When I urgently want to prove I am right, how can I notice whether I am going astray?

You can believe in yourself, but also examine what you are preparing to do to prove yourself right. Others’ disagreement does not necessarily mean that you are wrong. However, if all that remains is ‘I will prove it to you,’ and you no longer care about harming yourself or others, it is time to stop and look clearly at what is happening.

When discussing the film The 8th Night, I noticed the professor’s transformation. Originally, he wanted to prove something described in a scripture. After finding an object he attracted attention, but later faced doubts and lost his reputation. He suffered deeply and eventually, in order to prove himself, went so far as to awaken a demon and sacrifice even his adopted daughter. This is a fictional film story, but its portrayal of attachment deserves reflection.

What began as a search for an answer later became an inability to accept that others did not believe him. The purpose of his actions had changed. In deep sadness or pain, people may do things that cannot be undone. We need to notice more than whether we receive approval. Are we trying so hard to vindicate ourselves that we have already departed from our original purpose?

I have also said that you can continue to believe in yourself even without others’ recognition. Maintaining conviction differs from proving yourself at any cost. However good the original reason, we still need to examine our later thoughts and actions, and their effects on ourselves and those around us.