....there are 4 types of people in the world:
1. those who are running from darkness towards darkness,
2. those who are running from darkness towards light,
3. those who are running from light towards darkness and
4. those who are running from light towards light.
For a person in the first group, all around there is unhappiness,darkness but his greatest misfortune is that he also has no wisdom. Every time he encounters a problem,he generates more anger, more hatred,more aversion and blames others for his sufferings.........all that anger and hatred will bring him and to those around him, more darkness, more suffering in the furture, more anger and hatred.
A person in the second group has what is called brightness in the world : money,power,position in the world, but he too has no wisdom.Out of ignorance,he develops arrogance and ego which only bring him darness and suffering to his own future and into the world generally.
A person in the third group is in the same position as the first,surrounded by darkness: but he is wise and understands the situation. Recognising that he is ultimately responsiblefor his own suffering, he calmly and peacefully does what he can to change the situation, but without any anger and hatred towards others; instead he has only love and compassion for those who are harming him. He creates brightness for himself and everyone else, in his present and his future.
Finally, the person in the fourth group,just like the second,enjoys money ,power, fame, but unlike the one in the second group,he is full of wisdom. He uses all that he has to maintain himself and those dependant on himself, but anything extra he has, he uses it for the good of the mankind,with love and compassion. Brightness for himself, and others, for now and for the future.
- S N Goenka. |
