Human nature is based upon ego, fear, selfishness and so on. Keeping “me”
real and everything else unreal is where illusion comes in. This has led to
many psychological misgivings and misunderstandings in modern society. I
care for my self-image first. Everyone else is transitory; my self-image
is real. Or, I want what I want. If I get what I want, then I will
behave nicely. Actually it should be the reverse: I should give up my
wants and see what others want. Or, I don’t want to be “pushed” because I
know my self-image is hollow. I am not against courtesy itself but it
should come from my virtues, my total being, from the bottom of my heart. If
I honestly am humble from deep within, I will be open rather than
subservient. So I would not mind if someone says that I am wrong or right; I
would be open to hear it. Lacking true humility, when we are simply
preserving self-image, we would not like to hear that we are wrong. We would
not like to be “pushed.” And then society makes it a social courtesy: Don’t
push—people don’t like it! |
To me, many modern courtesies are just repugnant. I accept them only because
the majority do them. Because they are not being true, they are not being
open. They are not being a whole person, a true being. Who is right or wrong
is not the point. No two people can think alike—that’s sure—but if we are
open, if we are simple hearted, if we are truthful, even a difference of
opinion will be easily accommodated. If I am a double personality, then I
will not tolerate a difference of opinion. Open people are more
accommodating to differences of opinion than those who are closed. That is
why eventually, after decades or a lifetime, in individuals, societies or
nations, clashes and wars come—because the individuals, society or nation
did not give vent to differences in a truthful and open manner. |