Master Tells Stories

Morality, Courage and Self-Respect
Earns Respect from Others

 

A man joined the army and was immediately assigned to serve a captain. The captain was very severe and required lower ranking soldiers to strictly obey his commands without any reservation. Of course, the inherent duty of a soldier is to absolutely obey command. One day, the captain told the soldier to paint his residence. After painting it, he told the soldier to wash the brush. However, the soldier could not find a cleaning rag to wipe the brush. The captain pointed to a stack of clothes nearby that belonged to other soldiers, and told the new soldier to take one and wash the brush. At that time, the young soldier faced a dilemma; he did not know how to handle the situation. If he obeyed the captain’s command, he would have to steal clothing for use as a cleaning rag. Stealing from others, once found out, would be a violation of law. However, disobeying a command from a superior officer would violate the military law. 

After struggling with his thoughts, he decided not to steal the clothing. So answering the captain with a firm voice he said: “I will not do that.” His captain was very surprised that he dared to disobey his command, and immediately asked him: “Why won’t you do it?” The new soldier did not answer, and only looked at his superior with a decisive facial expression that conveyed his determination not to steal. The captain then knew that the soldier had made a firm decision, so he did not say anything more. 

To be respected by others, you must have the attitude to earn that respect. If you respect yourself, others will naturally respect you. Since the military law also barred stealing, the new soldier set a firm resolution not to steal under any circumstance.

However, it was not easy for him to make such a decision at that time, because the duty of a soldier is to “obey.” But his “morality” caused him to make a reasonable and courageous decision for himself. Our free will gives us choice, and we can do whatever we want. That is why heaven and hell are created by us. No one can force us to do anything. If we follow the words of an unenlightened person and do whatever he wants us to do, we will not get respect from others, because we lack independent thinking and will power.

 

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