Communication and Boundaries
Why must I consider whether I can fulfil a promise even when agreeing out of kindness?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Do not readily promise what you cannot do. You may only momentarily wish to help, while the other person takes the words to heart and keeps waiting. The promise-maker’s intention and the importance placed on it by the recipient may differ.
I shared a karmic story from a religious service. Master Ji Gong explained that, in the past, the person had promised accompanying spirit beings that, upon attaining spiritual fruition, they would bring everyone to a better place together. The promise was not fulfilled, but the others remembered and continued following. What I want to remind people through this story is that someone receiving a promise may take it more seriously than we imagine.
In my understanding of faith, a spoken promise leaves an energetic imprint, although not every promise produces the same outcome. Returning to life, consider before speaking whether you can accept the responsibility and fulfil it. Do not overpromise merely to make someone happy for a moment, only to discover later that saying you forgot cannot make them let go.