The world of Tzu Chi July-August 2022 (Vol.142)

49 TZU CHI 142 * Extracted from Tzu Chi Singapore website. little I know indeed.” Immediately, he was overwhelmed with shame. He lowered the flaming torch he was carrying and earnestly asked for Buddha’s guidance. The Buddha explained, “If one knows of some knowledge and becomes arrogant, it is akin to a blind man who carries a torch. It illuminates the others, but one remains in darkness.” One must not become arrogant and proud just for gaining some knowledge. Just like a man who carries a torch but does not know the direction, and yet he still wants to lead others. That is equivalent to the blind leading the blind. One must understand that one’s knowledge is as tiny and finite as a speck of dust. For example, I often encouraged people to practise kindness. Some people might say, “I am full of kindness too.” When you asked him about what kind deeds had he done? He would reply, “Well, at least I do not go around harming others.” By not harming others, one only preserves the benefits to themselves, but it does not benefit others. Hence, it is still insufficient. Giving your love through practical actions is the definition of true love. One’s knowledge and experiences are limited. How far and wise can one’s perception be? Can one really derive the truth from what they see? For example, one can see a forest but cannot recognize all the trees individually due to the distance. Another example is that when we look up at the sky, we observe the sky to be blue and the clouds to be white. However, is it truly so? Colour does not exist in the Universe. What we see is merely the result of distance and light waves, causing our eyes to perceive the sky to be blue. Learning to be observant of our surroundings and be mindful in our daily lives will enable us to be aware of our limitations. Through being humble, being grateful to others and showing respect for all things and people, can we bring forth sincere loving-kindness within our hearts.