Friend: I read your recent article about ’small & big cars’ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/358). Sometimes its ‘difficult’ to practise the Dharma. For example, I know I am able to afford branded cars but choose not to do so, because of past bad experiences with them. Yet sometimes when I am out, I see someone drive a branded car next to me and I tend to wonder ‘Why didn’t I buy back that brand?’
Shi’an: Er… this is very silly – because worldly comparisons are endless and thus pointless. As long as we have what we need, it’s okay already. For me, ‘my’ fleets of cars run in most countries. When I raise a hand, one comes up to me. I have countless chauffeurs too. Sometimes, these cars are Merc haha. I call them ‘cabs’. Riding one when I need to is good enough. (E.g. I don’t need to suffer from thinking ‘If only I have a Merc or Lexus.’) Why not try to see ‘cars’ in this light? I’m never envious of those with their own cars because of the pollution they add to the climate in crisis. I support public transport.