Whatever else you do, make it a point to get your priorities right. If you fail to do that, you may realise towards the end of your life, some of the bitter truths of life. Those bitter truths may haunt you for the rest of your life like a ghost from the past.
The vast majority of human beings are selfish. This trait of ours is all-pervading and we may witness this in all facets of our lives. If someone asks you too many questions during your very first meeting, be wary of that person. And, if the majority of those questions are related to your personal life, keep away from that person. Because, that person is not trying to strike a friendship with you. That person is sizing you up to assess as to how useful their relationship with you is going to be. Otherwise, there is no logic or reason as to why they should be conducting a full-fledged interview on the very first day of your meeting.
If you are gullible, you may be impressed by the sweet talk and display of wealth and social status they usually use to impress you. Don’t be taken in by that. In fact, consider that as an alarm bell and distance yourself from such entities. Because, when they do that, they are not even treating you like a human being. If you ignore these warning signals you may end up being used like things than human beings. The fact is that they have no regard for the basic courtesies of life. If you play along, you may end up being used. Just remember that you are under no compulsion to fall into their trap or let them manipulate you. Make it a point to walk out of such relationships the moment you realise what is happening.
Friendships are meant to foster love and compassion. We are not supposed to size up people to evaluate as to how we can use others to further our goals in life. Prudence dictates that we are not supposed to manipulate others to meet our own ends. That is pure selfishness. As I said earlier: we have got everything mixed up. We have got it all wrong. We do not seem to know the ABC of relationships or we choose to ignore them. Either way, we find ourselves in the same boat. In fact, we ought to be avoiding this kind of people as they are largely responsible for most of the woes of this world. They are the reason why there is so much chaos in this world. When I say ‘they,’ I do not mean a third person. That could mean you or me as well.
Human beings are made to be compassionate. They are supposed to love one another. Things are made to be used. Ignorance of this little truth has resulted in total confusion. We fail to understand the basic tenets of life. That is what is causing all the confusion and chaos in this world.
This is where the wisdom of His Holiness—the Dalai Lama—comes in handy. Explaining the reasons for all the chaos in this world, he said: ‘People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used!’
