We create our own life. If we decide that people are bad, if we decide we see a glimpse of hate in the eyes of the person in front of us in the subway, then we stupidely ruin our own life et we completely are in a world of illusions. If we consistently see the world as a dark place, then we'll tend to look for everything that will prove us right and ignore events that oppose our vision of things. On the contrary, if we radiate when we're getting close to people, then they'll open up much more easily, a pleasant relationship will be able to grow, and there would have been a luminous time in our day, a time filled with good mood, or even hapiness.

It doesn't mean things have to be taken carelessly, and trust people blindly, we have to consider things the way they precisely are; neither more importantly, nor less importantly. Some people in the subway may have a weapon in their pocket and actually intend to harm us. But how many people like that are there really? Too many, of course, but actually they are very few. Let's not condemn everyone we meet to be sure we'll avoid the real mugger. It's more likely we bump into someone nice than someone aggressive. If we aggressively stare at someone, it's highly likely this person, who would have been nice otherwise, will become aggressive, verbally or even physically.

This little story illustrates this perfectly.

Once upon a time, there was an old man sitting at the gate of a middle-eastern city. A young lad approached him and said:  -I have never been here before. How are people living in this town? The old man answered with a question :  -How were people in the town you are coming from?  -Selfish and mean. That's why I was so delighted to leave, the young lad said. The old man replied :  -You'll find the exact same people here. Later that day, another young man approached the old man and asked him the same question.  -I have just arrived in the region. How are people living in this town? The old man asked him the same question :  -Tell me, young man, how were people in the town you are coming from?  -They were kind, welcoming, and trustworthy; I had really great friends there. It broke my heart living this town, said the young man.  -You'll find the exact same people here, replied the old man. A merchant whose camels were drinking nearby had heard both conversations. As soon as the second young man had left, he came to the old man and asked reproachfully:  -Why did you give two completely different answers to the exact same question asked by two different persons?  -The one who opens up his heart changes the way he looks at others too, answered the old man. We all bear our univers in our heart.

Fushichô

November 3, 2007