It basically means we would understand about others i.e.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEANS WHEN SAYING “WE MUST LIVE WISELY BUT WITH COMPASSION”?

It basically means we would understand about others i.e. whether they are bad, or good, however we still love and would be calm to deal with any situations arisen. We could assess properly others and understand the situations, but we would be calm and considerate and would not take advantage of other people. We treat everyone equally and with compassion.

For example, we have two friends, one is better at things than others, we would love them both equally, no distinction at all. As being Buddhists, we should not discriminate between good and bad people or between smart and unintelligent people. Why is that? Because our discrimination would make vulnerable people sad and that discrimination would mean we committed a sin and we are at fault.

Non-discrimination is easy for us when we were still at school, but when we grew up and entered into the real world, this became more challenging. Nothing to discuss when meeting good people, but it is challenging when encountering bad ones. They could harm or abuse us so treating them fairly and equally is a hard thing to do. However, if you encounter those ones, please remember our discussion today. This would help us to convert evil people to good ones in the future. As Buddha once said: no flame can destroy flame, no hatred can destroy hatred, only compassion can destroy hatred. It's the absolute truth. Compassion does function in that way. Whoever does wrong or evil things, we should still be generous and tolerant towards them.

Let's analyse the two situation: one is being that we resented and abandoned those who treated us badly; and another one is being that we forgave those who treated us badly. So which one would help these bad people return to being good? The later it is. Because while we do not othem to change overnight, over time, they would understand and realise what is right and wrong because of our tolerance, consideration and love for them. By forgiving them and treating them with love, we did not push them further into doing bad things.

So, what does it mean when saying "we must live compassionately, but being wise"?

It basically means even though we knew about others taking advantage of us, or doing bad things to us, we would not revenge at all. This showed our compassion and wisdom. In this life, there are people who come to us only for taking advantage of us. We can feel and recognise those situations because we can rely on our wisdom. However, the most difficult part is knowing about the situation very well but we do not feel resentment towards them. Sometimes we preached in "The concept of karma law." The reason for a person that could be the leader of a country is that they did many and many good deeds in many lives. Obviously, while they were doing good deeds, they would only think of benefits for others and would love all people. If they did the good deeds but because of fulfilling other purpose i.e. gaining other benefits, then these good deeds would be still meaningless. Those two motives are completely different. We must do good deeds without any conditions. Being ethical and doing good deeds would help us gaining blessing.

For those who received favours from others will inevitably need to pay others back in other lives. So there is only a profession can affect many lives. Have you ever heard of "professional beggars"? Those beggars usually started a day with a big breakfast then deformed feet with red drugs and bandages. Afterwards, they dragged themselves into the crowd to beg for money and food. They went back home in the afternoon, removed the bandages then took a bath and went to the movies. They even could loan money for interest, or gambling, or drinking. They do not understand karma law that receiving favour from others would require some paybacks. In their later lives, they would be in a position that everyone that time China was still defeated. In spite of victory, our ancestors still actively proposed to a ceasefire to China because of our peace-loving spirit, wisdom and sophistication. With our compassion, we were ready to negotiate when the problems were resolvable without putting up a fight.

Another aspect is that we know how to gain other people's compassion but we do not take advantage of them. Even though we were capable of performing and communicating with others, we would not take advantage of the situation, so as the result, others will be very kind and loving us. That showed attitude of a person who is compassionate and wise.

It is very common that when we gain someone's trust and consideration, we would take advantage of the situation for our own benefit. However, for someone who is ethical, they will love and be kind to everyone and would not take advantage of others. That is why they gain other people's love and respect. Because with them, they would use their wisdom to help others and bring more benefits to others.

Why is that? Because according to the Cause and Effect rule, if we owed others favour we would need to pay it back in some ways in other lives. This was preached in "The concept of karma law." The reason for a person that could be the leader of a country is that they did many and many good deeds in many lives. Obviously, while they were doing good deeds, they would only think of benefits for others and would love all people. If they did the good deeds but because of fulfilling other purpose i.e. gaining other benefits, then these good deeds would be still meaningless. Those two motives are completely different. We must do good deeds without any conditions. Being ethical and doing good deeds would help us gaining blessing.

For those who received favours from others will inevitably need to pay others back in other lives. So there is only a profession can affect many lives. Have you ever heard of "professional beggars"? Those beggars usually started a day with a big breakfast then deformed feet with red drugs and bandages. Afterwards, they dragged themselves into the crowd to beg for money and food. They went back home in the afternoon, removed the bandages then took a bath and went to the movies. They even could loan money for interest, or gambling, or drinking. They do not understand karma law that receiving favour from others would require some paybacks. In their later lives, they would be in a position that everyone can order them to do things. They are called slaves. And for those who always save every penny to help and save others only because of their compassion will become leaders, or commanders in future lives. This is a very objective and fair rule of karma law.

We love people but we should not indulge people's bad habits. We love our younger brother but if he did something wrong, we should teach or even can use punishment where required until our brother could understand and change his behaviour and become better person. It is love, but love with determination, wisdom and compassion. Like so, in life, we must love everyone but it doesn't mean we compromise and agree with bad and evil things. We could not change everything but we should try our best to minimise bad things for this world.

Recently the American Reader magazine had an article titled "Prisons or Resorts?". The reporter went to the prisons in the United States and found prison life here is better than outside and much better standards than students' life. The prisoners here can play sports such as golf, tennis, baseball, basketball, softball. Also they can go to the libraries and even the concert halls. They can communicate with people people outside quite comfortably. For those who were sentenced to life imprisonment, each year they could have a party. They could invite their guests from the outside if they wanted to. There are many things that could happen within this prison that we would rather not tell you. Seeing this, the reporter wrote: people outside work hard to pay tax but this tax is for the state to pamper those who murder, rape, child abuse, every sin... We now could see that the Americans made serious mistake in treating prisoners. By creating a comfortable environment in prison, they did not help criminals correct and learn from their mistakes. That is the weakness of a big and complicated society. Now, let's talk about people around us. We love them but we should determine not to pamper or compromise their mistakes or sins. In fact, we must determine to address their mistakes and sins by all means.

Written by:
Janna

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