Starting Spiritual Practice
If you witness a shop employee being harsh with a child, should you post it online for public judgment?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Do not rush to write one observed moment as though it were the whole event. Even witnessing something may reveal only the immediate action, not what happened before and after or everyone's thoughts.
A fellow practitioner described seeing an elementary-school child approach after their drink order number had passed. The employee scolded the child for not coming when called. The practitioner thought the child might simply not understand and intended no harm, and initially wanted to write about it. But then wondered whether uninformed readers would attack the shop together. The employee might merely speak loudly without the malice assumed.
We discussed how observed behavior differs from motives we assign. If unclear matters are presented as definite judgments, others may spread the account and continue blaming. Before sharing, consider how much you truly know and what remains only your interpretation.