Seeing Faults Where There Are None: Don't Let Doctrine Divide People

The article opens with the story of a man who thought he had died, leading into verse seventy-two of the Dhammapada on wrong view and right view. We learn to see correctly, live correctly, and move beyond religious boundaries to sow love.

There was once a young man sleeping soundly. Suddenly he heard murmuring beside him, and he woke up. He saw a priest praying for him, while his whole family wept bitterly, calling out his name. He shook one person, pushed another, but no one could hear him. Fifteen minutes passed, and he sank down in despair: "Maybe I really am dead!" At that moment, the whole family burst out laughing — they had only been teasing him. That story, recorded in a clip that spread across the internet, teaches us a great lesson: sometimes even while we are alive, we can be deceived by the very people we love and trust most, until we lose faith in ourselves. So then, can what we see, hear, and believe every day truly be certain and correct?

Seeing Life Through the Eyes of Wrong View

In the Dhammapada, the Buddha taught: "Seeing faults where there are none, and seeing none where there are faults. By embracing wrong view, beings fall into lower realms." The Buddha spoke this verse after observing children from families of different religions playing happily together. But the adults, out of prejudice, scolded their children and forced them to shun their friends. They saw "fault" in an innocent joy, and saw "no fault" in their own aversion.

Do not let what is right appear wrong. Do not let what is wrong appear right.

That is precisely wrong view. When we hold wrong view, we think wrongly, act wrongly, and the result is suffering (dukkha). Conversely, with right view, we clearly know what is right and what is wrong; we live gently and kindly, and our future is a wholesome realm. Every day, we face countless situations in which we rush to judge. A neighbor does not greet us, and we call them arrogant. But perhaps they carry a private sorrow? Someone smiles brightly at us, and we think they are insincere. But perhaps they are simply trying to keep the atmosphere pleasant? It is this lack of objectivity that makes our hearts ache over things that are not real.

Doctrine Is Only a Means, Not the Goal

The life of the Buddha is a model of non-attachment. He built a great system of teachings, yet he declared: "The Tathagata is the finger pointing at the moon. Rely on the Tathagata's finger to see the moon, but the Tathagata's finger is not the moon." Thus, religion is only a path, a means for us to reach the truth. Yet many people take the finger to be the moon; they cling to forms, to sects, and so they become divided.

Every religion suffers from this disease. Each wants its followers to know only their own faith. Everything else, they consider wrong.

This leads to unnecessary conflict. Thay Chan Quang tells of people who create division in order to win followers, as if competing for resources. But if we remember that the ultimate goal of every religion is love, then we will see: Christians and Buddhists are both taught to love their fellow human beings. So why should we envy one another? Let us rise above the labels of "my religion, your religion" to see the real, lovable person before us.

Living in Balance Between Spiritual Life and Daily Life

Some people think that practicing the Dharma means devoting everything to the spiritual and neglecting family, work, and society. That is a misunderstanding. The Buddha taught us to live in balance and harmony in every aspect of life. Children must go to school, parents must raise their children and repay their gratitude, young people must fulfill their duties to their country. Religion cannot replace those responsibilities. If a follower knows only religion, then religion itself will "starve to death," because no one earns money for making offerings. Moreover, we need scientific and cultural knowledge to understand the world. Religion is not everything, but it is an important part that helps guide our morality. A monastic who goes deep into practice may devote their whole life to the Dharma, but a layperson must know how to manage their responsibilities. That is balance.

Being a True Monastic: A Model of Morality

In society, we need medical specialists, engineers, teachers... And we also need specialists in morality. These are the monastics. They are the ones who devote their entire lives to practicing the teachings, to becoming a bright example for everyone. But if a dharma teacher preaches lofty teachings while living a petty life, criticizing this person and that, then that is a failure.

Do not assume that someone sitting on a podium speaking about the Dharma is therefore good, capable, glorious, or blessed with blessings from merit. Not at all.

Thay Chan Quang emphasizes that a monastic must first be a moral exemplar. Attaining something lofty is an inner matter. Otherwise, if one eats the food offered by the faithful without caring to teach morality to society, one will repay that debt immensely in a future life. Therefore, do not be deceived by outward robes or large numbers of followers. Value true virtue and conduct.

Sowing Love, Not Division

So what is the final message we can learn from today's verse? The Buddha wants us to see correctly and live correctly. In life, let us stay calm before news and rumors, not rushing to believe, not rushing to judge. Let us return to the heart to see clearly: whatever brings peace and happiness to ourselves and others is right. Whatever causes division and enmity is wrong.

First of all, if Christ taught people to love one another, and the Buddha taught people to love one another, then that much is already right. Everything else can be considered later.

Thay Chan Quang's words are simple yet profound. Indeed, if every religion begins with love, then there lies the truth. And each of us, whatever faith we follow, let love be the center of our lives.

Remember: "Seeing faults where there are none, and seeing none where there are faults" is a wake-up call. Every day, we have the opportunity to practice — to watch over our own way of seeing, so we are not deceived by illusion. Let us train our speech into words of love, and cultivate our mind/heart into awakened wisdom. Only then can we walk the path of peace and happiness, and lead those around us toward wholesome realms. Homage to our original teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.