dreamer_easy | Suffocating Silkworms!

At a vegetarian restaurant I picked up one of those teensy free Buddhist books, Liao-Fan's Four Lessons, which dates from the Ming Dynasty. For my tastes it's a bit too much about accumulating merit so as to reap the karmic rewards - the dude keeps detailed lists of his good deeds! - but there were a couple of passages which have stayed with me.

Firstly:

"Additionally, we should maintain the mind of stillness when we are slandered. Although the slanderous rumors and tale bearing spreads like a huge fire burning to the sky, eventually, like a torch it will burn itself out in space. If we hear others slandering us, get angry and try to defend ourselves, it would be like the spring silkworm spinning its own cocoon tying itself in suffocation. Therefore, no benefit but rather harm is derived from getting angry. There are other faults and offenses we can change. If we can understand the reasoning behind the need for reform, we will not repeat our mistakes."

Well, I've got the not defending myself part pretty much under control. The not getting angry part... not so much.

Secondly:

"Therefore, whenever we see way places, memorials of past virtuous people or sages, pictures of sages, or Buddhist texts, we should be respectful. If they are in need of repair, we should repair and put them back in order."

Here Liao-Fan is talking about piously promoting "proper teachings" - which is, of course, what the teensy free book is for. But the picture this conjures up, of coming across a roadside shrine or what-have-you, and fixing it up, appeals to me enormously. In a very small way, I suppose that's what