You ride on a horse, while I ride a donkey.
Looks like you are better off than me!
Turning around, I see a man pushing his cart.
Some are better off than me,
But there are others less fortunate than myself!
In this world, we should not compare ourselves with other people. If we do, we will be constantly frustrated. We should not be too calculating also. People who are overly calculating are constantly in a tug of war with others and can never find peace.
“You ride on a horse, while I ride on a donkey.” You can always find someone better off than yourself. You drive an import while I drive a domestic car. You drive a car while I only ride a motorcycle. You ride a motorcycle while I only ride a bike. But, “Turning around, I see a man pushing his cart.” There are lots of people who do not even own a bicycle and have to walk. We need to understand that although there are others more fortunate than ourselves, there are also many who are less fortunate. We need to be content with our own situation and not always expecting more. If we must compare, we should not compare ourselves in the areas of wealth, fame, and luxury. Instead, we should compare in the areas of ethics, abilities, knowledge and forgiveness. We should better ourselves in these areas.
The verse above tells us to be content with our own situation. Let me tell you of a verse mocking people who are never content with themselves:
At first, I work hard for two meals, then it is for nice clothing
Now that I have nice clothing, I long for a beautiful wife
Now that I have a beautiful wife, I want a nice carriage
Now that I have a fleet of nice carriages, I want a fertile farm
Now that I have many acres of fertile land, I want a government title to impress others
I do not want to start at the bottom of the ladder, not even in the middle
When I am at the top rung, I want to be the emperor for a while
When I am the emperor and everything is going well, I long to live forever
There is no end to my wants, until the day I die with reluctance.
You can tell from this poem that there is no end to our wants and cravings. One’s
happiness does not hinge on how much money one has or what title one carries. Sometimes, money can bring you headaches and impressive positions can bring you more worries. We should not be selfish. We should not only take, but also give. Someone who only knows how to take, without giving, will never be happy.
