Anyone who has visited a temple knows that upon entering, you are first greeted by the smiling Maitreya Buddha, while to his north stands the stern-faced Skanda. Legend has it that long ago, they did not reside in the same temple but managed different ones respectively.
Maitreya was passionate and joyful, attracting many visitors, but his lax approach to bookkeeping led to financial deficits. Skanda, on the other hand, was an expert at managing accounts, but his overly serious and grim demeanor drove visitors away, eventually causing the temple's popularity to fade.
When the Buddha noticed this issue, he placed them in the same temple: Maitreya was tasked with public relations, greeting visitors with a smile, which brought prosperity to the temple. Skanda was tasked with finance, ensuring strict and precise oversight. Through their collaborative division of labor, the temple flourished beautifully.
This teaches us that a wise leader identifies others' strengths and maximizes them by putting the right people in the right roles. To be a true talent is to be able to perform most effectively in the most suitable position.
The Husband's Annoyance
A wife was cooking in the kitchen while her husband nagged incessantly beside her: "Slow down, be careful! The heat is too high. Quickly flip the fish, you've added too much oil!" The wife retorted, "I know how to cook." The husband replied calmly, "I'm just letting you know how it feels when I'm driving and you're chattering incessantly beside me..."
This reminds us to practice empathy and learn to see things from another person's perspective.
The Chasing Driver
A bus filled with passengers was speeding down a slope, and someone was chasing after it desperately. A passenger leaned out of the window and said to the pursuer, "Buddy, forget it, you won't catch it!" The man, panting heavily, replied, "I must catch it—I am the driver of this bus!"
This makes us reflect: in the journey of life, what happens if there is no driver? Some people must remain incredibly dedicated and hardworking.
