Beyond Self and Others 人我之間 from Collection of Rain Blossoms

Seeing through the wall of separation. Image: Shutterstock.

Most people still don’t truly see what it means to live as one in real harmony — to understand that all beings belong to the same whole, with no real separation. And because we miss this truth, we keep holding on to the idea that there is a “me” and there are “others.” When we cling to that thought, a wall quietly rises in the heart, and that wall shuts out harmony. It keeps us from a deep, complete change within. This idea of “self” and “others” is like a brick wedged in the gate of the Buddha’s path, and as long as it stays there, no matter how hard we try, we cannot step through.

Seeing Through the Wall of Separation

Now, in Buddhism there is a saying: “Others are me, and I am others.” This is the heart of true harmony — seeing that all living beings are really one. But if we do not understand this, then the moment we start making distinctions, a barrier appears, and soon the heart is ready for conflict.

And yet, there is an even higher state — “no self and no others.” This is more than harmony; it is the moment of waking to the truth. Of course, not everyone can reach that state right away. But at the very least, we should come to the place where there is no real gap between ourselves and others. Only then can we truly be called followers of the Buddha.

So pause for a moment and think quietly. If you can see yourself as others, they will feel close and at ease with you. And if you can see others as yourself, whatever you do will naturally win their respect. This is why the wall between self and others must come down.

Living the Truth in Daily Life

Because in the end, fame and wealth are only passing illusions. So why fight over them? Why let thoughts of “me” and “others” take root? As the old saying goes, “By the time the night reaches midnight, every title and honor is nothing but a dream. Think a hundred years ahead — whether young or old, we will all be people of the past.”

So once we see the truth of “no self and no others,” the question becomes: how do we live it? And the answer is simple — let this way of seeing guide how you look at everything in life. When we do, the wall falls away, the gate swings open, and harmony quietly fills the heart.

人我之間

雨花集

濟公活佛

一般人未能明白圓融一體之意義，是以有人我之執。一有此執，便有界限，圓融受礙，始終不能達到化境。故人我兩字，是佛途之塞門磚。有此一念，無論如何，不得進門。

照佛理說﹕「人就是我，我就是人」。所謂圓融一體，眾生皆一。如果不明此理，一有分別，便屬有礙，爭執之心頓起。

無人無我，更屬超此一級，不獨圓融，而且頓悟。最低限度，即使不能做到無人無我，亦須達到人我無別之境界，此得稱為佛徒。

試平心靜氣一想，你如果以我作人，則對方對你非常親切。以人作我，做事必得人敬。所以人我之界，必須打破。

其實什麼功名、富貴，都是假相。何必爭？何必起人我之念。所謂﹕「睡到二三更，甚麼功名，都成幻影；想一百年後，無論老少，皆為古人」。

無人我之理明矣，然則如何寔行？一言以蔽之曰﹕能作如是觀足矣。

This translated text is a chapter from Collection of Rain Blossoms, a scripture written by JiGong Living Buddha in the 1900s through spirit writing. Here the link to the original Chinese source.

If you are interested in other chapters of this book, here is the link to the table of contents.