Walk in each other’s shoes

This is taken from a passage in the Bible (Matthew 7: 1-5)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

The Buddha advocated a pro-active approach in understanding other people. He mentioned:

“It is by living a life in common with a person that we learn of that person’s moral character; and then only if having insight ourselves, we have watched a person for a long time. It is only in conversation with a person that we learn of that person’s wisdom and clarity of heart; and then only if, having insight ourselves, we have paid attention for a long time. It is during times of trouble that we learn of another’s fortitude; and then only if, having insight ourselves, we have paid careful attention for a long time.”

When we allow compassion to be our guiding principle in life, live a life of understanding for the unique characteristics in all of us, and to accept everything as it is…judgment will no longer be a part of our lives.

Often we have allowed ourselves to live in a dualistic mindset, thinking that we are all separate beings. We have made unflattering remarks about immigrants and workers eking out a living here, thinking of them as less deserving of a chance to live life to the fullest. This ‘us and them’ thinking is not only prevalent with the way we regard immigrants and workers from other countries, we see it too among ourselves: from race to religion to where we live and what school we go – many of us have mindlessly created a separation based on an illusion that some of us are better than others, in all areas of our lives!

And from there, we create a hierarchy & separation of sorts living a life with a false sense of superiority, and giving ourselves the right to pass judgments on whoever do not fall within our ‘ranks’! Jesus Christ went one step further by reminding us: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw the stone at her.” (John 8:7). This verse reinforced his teachings in Matthew 7:1-5

Sometimes we assume too much and make a judgment call on someone without knowing him or her.  Sometimes we are so caught up with our own righteousness that we fail to notice the goodness in others. The key approach to a greater understanding is to ask, and look for similarities. And if it’s within our means to do so, walk in his or her shoes and learn to appreciate the beauty of the person, to feel his or her challenges in life…and to discover the sameness in all of us.

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