We should be wise and moral enough to control ourselves over our
eagerness for success. We need to know when we should try to win and when we should resign ourselves. Sometimes we lose but we feel easy. Sometimes we win but we feel regretful for the rest of our life. As a saying of a Saint goes, “To conquer thousands of enemy troops cannot compare with conquering ourselves.” We ourselves distinguish right from wrong and good from evil.
VICTORY
As soon as Long touched his opponent, he realized his opponent was much weaker than him. Long practiced martial arts because he was passionate about its artistry coming from his secluded master, who lived in the countryside. His master taught him very carefully about morality and inner force. The more he practiced the martial art, the more he was gentle and moral. He applied for the competition because he wanted to learn from practical experience and from a counterpart's skill. His master always reminded him of a humble attitude that we are good but others are much better than us.
In that match, Ninh was his opponent, who came from a famous club of martial arts and had some experience from a few contests. However, professional fighters can realize who will win as soon as they are facing. They didn't need a fight to get that. Continually fighting with Ninh, Long knew Ninh couldn't beat him. Ninh also knew that and looked much too anxious.
His eyes were so much in despair more and more that Long was surprised. Win or lose, it was normal for fighters, why he was in such despair. Ninh tried to attack Long as much as possible but he could have no hope to beat Long. Then he lost heart to fight against Long.
The last round, Long took Ninh’s big punch to be knocked out and to give up himself.
Three months later, Long received Ninh’s letter, which said: “Thank you for saving my daughter’s life. She was an inborn cardiac and needed emergency surgery, while I had no money. I risked entering the competition with the hope to win and have money for her surgery. I just wondered how you knew my situation and let me win? You lost money and fame to save my daughter’s life. Some day, I will take her to your house to thank you and ask you to become her godfather.”
Then Long could understand what was in Ninh’s despaired eyes that day.
People for their whole life have looked for victory, and they want to win against others. Talking with friends, they need to show their better reason. Entering a competition, they must win the first prize. Studying a class, they should come first. With property, they want to show they have much more than anyone else in their neighborhood.
Their life goes continually around the competition for fame, interest, and position. In politics, there are many serious competitions. This side needs to beat that side, if not they’re killed. A desire for victory makes people stressed and lessens their morality. People may think victory is their happiness. They don’t know that victory is not sure to bring them happiness. In some way, victory may cause suffering for winners.
Sometimes, victories are morally significant, such as defeating invaders to protect nations or winning over the public to ease people’s minds.
Another time, victories can make people cheap and mean, such as winning a game by cheating, or fighting with someone over a nasty girl, or deceiving naive people to get money.
We should be wise and moral enough to control ourselves over our eagerness for success. We need to know when we should try to win and when we should resign ourselves. Sometimes we lose but we feel easy. Sometimes we win but we feel regretful for the rest of our life.
As a saying of a Saint goes, “To conquer thousands of enemy troops cannot compare with conquering ourselves.” We ourselves distinguish right from wrong and good from evil.
Janna
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