Thursday, November 16, 2006

Criticizing others


To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Rather than speaking badly about people and in ways that will produce only friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities. If you find yourself slandering anybody, first imagine that your mouth is filled with excrement. It will break you of the habit quickly enough.

-H.H. the Dalai Lama

2 comments:

Paulie said...

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

beckett said...

I am usually ashamed when I find myself slandering someone, and it is almost always, if not always always because I am attempting to increase my estimation either in my own eyes or in the eyes of the person to whom I'm speaking.

The reason people get to me seems to be that they expose to my subconscious some perceived or feared weakness in myself. It's not a new concept, but it always surprises me when I catch it in action!