When you point your finger at another person accusing his faults, you are the one who is at fault. When you point one finger at others, you are in fact pointing three other fingers at yourself - your own mistake is even greater. Why? Because most of the time when you think that it is another person’s fault, you are actually just looking at others from your own point of view, where you tend to think that it is the fault of others. “Why is that person behaving in that manner? Why is that person treating me this way?”
No one will ever think that it is his own fault – “He actually behaves in such manner because of me.” Only the great and inconceivable Buddha or Grand Master will think this way – “No matter what happens, it is due to my fault.”
When something happens and you are the first one to point your finger at others, you should really repent. Why? You pointed your finger at others out of your own dissatisfaction, negative emotions and unhappiness. However, when you point your finger at others, you are actually pointing at your own mistakes. This is a key point in practice. This is a universal truth that will never change.
Please bear this in mind, when you accuse others for being wrong – you are the one who is wrong! No matter what your argument or reasoning is, as long as you see others being in the wrong - “Why is he behaving in this way? Why did he behave differently from the past? Why is he behaving differently now?” Let me tell you this, it is your own fault. It is not the fault of others. It is your own fault. When you become emotional, harboring negative thoughts, you are in the wrong. When you loose control of your negative emotions, you will make even more mistakes, a greater fault. Why? You will start abusing others verbally with very bad words, and that will bring you to a very swift downfall. When you scold others in anger, you have indeed fallen to hell.
When you are angry, quickly count from 1 to 10. Before you reach 10, you would have pacified your negative emotions to some extent. Even a layman should learn to manage his emotions, let alone a practitioner. A practitioner must abide by the precepts. When you scold others, you are wrong. Regardless of whether the other party is right or wrong, the moment you start scolding, you are wrong. If you scold an enlightened master, then you are creating an even bigger sin; no matter what reason you give, you have made a grave mistake. An enlighten master, a Buddha, like Grand Master, no matter what he does, he has his reason that may not be comprehensible to you. If you scold him because you cannot comprehend his reason, you would be creating a very big sin that no one else could save you. Truly, no one else could save you. So, I need to remind us again that before you start scolding someone, do think it through – could it be your own fault or the fault of others? Be mindful about this important point.
