by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
In cultivating the Way, sometimes you may find that you are
unable to find the Path, that you don’t know how to go about
cultivating. You may run into a fork in the road and you don’t know
which way to go. At that time you need to have wisdom and samadhi
power. You must also hold the precepts.
As to relationships with people, sometimes you may be especially
good to some people, but they return your kindness with dislike.
The better you are to them, the worse they will be to you. When
this state manifests, you must break your attachment. What
attachment? Your attachment to being good to people! When the
better you are to people the worse they are to you, they are being
your “reverse” good knowing advisors. They are helping you learn to
take it easy when the going gets rough. This is based on experience
in my own cultivation. At every step along the way, I have
encountered these types of abuse and these sorts of tests. Abuse
and tests occur just to see whether you will still go forward or
whether you’ll retreat. If you really understand, then in opposing
and according states you will be equally vigorous. There is a
saying:
If your ideas aren’t working,
look within yourself.
If you are kind to people and they don’t reciprocate,
take a look at your kindness.
If you give people orders and they don’t follow them,
take a look at your orders.
If you pay respect to people and they don’t return it,
take a look at your manners.
Suppose you are very good to someone, but they won’t get near
you. In that case, you have to return the light to see if your
kindness is really adequate. If it is, eventually you will
influence them towards the good. If people don’t follow your
instruction, return the light and think, “Could I be laying power
trips on people? If you nod or do a half-bow when you see people,
but they act as if they didn’t even see you, once again, return the
light: Do you really feel respectful towards them? If you can
always return the light, you won’t be too far away from the Path.
You’ll be on your way. This is very easy to talk about but very
difficult to do!
