LESSONS FROM A TRAIN STATION ENCOUNTER: THE INFINITE POWER OF ROLE MODELS
Master Jun Hong Lu: Robert is a renowned psychologist in the United States. One day, he was making his way to a subway station during the evening peak hour when he stumbled upon a shabbily-dressed man, lying in the middle of the stairs. The man looked like he had passed out with his eyes shut, and was motionless. The bustling commuters did not seem to notice him.
Robert was greatly appalled. He stopped in his tracks to find out what exactly had happened. Ironically, the moment he stopped, many others followed suit and very soon, a small crowd started to build around the man. A man went to get him food while another lady went to buy him water. Soon the subway patrol was notified who then called for an ambulance. A few minutes later, the man came around and while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, he had a bite of the food.
Why was it that the shabbily-dressed sick man who was lying in the middle of a subway station stairs went unnoticed by the commuters in the beginning?
Robert is of the opinion that in a fast-moving crowd, people often become self-absorbed and their minds shut off information perceived as irrelevant. Not surprisingly, they also overlook those around them who need help.
That said, if someone breaks the cycle, others around them will follow suit. Once this takes hold, the momentum will begin to build, with more and more people joining the ranks. There is where the chance for the world to change for the better lies.
From environmental concerns to mental health issues, it all began with a small group of people calling for more awareness and attention. Similarly, when a person starts to practise Buddhism, more will follow suit. When compassion becomes universal, there will be more compassion in this world. If everyone advocates for peace, the world will be a more peaceful place.
Confucius once said, “A gentleman makes demands upon himself before making demands upon others”. This means that we need to have good morals and values in whatever we do, before we can expect the same from others.
It is said in Buddhism that it is much easier to change oneself than changing others. The power of role models is infinite.
I know of a female Buddhist friend whose husband was unconvinced when she started to learn Buddhism, thinking that she would never change her bad temperament. Contrary to his belief, this female Buddhist friend was so determined to show her gratitude towards him, so much so that she could tolerate whatever he verbally hurled at her. On top of this, she was able to accommodate whatever happened in the family.
Half a year later, her husband confided, “My wife is a completely changed person. She is like a Bodhisattva. I must also make an effort to diligently practise Buddhism”. This exemplifies the power of role models. If you can transform yourself to become kinder and more compassionate, only then will more sentient beings in this world follow suit.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Spain, 14 May 2016
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