24/10/2025
From the book "THE PATH" by Konosuke Matsush*ta
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/
“Understanding Responsibility”
When situations occur that seem to be in no way connected to us, we may think that we have no responsibility for what has happened.
But when we think very carefully, how confident can we be that indeed we have no responsibility with regard to what has happened?
In our world where things are infinitely and complexly interconnected, almost nothing can really be said to be totally unrelated to ourselves.
The noble aspiration of Jesus Christ was to assume responsibility, by giving up his physical life, not only for those of his circle but all others of his times as well as all people of subsequent times.
While that was the greatness of Christ, and not a burden that any of us can expect of each other, we can, at the very least, take care not to shift onto others the burden or blame for things in which we have a responsible role.
Dogs and cats will instinctively bite or claw members of their own kind they take a dislike to. In this respect human beings and animals are clearly set apart in nature.
The best we can do is to appreciate that distinction and do our best not to belittle its value.