Don't do it with little evil, and don't do it with little good.
Pei Songzhi's Notes on the Historical Origin of Shu Shu Zhuan in the History of the Three Kingdoms.
Don't think that bad things are small, and don't think that good things are small.
It is said that this is what Liu Bei said in his suicide note to his son Liu Chan, urging him to study in Germany and make a difference. Good things should start with small things, and small things can also achieve great things. Bad things should also start from small things, otherwise many a mickle makes a mickle, which is also a bad thing. Therefore, don't stop doing good things because you are young, let alone doing bad things because you are young. Many small good deeds will become great good deeds for the world, while many small evil deeds will be "enough to confuse the country".
Gu Deyun said: "Don't use small evils, don't use small goodness, but use virtue to convince people." A virtuous person has the knowledge and ability to know good and evil, but he doesn't ignore the virtue and harm of small good. He can really break evil and cultivate good, so he is persuasive. The practice of Buddha and Bodhisattva in their career is also "to break all evil and have no evil; Cultivate all goodness, and don't cultivate without goodness. "No matter how big or small things are, we can be true to things and try our best to practice Bodhisattva extensively, and finally we can achieve Buddhism and Taoism.
Your own goodness can not only accumulate virtue for yourself, but also benefit others; The slightest evil not only damages one's own character, but also hurts others. This tossing and turning effect is like throwing a pebble into a lake, and the ripples are constantly expanding, which leads to the fluctuation of water lines on the whole lake, and its influence degree is by no means predictable. Therefore, for people all over the world, a kind thought, a kind word, a kind response and even a smile can not only make their hearts brighter, but also bring the parent-child relationship closer, improve the company's performance, promote national social harmony and even eliminate all kinds of man-made disasters. For the yogi, if the body, mouth and heart can keep the precepts clean, the minor can be disabled and stay away, and the small kindness can be abandoned, then the self-compassion and wisdom can be revealed, and he will be more capable of helping all sentient beings.
This kind of small fruit to big examples abound. For example, when a disaster occurs in a corner of the world and needs assistance, the public will do their best, and donations, relief materials and rescue manpower collected from all directions will form a powerful force. So is the construction of Dojo. The establishment of the Dojo can not only complete the karma of Buddhism, Dharma and Monks, but also enable more people to benefit from Buddhism, improve the quality of spiritual life and stay away from physical and mental pain. It is indeed a great merit. Therefore, if the public can contribute their own efforts, even a small charity, or even convince others to be enthusiastic, or admire with joy, can gather sand into a tower and become an invaluable fortress of human religion, culture, history, art and spiritual life. Their interests are all over the legal world, and their merits and demerits will be widely overshadowed by future generations.
It is also recorded in Buddhist scriptures that a monk knew that his little novice monk had only seven days to live, so he kindly invited him to go home to visit relatives. On the way, it happened to rain heavily. Little novice monk found a group of ants trying to climb out of the stagnant water, but they were constantly washed back by the rain. So the little novice monk felt sorry for them and rescued them one by one before continuing his journey. Seven days later, the little novice monk returned to the temple. The master was very surprised, so he went into meditation and observed that it was the compassion of the little novice monk, which not only saved the ants, but also increased his life span.
In addition to spreading their own kindness, we should also sincerely praise the good deeds of others, which can enhance their confidence and make them do good deeds with a broad mind; Be aware of your evil deeds, repent and improve as soon as possible, and never make a mickle. For example, The Forty-two Chapters says: "People have many mistakes, but they don't regret themselves, so they stop. Sin comes and goes, like water returning to the sea, gradually getting deeper and wider. " Is the best advice. The Sanskrit also said: "Don't be lighter than minor crimes, thinking it is harmless; Although the water droplets are small, they gradually gain momentum. When you commit a crime in an instant, you will be devastated; If you lose your life, you will never be able to recover it! " Also remind the world to be honest, good will be rewarded with good and evil with evil, and not careless!
"Cultivating goodness is like spring grass, and it will increase before it grows; Doing evil is like sharpening a stone. If it is not destroyed, it will be damaged. " To cultivate good and break evil, we should focus on high places and start from small places. If you can go on step by step, you can not only become a sage in the world, but also have a good family business, study, career and ambition. Further, you can also become a saint in the world, you can be confused, you can preach, you can learn from the scriptures, you can become a Buddha, and you can achieve everything!