No 71 of Living Life Series 1
Brethren, in life we try to please where we can.
We try to please others in so much as to win favours and please ourselves.
But to please ourselves we need to please others but this sometimes results in displeasure for ourselves and for others.
The fable of the old man, his young child and the old donkey on way home is worth reminiscence.
Should the young child or the old man be on the donkey? Should both the old man and the child ride the donkey? Should both walk and give respite to the old and frail donkey to just carry the load of goodies home? Should the child be left at home in the first place? Every option begs further comments of passer-byes. Should the man be light eared and keep switching options. There will be no end to comments.
To please others is difficult. To please oneself is good but can prove to be one's own undoing. One will end up rubbing others the wrong way. They will then upset the person, and both others and that person will not be pleased.
What then is right? What should one do?
All boils down to ego. If one tries to satiate or worship the ego either of oneself or that of others, one will never be pleased or be at ease.
We should give up our ego, and be at peace with God. We should not worship oneself or others but worship only God.
It is easier to be at peace with heaven than to be at peace with men, be it others or even oneself.
Worship heaven and not men, so said saints like His Grace Lord Bo Tien. Let God lead our lives. Only when we are at peace and in harmony with heaven can we be at peace with ourselves, and be able to bring others to be at peace with themselves and with us.
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