When we compare our self with others,
which we often do, it is important to understand the role of our ego-centric
thoughts.
Many people are "put off" when someone younger offers
advice. As a result, sometimes we do not respect a young person's idea even if
they are intelligent and practical. We equate wisdom and experience with
age. We do this not only in our ordinary life, but also in our path to
the spiritual life. As a result, we are unwilling to be open minded to new
valuable teachings.
For example, when Lord Buddha, the Awakened One,
returned to his birth city of Kapilavastu after being enlightened his young
relatives and other young people came forward to pay their respect. However
many of the elderly relatives refused be-cause they did not want to bow or pay
respect to this young (in years) person who claims that he became the Buddha.
Therefore, Lord Buddha had to take other steps to gain their attention so they
would be open to his teachings.
We tend to listen to older spiritual advisors over
younger ones because we make the connection that the time we spend on this
earth is directly tied to how far we have traveled down the spiritual path. We
measure and judge the advisors knowledge based on time and not on true wisdom.
Even Lord Buddha proved to his family that this way of measuring knowledge and
attainment of skills is wrong. What we have to understand is that it does not
matter how long we have been following this path, but how well we understand
the teaching. Lord Buddha taught us that to gain wisdom and become awakened is
not dependent on the concept of time.
Some of his examples help us to find the right path.
One time he compared his teachings, or "Dhamma" to a boat that helps us cross a
river. Buddha pointed out no one will carry the boat on their shoulders after
crossing the river to pay respect to the boat thinking that "Oh, this boat
helped me to cross over this river, therefore I must respect it". Dhamma
similarly is to be used as a vessel to cross the "Samsara" (wheel of life) and
to put a stop to our fragile existence. However, we should leave the boat on
the other side and not carry it on our shoulders as we leave "samsara".
Another important lesson Buddha mentioned is to hold
and use Dhamma in a proper way. Buddha pointed out that Dhamma also could be as
risky as holding a poisoned snake. He said an expert usually holds a snake by
the neck, but a less knowledgeable person may hold the snake by its tale, which
allows the snake to turn back easily and bite the less knowledgeable person.
Similarly, we should hold Dhamma properly through humility; otherwise, it also
has the potential to harm us.
Buddha understood the importance of humbleness for
the seeker of wisdom.
- Bhanti Sathi -