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A contentious heart never ceases to contend with others
Ancient Chinese mythology has it that a type of one-legged monster known as “Kui” lived in the mountains. One day, a Kui came across a centipede that was crawling on the ground, and it started comparing itself with the creature.
“I walk with only one leg. As much as I envy you, I’m concerned about you at the same time. Isn’t it difficult to walk with so many legs?” asked Kui.
The centipede replied, “Although you have only one leg, you can walk with ease. Even though I have so many legs, I have no issue walking because it comes natural to me.”
The centipede then compared itself with a snake and said with envy, “I have so many legs while you have none, yet you are able to move so swiftly even without any legs!”
The snake replied, “It comes natural to me. I’m just using the strength of my backbone to sway my body to move about on the ground!”
Then the snake said to the wind, “I am able to move around despite being legless. You do not have a physical form, and yet you can travel from the north to the south at an incredibly high speed. I’m so envious of you!”
The wind replied, “I may be able to move at a fast speed, but this is nothing compared to the eyes of a human. The eyes can see very far in a split second, but I can’t do that.”
The eyes then said to the wind, “Although I can see very far in the blink of an eye, my vision is nowhere near the speed and broadness of the mind.”
So, we have a one-legged creature envying another with many legs, while the many-legged creature envied an animal without legs. The legless animal then compared itself with the formless wind, which further envied a being with a physical form. Such endless comparison will only lead to suffering and misery!
In a nutshell, all comparisons arise from the mind. Joy comes from the mind, so do worries and vexations. Happiness is created by the mind, so are troubles."
A healthy mindset brings about a happy life
What constitutes a happy life?
People who are content and do not compare themselves with others lead the happiest life. Take, for example, the volunteers serving in a Tzu Chi hospital. Every day they serve people who are suffering from illnesses with a joyful heart. This shows that they have a healthy and strong body. And the greatest satisfaction in life is to have the time, money and ability to help others.
The modern day society is riddled with ills, and the problem lies in people’s minds that have gone astray. I heard of an unfortunate case where a young man who was dissatisfied with his life situation took amphetamine out of curiosity, and as a result, his mind became confused and stupefied. During a drug attack, he actually dug out one of his own eyeballs. When someone discovered what he had done, the eyeball was already completely dislocated while his other eye was injured. Although he was sent to a hospital for emergency treatment, his vision became very weak due to the severe injury inflicted on his optic nerve.
It was unfortunate that such a young man had an unhealthy mindset. He was dissatisfied with life’s realities and his discontentment arises from comparing himself with others. He had to resort to taking drugs to satisfy his illusions, but ended up being a tragedy for himself and his family.
Everything originates from the mind. Only a healthy mindset can bring about a happy life, and a healthy mind comes from being grateful and content with life. Therefore, if everyone could nurture gratitude and contentment at all times, as well as respect and trust one another, the society would naturally be free of all ills. And the world would be a beautiful and peaceful place to live in.
Extracted from “Sheng Huo De Zhi Hui”《生活的智慧》 Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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