Sometimes people behaving badly can be ... - Dhamma by Ajahn Jayasāro
Sometimes people behaving badly can be of as much benefit to us as those who behave well and are our role models. At least this is true when we can put down any personal feelings of aversion towards them. Looking wisely at a very selfish person, for example, practitioners ask themselves with sincerity ‘Selfishness is such an ugly destructive thing. Am I also selfish like this? How can I free myself from it.’ They make a determination: ‘Although I can do little to get other people to let go of their selfishness, at least I will let go of the selfishness in my own mind, and be a good example to others.’
Looking at the world around us in this way, we do not become depressed. We see all the people acting in foolish and harmful ways as reminding us how not to lead our lives; we feel strengthened in our resolve to follow the path of Buddha. These people are also our teachers.
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