The Snake and the Lesson on Self-Protection
In the sutras, there is a saying:
“No matter how much a snake has practiced, occasionally it must hiss and strike. Otherwise, people will mistake it for a piece of rope and climb on it.”
This teaches us that compassion does not mean allowing others to exploit or trample on us.
- A harmless snake, if it doesn’t show any power, will be seen as a mere rope.
- A person who is too gentle, without any firm stance, will be looked down upon and exploited.
However, what is important is:
- Not to bite, meaning not to harm anyone.
- Simply showing a clear attitude, so that others do not underestimate us.
Confucius also said:
“One should not harbor ill will towards others, but one must be vigilant.”
Compassion must go hand in hand with wisdom. Loving others does not mean allowing them to exploit us forever.
Being Exploited – Don’t Be Upset, Look at the Positive Side
When being exploited, instead of feeling sad, remember this:
- You are valuable, and that is why others want to exploit you.
- How fortunate are those whose lives are still valuable enough to be exploited!
The most terrifying thing is not being exploited, but living without anything to offer life—that is, being useless.
Even if exploited, we must still have the wisdom to protect ourselves:
- Do not let others trample on us.
- Do not let life turn us into someone who has lost all value.
Know the Value of Our Lives and the Time for Practice
In Buddhism, there are two things that are extremely precious:
- A human body is hard to attain – Having a human body is a great blessing.
- The Dharma is hard to encounter – Having the opportunity to practice is rare.
Therefore, do not waste your body and time on meaningless things.
- Time for practice is rare.
- If we have to interact with people who only waste our time, we must know when to let go.
When someone deliberately attacks or causes trouble, we don’t necessarily need to respond.
But we should also not allow them to continue wasting our precious time.
The best way is to let go of such people and devote time to practicing.
“If you attack me, I won’t waste time arguing with you. But I also won’t waste any more time with you.”
“I am going to find a place to practice, not stay entangled in these distractions.”
Final Thought
- Compassion must be paired with wisdom, love others but do not allow yourself to be trampled.
- Being exploited means you have value, but don’t let yourself be used to the point of exhaustion.
- Time and life are precious, do not waste them on things that don’t matter.
- Let go of people who waste your time, focus on your own path of practice.
When we understand these truths, we will no longer be troubled by being exploited, and instead, we will know how to protect ourselves to continue living with value.
This article is compiled based on a sermon by Venerable Toại Khanh
