Late last year as I walked ... - Dhamma by Ajahn Jayasāro

Late last year as I walked along a minor road in northeast India, a young man approached me. He said that I should cross over and walk on the other side of the road. I thanked him for his concern but told him that I liked to walk on the right side, facing oncoming traffic. He became quite upset and insisted, “No, you do not understand. In my India we are walking on the left side of the road. Please you cross over!” Seeing the young man's growing anger, I crossed the road.

It was the words ‘My India’ that warned me that this was not a simple disagreement about the best side of the road to walk on. Few ideas are as toxic as ‘me’ and ‘mine’. As soon as they are taken to be ultimate realities, ‘them’ and ‘theirs’ appear, and a whole world of fear and distrust arises. It may seem ridiculous that a young man should feel so strongly about the correct side of a quiet lane to walk in ‘his’ country. But it is important to note how prone we all are to the foolish way of thinking that make such a position seen reasonable.

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Source:

https://www.facebook.com/jayasaro.panyaprateep.org/photos/a.318290164946343/1721958157912863/?type=3&theater