The Two Guardians of the World
“Monks, there are two bright and powerful qualities that protect the world. Which two? Conscience and concern.”
Conscience is the quiet voice inside us that says, “This isn’t right.” It’s what makes us feel sorry when we hurt someone or break a promise. Concern is the care we feel for how our actions affect others. It’s the feeling that says, “What if this hurts someone? What will others think of this choice?”
These two qualities work together, like the sun and the moon lighting up the day and night. They guide people, help them make good choices, and stop them from falling into selfish or harmful behavior.
Imagine a village without any rules, without any kindness or respect. If conscience and concern were gone, people would stop caring. They would not think twice about lying, stealing, or hurting others. They would no longer honor their mothers, or show kindness to their aunts, or show respect to their teachers and their families. Every relationship would lose its meaning.
In such a place, the bonds that hold society together would fall apart. People would chase after their desires like animals in the wild—without shame, without care, without boundaries. Just as rams fight each other for a mate, or roosters trample over others to satisfy their wants, so would humans, lost in confusion and desire.
But monks, because conscience and concern still exist in this world, many people still know how to stop and think. A young man walking past a neighbor’s home remembers what he was taught and keeps his eyes and thoughts respectful. A daughter hears her conscience and chooses to speak kindly, even when she is angry. A student holds back from doing wrong, because he knows it would bring shame to his teacher.
Even in the heart of a person who has made many mistakes, these two bright qualities can still arise. Conscience can awaken like a candle lit in the dark. Concern can grow like a seed watered after a long dry season.
These two qualities are not just for monks or for the wise—they belong to everyone. They live in the hearts of mothers caring for their children, of friends watching over each other, of strangers choosing honesty even when no one is watching.
So, monks, nourish these two bright qualities. Let them guide your speech, your thoughts, and your actions. When conscience and concern are strong, people live with care. Families stay close. Communities grow peaceful. The world is protected—not with weapons or walls, but with goodness and restraint.
A person with conscience and concern is like a tree that gives shade to others. Even in hard times, such a person brings comfort and safety to the world.
Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2025/05/08/the-two-guardians-of-the-world/
Wisdom Tea 