Two forms of clinging to our opinions

Clinging to opinion because of preference

There is an amusing story about a child who clung to their own preference. The child said to their father:

- Today I'm going to get a Korean haircut, Dad.

- What is a Korean haircut, my child?

- Half green and half red.

- Do you want to cause trouble?

- That's the fashion now! I'm going to shave a patch in the middle and get a skull tattooed on it too.

- Good heavens, with a haircut like that, how will I ever look the neighbours in the face?

- Dad, you're so old-fashioned!

Then the child scurried off, and came home with their head half green, half red, and shaved in the middle, giving their father a terrible shock!

In this world, many people indulge themselves and urge others to live the same way, believing that life only has meaning if you do whatever you like. In truth, if people do whatever they like, they bring suffering on themselves and disaster on the world. A person of strength is one who can give up their own preferences and live only in a way that brings peace and happiness to the world.

Clinging to opinion because of wounded pride

For example, a child buys a high-powered motorbike to race, but because his parents do not agree, the child flares up with wounded pride and sulks, refusing to ride it any more. At first the child chose to buy the bike out of preference; once criticised, they insist on defending their opinion out of wounded pride. This is clinging to opinion because of wounded pride.