In Buddhism there is a kind of wisdom called the wisdom of nondiscrimination. Non discrimination is one element of true love. I am right-handed so I do most things with my right hand: brushing my teeth, inviting the bell to sound, writing calligraphy. I have written all my poems with my right hand. But my right hand is never proud of itself. It never says, “Left hand, you are good for nothing. I have to do everything by myself”. And my left hand does not have an inferiority complex, it never suffers, it’s wonderful. My right and left hands are always at peace with each other. They collaborate in a perfect way. This is the wisdom of no-self that is alive in us.
One day I was hammering a nail in the wall to hang a picture. I was not very skillful and instead of hitting the nail, I hit my finger. Immediately my right hand put down the hammer and took care of my left hand. My right hand never said, “Left hand, you know, I’m taking good care of you. You should remember that”. And my left hand did not say, “Right hand you have made me suffer. I want justice, give me that hammer”. My left hand never thinks like that. So the wisdom of nondiscrimination is there in us. And if we make use of it, there will be peace in our family, in our community.
- From The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hann
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