The Practice of Action

The incompetent invariably seek out the capable and tire them with endless proclamations: "Join our group! You're in the wrong place!" They have no shame, no sense, no common decency. Such people are worse than beggars!

The talented don't have time for this. They're busy with their own work. That's precisely why they never bother or embarrass anyone. Those with purpose stay focused on their tasks, while the purposeless meddle in others' affairs. Following one's calling matters more than following rituals.

I have never seen a truly gifted person behave in such an intrusive manner. Those who force themselves upon others, aggressively promoting their views and paths, are always suspect and third-rate. Only those suffering from their own existential crisis worry about the relevance of others' existence. We well remember how the Destiny MLM people used to thrust out their hands for forced handshakes in pursuit of their schemes. We clearly recall what class of people they were. "We're getting rich; we beg you...please, please, please, get rich with us too!" Disgusting! A beggar in a suit and tie remains a beggar at heart.

Communities should pay attention to this. When followers are kept so crude and uneducated, a community gradually becomes irritating and ridiculous. What good is noble philosophy if a community is filled with ointment-peddling followers? Even when visiting a dermatologist, they persist: "Come to our car, see our ointment. What's the point of living if you don't apply our company's miraculous balm to your private parts?" When someone's life is consumed with itching, they see nothing but itches in others.

Being human in appearance alone isn't enough—one needs sense of proportion and wisdom. To be refined, one must learn to speak with understanding. If someone awaits classical dance and you perform crude village antics before them, you'll rightfully get kicked in the rear, won't you? To fulfill your desires through others, you must give them what they want.

Only goats become fans of jackfruit-leaf traders; to attract humans, one must trade in fruit, not leaves. Of course, first one must understand the difference between leaves and fruit. What seems precious fruit to you might be worthless leaves to me.

The person who throws sweets around the neighborhood after suddenly scoring 33 in math, then tries to teach math to someone who regularly scores 99—I don't know if heaven's gods shower flowers at such moments, but I can say with certainty that all the earthly goats start gleefully dropping pellets in celebration.

Let me put it simply. When I lack even the qualification to be someone's student yet presumptuously try to teach them, when I follow them around wanting to become their master...tell me, how can people not understand that the community I belong to should be called a "zoo"? When I'm jumping around before you, excited about getting into a university that you never even considered worth applying to—let alone taking the entrance exam for—I need to grasp this reality! Let everyone be as they are! Let me remain as I am! If they need me, they'll come to my door themselves or wish to come—there's no need for all this pulling and dragging! Any house that requires forcing people inside is clearly empty, not full!

I remind you again: following one's calling matters more than following rituals.