THE DIFFERENCE IN THINKING
The English poet Frederick Langbridge (1849-1923) certainly gave us food for thought when he penned the following couplet:
Two men look out through the same bars
One sees the mud and one the stars.
This same point was made–rather more effectively–by a Persian poet who said; “The difference between you and me is only one of hearing. Where you hear a door close, I hear it open.”
Tafawot ast mian e shenidan e man o to,
To bastan e dar, man fath e bab mishenawam.
There is no rose without thorns, but one who broods on the existence of thorns without giving any thought to the beauty of the roses above them is like the man who looks at mud in preference to the stars. Social conditions are always a combination of roses and thorns, mud and stars; and it is only the wise man who knows how much importance to give to each. The man who concentrates solely on thorns and mud will be the man who can only hear doors closing and never hear them opening.
Most social problems are problems of the mind. They are almost always capable of being solved by changes of attitude and ways of thinking. It is a question of inculcating right ways of thinking at the appropriate stage in a man’s spiritual development. Only then will he be a worthy, positive, social being.
The truth is that this world is a test of intelligence. Those who use their intellect will find their way, while those who don’t will face nothing but ruin as their fate.
The sea is full of waves and surges. Anyone who wants to steer a boat through it must deal with the waves and storms to reach their goal. In the jungle, there are thorns and predators. The animals living there have no choice but to find a way to survive amid the thorny bushes and their hunting enemies.
The same applies to human society. Among people, there are individuals of various kinds whose interests often clash. Disagreements and conflicts happen for multiple reasons. This ebb and flow, these differences, have always been part of social life and will continue to be. They cannot be completely eliminated under any circumstances.
In such circumstances, there is only one possible path to life and success for a person: to adopt the principle of “despite” as their policy. Despite opposition, they should strive to make people their allies. Despite conflicts, they should find the secret to a joyful life for themselves. Even when faced with enmities and conspiracies, they should keep moving forward with the conviction that their positive actions can overcome all negativity.
In this world, a person must reach for the flower despite the thorns. Here, one must strive to stay healthy and fit despite the numerous germs of illness. Similarly, in this world, a person should not become discouraged by unfavourable conditions, nor should they waste time complaining and protesting. They should live in harmony with the realities they cannot change, carefully avoiding obstacles that hinder their journey. Instead of reacting emotionally to antagonistic remarks, they should respond with strategic wisdom. They should be content with receiving less now so they can receive more in the future. They should endure hostility with patience, hoping that today’s enemies will become tomorrow’s friends.
