，就應引以為戒，免步其后塵。（所謂“大眾”即無“我”，沒有絲毫的自私或自己的利益；凡有“我”的存在都不屬于“大眾”。）另一意義就是以審察別人一切言行的標準尺度來觀察自己，能人我逆地而處，則“我”執自然小。
世人往往對自己的犯錯都能給自己找藉口，終使不是藉口，真正知道錯誤，但只要生命尚存，都會給自己機會重新改過。所以就應該以這種寬容自己的心態行為來對待別人，目的只是希望事情能改好，而不是置人于死地。
所以「察人觀己，恕己諒人」作為自修的方法，目的是找出正確的標準，養育出平等及慈悲之心。若人能把這兩句常常依教做到，他必定能得到世間福報。“福慧增長，我執易斷，得入禪定，明心見性。”
June 6, 2009 @Marina del Rey, CA - Auspicious phenomena: Buddha light (fading)
Great Dharma kings, Venerables, Rinpoches, monastics and at-home cultivators & laypeople chanting for the liberation of living beings.
