Su Dongpo (蘇東坡) was a gifted and well-known creator and poet throughout the Tune Dynasty (a few thousand years in the past) in China’s historical past. He had a good friend who was a excessive achieved monk named Grasp Fo Yin (佛印). One time, whereas he was in Huangzhou, Su Dongpo had a burst of inspiration and wrote the next poem:
Sitting on my golden lotus,
(Unique textual content: 稽首天中天，毫光照大千；八風吹不動，端坐紫金蓮。The unique textual content is a poem, so I did my greatest to make the interpretation poetic.)
After writing it, Su Dongpo felt fairly happy. Not solely did he reward the Buddha poetically, he additionally subtly hinted at his personal transcendence, saying that the “eight winds” can not transfer him.
Su Dongpo then sealed the poem in an envelope and had a messenger ship it to Grasp Foyin throughout the river at Jinshan Temple. He believed Grasp Foyin would certainly reward his poem significantly.
Nonetheless, when Grasp Foyin learn the poem, he wrote “Fart” on the backside of it and despatched it again with the messenger.
When Su Dongpo noticed the phrase “Fart,” he instantly turned livid and shouted, “How outrageous!” He stormed off to Jinshan Temple to confront Grasp Foyin, however when he arrived, he discovered that Grasp Foyin had already ordered that no visitors could be seen at present.
Su Dongpo, even angrier, ignored this and was about to push open the door when he noticed a word on the door, which learn:
The eight winds can not transfer you,
But one fart blew you throughout the river?
Upon studying this, Su Dongpo realized his mistake and was deeply humbled.
Commentary
In Buddhism, the “eight winds” consult with 4 frequent favorable and unfavorable circumstances: positive aspects and losses, reward and insult, good and dangerous fame, pleasure and struggling. Buddhism teaches us to domesticate the thoughts in order that at any time when we encounter any of those eight winds, our thoughts and feelings stay unmoved and undisturbed. That is what Su Dongpo meant by “the eight winds can not transfer me.“
This story teaches us to be vigilant in guarding towards delight. Clearly, nobody likes people who find themselves smug and stuffed with themselves. People who find themselves overconfident in themselves are additionally extra more likely to take dangers that they actually should not as a result of they overestimate themselves, thereby attracting hazard.
Furthermore, after we assume extremely of ourselves, we would boast about ourselves in direction of others, as was the case with Su Dongpo. That is additionally very harmful. Why? As a result of individuals can have extraordinarily excessive expectations in direction of us. Later, when individuals observe us, they’re going to discover that we will not really stroll our speak, after which slander will come. Thus, an individual with true cultivation and knowledge would not boast about oneself to others.
As Ezra Taft Benson stated,
“With delight, there are a lot of curses. With humility, there come many blessings.”
My mentor additionally stated to me earlier than,
“In case you assume you are actually one thing, you then’re actually nothing.”
In different phrases, if you happen to assume you are actually good, you then’re now not good. In case you assume you are worthy, you then’re not likely worthy. Those that grow to be proud and immodest after success and positive aspects will quickly meet their downfall. Solely those that stay humble and cautious within the face of success and positive aspects can keep away from hazard and keep their success.
Su Dongpo is definitely fairly lucky to have an ideal and smart good friend like Grasp Foyin who not solely noticed his drawback however was additionally keen to level it out and nip it within the bud earlier than his delight developed additional. This additionally exhibits that Su Dongpo should have had a ample quantity of humility, in addition to belief and respect for Grasp Foyin, or else Grasp Foyin would not have bothered to criticize him.
Much more admirable was Grasp Foyin’s skillful manner of guiding Su Dongpo to understand his personal mistake with out even needing to inform him in particular person. Advising others on their shortcomings is one thing all of us have to do in life, so we must always all study from Grasp Foyin’s spirit.
Lastly, to realize the extent of being unaffected by the eight winds is not any straightforward activity, however it’s a worthwhile pursuit. At the moment, I am serving to some college students put together for his or her IELTS take a look at (an English proficiency take a look at), and a few of them are slightly pissed off. Feelings are contagious, so both their negativity will overcome my calm, or my calm will overcome their negativity. It is a each day battle.
Furthermore, whether or not or not they cross their take a look at will inevitably be linked to me, and I mustn’t grow to be proud in the event that they cross or dejected if they do not. In the event that they cross, that is primarily resulting from their skills and laborious work; I am merely a supporting issue. For a similar motive, if they do not cross, I mustn’t lose self-confidence, however I ought to encourage them to maintain on finding out and check out once more sooner or later.
Conclusion
The eight winds are to not be underestimated, and if we need to keep success, we have to be vigilant towards delight and be grateful for many who level out our faults.
