Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
If, in an argument, the offender and the reprover do not practice strict self-examination, you can expect that it will lead do drawn out, bitter, contentious strife, and no one will be able to live in peace.
And how should the two parties practice strict self-examination? The offender should reflect: “I have committed some wrong and the other person saw me. When he saw me, he got annoyed and said so. He rebuked me and I got annoyed and went and told the others. So, it is I who am at fault.”
And does the reprover practice strict self-examination? The reprover should reflect: “This person has committed some wrong and I saw him. Had he not done it, I would not have seen it, but as he did it, I saw it. When I saw it, I was displeased and I told him so. He got annoyed and told the others. So, it is who I am at fault.”
So it is, that if an argument the offender and the reprover both practice strict self-examination, you can expect that all will be able to live in peace.
