DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY BY COMPLIMENTS
Master Jun Hong Lu: When someone scolds or slanders you, you may be able to practise tolerance, right? The hardest thing to do is not to get carried away by praises that others shower on you. When you are being complimented, you must remain unmoved.
You have to understand that everything in this world is illusory and unreal. Be it slander or praise, take it as fictitious and you will not give rise to non-equanimity.
The problem is that when people are being praised, they will go into a state of immeasurable self-satisfaction. Take me as an example, so many people are praising me because of my dharma propagation efforts. Had it not been for this quest of mine, I would have been just an insignificant radio station master; I am nobody. Therefore, one should always be in touch with one’s Buddha nature. Do not indulge in self-satisfaction or feel that we are superior when others praise us.
What is there to be proud of? You are just a human, right? You are still doing so many unwholesome deeds every single day; your body stinks, so is your mind. Do you still believe that you are superior? Hence, even when we are being praised, we should restrain ourselves. Take it as a reprimand instead and think, “I have not done good enough and I have to put in even more effort. I am not worthy of their praises”.
Just like when people comment, “Oh, you look like Bodhisattva”, does that mean you are one? You are nothing if not for the light of Buddha that is shining on you!
A person who propagates Buddhism should never be arrogant or self-righteous. You should always think lowly of yourself and that you are of little importance. Only then will you stay grounded and not give rise to non-equanimity. What is there to be proud of? So what if you were the greatest person in the world? So what if you were Napoleon or Julius Caesar?
Source: Wenda20150109 01:17:07, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
< About Spiritual Cultivation