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"I seem to be meeting many visually-impaired
people at bus stops or on buses recently. Today, I met this middle-aged man in
the morning again as I was waiting for my bus to an 8am lecture. It is the 3rd
Monday I’ve met him in a row, it seems that our routines just happen to
coincide at that time.
During the first Monday, I made
conversation with him and offered to tell him when his bus came. However that
meant missing my bus and I was late for lecture. Hence during our subsequent
meetings I just took it upon me to attach him to someone at the bus stop taking
the same bus so that it was a win-win situation.
Last Saturday while making my way to BF for
the Lantern festival, I came across another visually-impaired commuter, this
time on the bus. I approached him offering my assistance, but he surprised me
by politely saying he was fine without help.
I found out that he normally pays attention
to a certain hump on the road, which would tell him that his stop is coming up
next. For other destinations, he will feel for other things, like a particular
right turn and so on. I was really impressed by the level of mindfulness on
display, and was touched by their immense will to be independent and to live
life well. :)
This touched my heart most today. I was sitting at a bench in NUS doing my
work when I saw a middle-aged man mopping the floor. In a moment of
carelessness, he kicked over his pail of water by accident and had to clean it
up.
The scene was juxtaposed against the whole
university scene, which is one of youthful exuberance and life. The sharp
contradiction jolted me into realizing there are unsung heroes who support our
way of life. I find their efforts very heartening and inspiring.
Kindness to me is not harming any sentient beings, wanting
only to bring happiness to them – both in thoughts and actions.
I used
to have many opinions about our society.
At
certain times, I would think that Singaporeans are really inconsiderate (not picking up
litter), impatient (on public transport), and rude (to waiters etc.) amongst
other things. Though I don’t air them out, I would just satisfy myself by
thinking about all the things our society could improve in.
Other
times however, I would hold the opinion that things aren’t that bad, that I see
people giving up seats, waiting for their turn to board the bus and all.
After
many cycles of the above, it just dawned on me that things are just the way
they are, it’s the lens I choose to wear that affects my perception – which
isn’t the truth.
I think
that when we look outwards and think about how things “should be”, it is no
longer Dhamma. Realizing such, I drop the whole endeavour of trying to judge
society. Instead, I strive to be the Singaporean I hope to see in society. Not
to say that I am doing this perfectly, but it’s a direction I constantly walk
towards." :)
- Sze Yuan
