[One Thousand Characters a Day] Professor Park Jaehee's '3-Minute Classics' <3> - Seokinji Sim

Editor's NoteThis is the third installment introducing Professor Park Jaehee's ＜3-Minute Classics＞ to the readers of the 'Harumanbo Harucheonja' newsletter. This book contains essential wisdom and insights necessary for managing oneself, managing humanity, and ultimately managing the future, from the spirit of the ＜I Ching＞ confronting crises to the philosophy of happiness left by Laozi for posterity. It presents and guides the path that leaders, organizations, companies, and nations should take in these anxious times. Today's passage is from ＜Myeongsimbogam＞: 'Chaekinji-sim chaekgi, seogiji-sim seoin (責人之心責己, 恕己之心恕人).' Humans tend to be lenient with themselves but strict with others. However, the classics teach that it should be the opposite. Reprimand yourself with the heart that reprimands others! Forgive others with the heart that forgives yourself! This is the way of the noble person. It is an indispensable maxim in an era of double standards. Word count: 905.

Chaekinji-sim chaekgi, Seogiji-sim seoin (責人之心責己, 恕己之心恕人)

Reprimand yourself with the heart that reprimands others!

Forgive others with the heart that forgives yourself!

Even the most foolish person is said to have an accurate eye for finding others' faults. They are always lenient toward their own mistakes or shortcomings but precisely point out others' faults. In the game of Baduk (Go), it is said that the number of moves observed by a bystander watching the game is more accurate than the player themselves. Considering this, it seems humans have a more developed eye for seeing others than for seeing themselves. In ＜Myeongsimbogam＞, the strict heart that reprimands others is called 'chaekinji-sim (責人之心).' Conversely, the lenient heart that forgives one's own mistakes is called 'seogiji-sim (恕己之心).' People are very strict in finding and condemning others' faults but are not lenient in forgiving their own mistakes.

＜Myeongsimbogam＞ advises forgiving others with a generous heart that forgives oneself and reprimanding oneself with the strict heart that reprimands others. "Insoojiu (人雖至愚), Even if a person is extremely foolish, chaekinjeukmyeong (責人則明), the heart that reprimands others is clear. Suyuchongmyeong (雖有聰明), Even if a person is intelligent, seogijeukhon (恕己則昏), the heart that forgives oneself is dark and confused! Chaekinji-sim chaekgi (責人之心責己), Reprimand yourself with the clear heart that reprimands others! Seogiji-sim seoin (恕己之心恕人), Forgive others with the generous heart that forgives yourself! Then it will be clear that you have reached the sage's realm." In other words, be generous in forgiving others' faults and strict in examining your own faults.

It is time to abandon the mindset of "It's okay when I do it, but not when others do," to forgive others with the lenient heart you have for yourself, and to reflect on yourself with the clear heart that reprimands others. When the strictness of chaekinji-sim and the generosity of seogiji-sim switch places and are exercised, the world will become more beautiful.

- Park Jaehee, ＜3-Minute Classics＞, Gimyeongsa, 22,000 KRW