Praise or Criticism: The Measure of Your Virtue

Have you ever asked yourself which words leave your mouth more often, praise or criticism?

Yesterday, I was scrolling through social media and saw someone post a video of a strange phenomenon. They honestly stated that they did not know what it was and asked others for an explanation. Yet, in the comments section, dozens of people hastily concluded, "It is staged!" or "Fake news!" No one had proven anything. This is precisely the carelessness of ordinary beings.

The Buddha taught about the practice of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, specifically the second vow: to praise the Tathagata. But why is this praise so important? It reflects directly upon our moral character.

### Two Paths: Words of Criticism and Words of Praise

Master Thich Chan Quang pointed out that ordinary beings tend to criticize and scold as soon as they open their mouths. When they wish to refute something, they feel no need to provide proof. If they dislike something, they criticize it; if they see something unfamiliar, they accuse others of lying. However, a person of virtue does the opposite. The Master emphasized:

"A person of virtue will prefer to praise rather than criticize."

To measure your level of virtue, look at your own speech. The Master suggested placing two glass jars: put a white bean in one jar each time you praise, and a black bean in the other each time you criticize. After six months, what color dominates your collection? If it is all black, there is cause for concern.

Criticizing others not only diminishes blessings from merit but also cultivates a mindset specialized in disparagement. Gradually, this can lead us to commit sins that bring condemnation from all quarters. Conversely, praising others prepares the ground for great merit and earns us the admiration of those around us.

### The Dignity of the Mind: Seeing Goodness Like Finding Gold

When we see others making mistakes, what arises in our mind? Some secretly rejoice because they have gossip to share. Others perceive the karmic consequences and feel deep compassion. The Master categorized these responses clearly:

"When you see someone erring, you immediately see their karmic result. Seeing this, your heart moves with compassion, so you pray that they overcome their faults."

This is the mind of a sage. On the other hand, when you see the goodness in others and rejoice as if you have found gold, seeking ways to share this discovery with many people, this too is the mind of a sage.

The Master shared an example: while driving past, in just a few seconds, we might see someone quietly bending down to pick up trash and place it into a large bag. If our heart instantly rises with praise, even if we do not speak it aloud, we possess high moral quality. If we notice nothing at all, we remain ordinary.

The difference lies in our inner emotions. A long stretch of road, a gentle word of praise—these are all opportunities for spiritual cultivation.

### Praising the Buddha: When Emotion Overflows into Speech

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva praises the Buddha with an emotion that is boundless and profound. This feeling overflows into spoken words. The Master explained:

"The emotion grows so large that it bursts forth into speech."

It is like loving someone deeply but being unable to express it; over time, this becomes a sickness of longing. When our hearts are filled with reverence, we must express it. Yet, often when we chant sutras or recite hymns of praise, our hearts lack true feeling. We chant by formula, out of habit. The Master noted:

"Inside us, there is no real perception of the greatness of the Buddha."

In such cases, our words are merely lips moving without a heart behind them. When we chant, "The Supreme Dharma King, unmatched in the three realms," do we truly understand and resonate with these words? If we do, we are practicing the vow to praise the Tathagata.

### Three Steps to Complete Merit

The Master guided us on how to fully practice this in three steps.

First, cultivate a heart of reverence for the Buddha, filled with genuine emotion.

Second, speak words of praise to the Buddha through chanting sutras and performing prostrations.

Third, praise the Buddha for the sake of sentient beings, spreading this reverence to others.

Regarding merit, the Master taught very clearly:

"Praising the Buddha for the Buddha’s sake brings some blessings... but it is only one-third of the merit. If you praise someone and let many others hear it, you gain two-thirds of the merit."

This means that if you only praise the person directly, you receive one-third of the merit. But if you share this praise widely with everyone, you attain the full tenfold merit. It costs not a single coin, yet you offer others "gold and jade"—the precious treasure of a reverent heart toward the Buddha, which is indestructible and invaluable.

### Keeping a Place of Reverence in Your Heart

Why is a heart of reverence necessary? The Master said:

"If you hold reverence for a holy being in your heart, understand that this is more precious than gold, silver, or diamonds."

If there is no one left in your heart to respect, you lose your motivation for living and your ideals. This is the depression affecting many young people today. Therefore, each of us needs to keep worthy figures in our lives: parents, teachers, leaders, good people, and spiritual practitioners. These are our true treasures.

Above all, our hearts need the Buddha—a supreme embodiment of virtue—who serves as the inspiration for our diligent practice.

Let us begin today. Whenever you see someone doing good, offer praise. Whenever you chant, do so with your whole heart. At every opportunity, share stories of the Buddha with others. This is the practice of praising the Tathagata, the path that leads us to the shore of enlightenment.