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When Buddha was still around, society then was also divided and full of unrest. Some Practitioners believed that one has to live in seclusion to commit to his spiritual cultivation and return to educate the masses only when one has attained enlightenment.
There was a Practitioner who was very committed to his cultivation. However, the more he practised, the more he was troubled by the chaos and unwholesomeness of society. He often felt that people were foolish and vile and perceived himself as someone with great intelligence. Whenever someone approached him with a question, he would always strive to educate the masses with the best explanation he could think of.
To attract people’s attention, he began to carry a flaming torch during the day while exclaiming loudly, “What a dark place the world is!
I shall light the path for everyone with this flaming torch of mine and bring light to your heart.”
Those who witnessed him shouting just laughed it off.
Whereas some shook their head in sympathy and wondered: Was he mentally unsound?
The Buddha came to hear about the incident. He understood that the actions of this Practitioner were of good intention. However, his actions were unwise and a reflection of his arrogance.
The Buddha asked this torch-bearing Practitioner, “Do you really know everything?”
“Bring forth all your questions, for I can answer them all.”
The Buddha began to ask him, “Do you know about geography and astronomy and the seasonal cycle?”
“Isn’t that too profound?” He replied.
The Buddha continued to ask, “Do you know how to rule a country so that the people can live an abundant life and the society can be harmonious and cohesive? If the country comes under a foreign threat, do you know how to deploy the army to protect the country?”
The Practitioner thought to himself, “I know nothing about astronomy or geography. I also do not know how to rule a country or deter any foreign invasion. How 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 to gain 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 don’t 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 recognise all the trees individually due to the distance. Another example is when we look up at the sky, we observe the sky as blue and the clouds as 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. By being humble, being grateful to others and showing respect for all things and people, we can bring sincere loving-kindness within our hearts.
Translated by Soh Wan Siew
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