Zen Medicine for Mind and Body. Shi Xinggui

They keep complaining like the bird in the cage. But the Buddha teaches us to change our fate by actively changing the environment we are in. Therefore, if we change our state of mind and work hard, we can earn a good reputation in our work environment. In time, some better companies will come for us and we can then break away from the confinements of our former environment.

4. Forgiving Others

      Once when he was taking a walk at night in the temple courtyard, an old monk saw a chair at the edge of the wall. He immediately knew that a monk had climbed over the wall, which was against the rules of the temple. The old monk moved the chair away and squatted against the wall. After a short while, a young monk climbed onto the wall. Stepping on the back of the old monk, he jumped into the courtyard.

      Instead of scolding him in a sharp voice, the old monk quietly told him to go and put on more clothes, since it was the middle of the night and getting chilly. He chose to forgive his disciple, because he knew that forgiveness is a form of silent education. From then on, the young monk kept the temple rules. His master forgave him just one mistake, but what the master got in turn was his respect for himself and for the Buddha.