From Great Master Hóngyī’s (弘一大师) ‘Discussion On Experiments For Correcting Faults’《改过实验谈》:
4、吃亏：古人云：「我不识何等为君子，但看每事肯吃亏的便是。我不识何等为小人，但看每事好便宜的便是。」
[4] Suffering From Disadvantages: An ancient person said, ‘I do not recognise who are noble persons. Only seeing if for every matter, they are those willing to suffer from disadvantages, they then are thus. I do not recognise who are small persons. Only seeing if for every matter, they are those fond of taking advantages, they then are thus.’
古时有贤人某临终，子孙请遗训，贤人曰：「无他言，尔等只要学吃亏。」
In ancient times, when a virtuous person was on a certain day, approaching life’s end, with his children and grandchildren requesting for bequeathed teachings, the virtuous person said, ‘I am without other words. You and others only must learn to suffer from disadvantages.’
Note 4: Not that they purposely subject themselves to needless suffering, those practising to be noble must be able to gladly ‘suffer’ from disadvantages, such as much hardship and obstacles, should they arise, for self-improvement and self-transcendence, and for benefitting others. Being open to suffering from disadvantages is thus being open to learning, for bettering spiritual cultivation. This is how they are ennobled, and how they will become completely noble, by going against the odds that that many others do not.
Eagerly looking out for morally ambiguous shortcuts as quick ‘fixes’, small persons are only willing to take advantages from situations and others for themselves. They shy away from the slightest difficulty and challenge, as they are not interested in bettering themselves, much less in helping others. Not being open to suffering for the greater good of one and all, they are thus not open to learning, much less actual spiritual practice. This is how they remain ‘small’, by staying attached to common crowd instincts.
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《改过实验谈》
Discussion On Experiments For Correcting Faults
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