"Draw me a sheep ..."
Who knows this sentence? Correct, it comes from "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, published at the time of the Second World War. I highly recommend the book, it is critical of the evaluation of outward appearances instead of human values, a clear criticism of the decay of the morals of that time (similar problems as nowadays as well).
Here is told about a small boy who comes from an asteroid. Since only he inhabits the celestial body (with a rose he loves so much) he travels to the planets in the vicinity, where he meets other (also lonely) people who live in their selfishness and carry their problems with them, important values have been lost for a very long time.
When he then comes to earth, the boy first meets a snake that wants to bite him, then a fox that explains the world to him. Thereby sentences of true greatness fall, like this: "you are responsible all your life for what you have made familiar to yourself".
Yes, as a Buddhist you also have to think about whether you make someone or something familiar to yourself, from the decision to call this or that 'my own' arises clear responsibility (regardless of personal karma).
Whether we get a dog or a cat, continue to meet with a 'date', open a business or take a job, beget a child, no matter what we make ourselves familiar is now in our area of responsibility, belongs to us. Unfortunately, very few people see it this way, in fact, many people take one partner after another (life partner, business partner, partner in every possible sense) without having thought about it beforehand, without having or wanting to take on a shred of responsibility, and thus create suffering in their counterpart. They consume people or things, without decency and values, simply without thinking further, without using even a thought to the possible consequences.
If I enter into any relationship, that is, go into my word, then I have thought about it carefully, not just out of boredom also 'still taken', I then have the decency to say NO even if I know that this situation is not for me, would only serve my distraction, has no substance and no value in my life.
It takes a certain size to say NO, an inner firmness. But if I don't want something (or someone) in my life, can't or don't want to take responsibility, then I have to say NO, because a wrong YES will often end in disaster (small or big shows time).
The sentence of Saint-Exupéry has influenced me very much, unconsciously I have acted according to it for a long time, only much later I became aware of the implications of his words: "responsible all my life for what I have made familiar to myself"!
However, my behavior is not a one-way street. As a studied lawyer I see "making familiar" as a kind of mutual contract. If now my "contracting party" breaks the trust agreement I can also terminate the contract, then I am released from my word. But otherwise the contract stands.
How much I would wish that more people read the "little prince", understand it and act accordingly.
Like in Buddhism! Right seeing, right recognizing, right speaking and right acting!
After a while the little prince recognizes the world fixated on externals, and returns to his rose on his planet.
Life is a journey. Do not take too much baggage with you
- Billy Idol - British rock musician - born 1955
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