The way you treat others is the way they will treat you; the way they treat you is also the way you treat others. The kind of people you befriend and the kinds of events you encounter all depend on yourself; this is cause and effect. Before a person has the means to protect others, they should retract their compassionate heart; do not pity others casually and release your cheap kindness. If you have no light yourself, how can you illuminate others? When your compassion arises, the world is full of pitiful people; when your understanding of cause and effect arises, there is no one in the world who deserves pity. In fact, when a person's energy is not great enough to protect others, let your faint light illuminate yourself first!