PureInsight | October 31, 2005
[PureInsight.org] Altruism is a lofty spiritual realm. Those who have attained this realm are filled with kind thoughts. Pure and kind thoughts are like the source of an internal lamp whose radiance shines in four directions.
When I was in middle school, my family lived in a farming village. A classmate named Xiao Ma once told me a story. One night he played outside until it was very late and he had to walk home alone in the dark. When he passed by a wild field, there was no light at all. It was pitch black. He didn't have anything that could shine a little light on his path. He became terrified of walking in the darkness alone. He did not know what to do. At that moment, a small dot of light appeared in the distance and approached him slowly. He picked up his pace and walked briskly towards the dim light. It was not until he reached the light that he realized the man walking with a flashlight was a blind man wearing a pair of shades.
Xiao Ma was very surprised and curious. He asked the blind man, "The flashlight is of no use to you since you cannot see. Why do you carry a flashlight with you?" The blind man sighed and replied, "It is so dark on this road that people who walk briskly often fail to see me, bump into me and knock me down accidentally. Therefore, I carry a flashlight with me to light up the road for other people. Although I cannot see other people, people will be able to see me and won't knock me down again by accident."
This is a fine example of altruism. The light of our soul will illuminate other people's roads, as well as our own road of life. All creatures in the universe are interconnected. When we devote ourselves with a pure heart to society or to others, we will receive immense benefits as well.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2005/9/30/34044.html
