There is an epigram in the Arabs.
‘Though you teach a fool a thousand pieces of wisdom, they are really only yours.’
While we cultivate our life’s garden we suddenly become aware of our neighbor stealing a glance at us. He puts aside his own errands,
and heatedly gives us advice on when we should sprinkle our seeds of action, when we should give it our manure of thought,
and when we should pour our water of accomplishment.
If we lend him an ear ultimately it will become as if we are working for him,
and our life’s garden will be decorated according to the wishes of our neighbor. In the end we will not be able to recognize the land we sweat for and cultivated with our manure of blessing.
We will forget that in each span of land there are secrets that only the gardener’s persevering hand can unlock, and instead of studying the changes in the sun, rain, and seasons,
we will hang on to the advice of our neighbor watching us out of the corner of his eye from behind his fence.
But that fool who loves to speak of the gardens of others does not have room to care for the flowers and trees in his own.
-
From “Like the Flowing River”
p.s.
It’s a good thing that there are people who only care for the gardens of others.
Due to ‘those who are like me but yet worse,’
I can learn slowly how foolish it is to act like this,
and realize the importance of keeping my own rhythm.
Source: Dongwan’s Naver blog
Credits: orisic @ shinhwa.biz
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