As is the case with many other people, I require the use of glasses. This is because while my left eye sees normally, my right eye is very weak. I do pretty well with most things, except for things like aiming when practicing shooting.
Isn’t it strange how we see defects in others that we do not see in ourselves? I read in an article one time that this is because unbeknownst to them, most people carry the same spiritual ocular handicap as I do. Yes indeed, we all see with two different eyes. A weak eye that seems to be almost blind to small details of imperfections, and that that is the one we use to look at ourselves. We also have a strong eye that is very kin at discerning even shades of imperfections, and that is the one the we use to look at others. As a result, while we are very careful not to be negatively affected by the imperfections of others, we excuse ours and allow them negatively affect the lives of others. I think that it would be more efficient to do it the other way around. We should use our very good eyes to look at our own imperfections and the weak eye to look at those of others. After all, we would not need to be so watchful about other’ imperfections since they would also use their good eye to introspect. It may also make for better relationships based on trust and empathy. A famous teacher roaming the earth 2,000 years ago made the same observations. He asked people who had the tendency to look at themselves with their weak eye and at others with their strong eye, Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? (Mat 7:3-4) Indeed, isn’t it strange how we can so easily discern the faults in others that we are blind to in ourselves? This teacher then answered his own question with, You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Mat 7:5)
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