Exercising Self-Control
by Master Lee Feng San Shifu
Translated by Sophia Lui
Edited by Ric Meyers
Once the China Times conducted an opinion poll, and discovered that after the general elections, there were at least several million people in Taiwan who suffered feelings of stress and anxiety. Siblings would fall out with each another and get into fights; couples would be filing for divorce, and subordinates in the workplace would refuse to carry out the orders of their superiors. And all these were due to their opposing political viewpoints. These symptoms have been given the name of “Post-election Stress Disorder.” So what can be done to resolve this issue?
Whether it is between couples, siblings, or friends, it is a big mistake to get into fights because of an election. This phenomenon is not unlike reports that we have read in newspapers abroad. Peace activists in anti-war marches would hold up placards with one hand and, with the other, use batons to attack police. Think about that. Is it not ridiculous? While peace activists are shouting slogans to demand an end to war, they are fighting among themselves in their own country.
Does this make sense? What is the difference between fighting in times of war and in times of peace? It is essentially the same thing, differing only in scale and intensity. Therefore, those who are ignorant of this fact take it upon themselves to point fingers at others. We even have to think deeply whether quarrels are any different from fights. They, too, are the same thing. Therefore it is important to get a clear grasp of this fact so that we know how to choose correctly and learn how to control ourselves.
Sometime our weakness is that we try to exercise control over others instead of ourselves, thus leading to conflict. If we wish to avoid conflicts, then we must be able to control ourselves. In fact, this is not at all difficult. It can all be summed up in one word: forbearance. This is an attitude that everyone should cultivate.
Once a student asked his teacher: “What should we do if we can no longer put up with someone or something?” The teacher’s curt but pertinent reply was: “Bear with it!” It is really that simple, although forbearance is certainly not easy in practice.
When we think we have reached the limit of our patience, divine grace will come to our aid and confer upon us “reason”, which is the ability to recognize, understand, and to control, one’s behavior. We must believe that everyone has access to divine grace and therefore to this innate ability. Continue to show forbearance, and you will see.
“When we have reached the limit of our patience, divine grace will confer upon us the ability to soldier on.” — Lee Feng San Shifu