Why inconvenient yourself,
by comparing how your life is
less convenient than another’s?
Why not convenient yourself,
by comparing how your life is
more convenient than another’s?
— Stonepeace | Get Books
Count Your Blessings
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com
🙂 It may be necessary to see both sides of the coin in order to get the proper correct balanced view of life
By knowing the truth then we know where we stand by comparing ourself whose life is more convenient than us and also to take blessings for our lot in life by comparing to those less convenient – As such we can be at ease – not better off and not worse off
Beyond comparing how our own life is more convenient than another’s, it would also be good to look on the positive side amidst unhappy happenings in our life to get a more holistic picture. No point on just dwelling in our unhappiness. Agree with Dana’s view on seeing both sides of the coin to get a more balanced view!
In order to count our blessings, we have to see how we are better off. In order to not be complacent spiritually, we have to see how we are worse off.
Realising we are better off helps to nurture compassion too. On a balanced view, reminds me of this story. (Part 3 is added!)
http://moonpointer.com/new/2008/12/rainbow-between-rain-shine/
Here is a famous Zen story retold with a twist in the ‘tail’ :
Part 1 :
The old lady cries when it rains,
as her washerwoman daughter can’t dry the clothes she wash.
The old lady cries when it shines,
as her umbrella-selling daughter can’t sell her umbrellas.
Part 2:
A Zen master comes along and tells her:
Why don’t you rejoice when it rains, for your second daughter?
Why don’t you rejoice when it shines, for your first daughter?
The old lady agrees, now laughing heartily, be it rain or shine.
Part 3:
Another Zen Master comes along again and tells her:
Why aren’t you sad when it rains, for your first daughter?
Why aren’t you sad when it shines, for your second daughter?
Is there really reason to be elated or sad?
To go through emotional highs and lows?
The old lady becomes calm… enlightened in peaceful equanimity.
I agree too. (Y)