3. A Responsible Person Digests Life’s Circumstances without Complaint

World Scripture

Ambrosia can be extracted even from poison; elegant speech even from a child; good conduct even from an enemy, gold even from impurity.
Laws of Manu 2.239 (Hinduism)

The word of the Lord came to me again, “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine, the soul that sins shall die…” Yet you say, “Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?” When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself… Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God.¹¹
Ezekiel 18.1-30

There are certain recluses and brahmins who teach thus: Whatsoever weal or woe or neutral feeling is experienced, all is due to some previous action… Then I say to them, “So then, owing to a previous action, men will become murderers, thieves, unchaste, liars, slanderers, abusive, babblers, covetous, malicious, and perverse in view. Those who fall back on a former deed as the essential reason [for their behavior] there is neither desire nor effort nor necessity to do this deed or abstain from that deed. So then, the necessity for action or inaction not being found to exist in truth and verity, the term ‘recluse’ cannot reasonably be applied to yourselves, since you live in a state of bewilderment with faculties unguarded.¹² Others teach thus ː
Whatsoever weal or woe or neutral feeling is experienced, all that is due to the creation [predestination] of a Supreme Deity… Then I say to them, “So then, owing to the creation of a Supreme Deity, men will become murderers, thieves, unchaste… Those who fall back on the creation of a Supreme Deity as the essential reason [for their behavior] there is neither desire nor effort nor necessity to do this deed or abstain from that deed. So then, the necessity for action or inaction not being found to exist in truth and verity, the term ‘recluse’ cannot reasonably be applied to yourselves, since you live in a state of bewilderment with faculties unguarded.
Anguttara Nikaya 1.173-74 (Buddhism)

Confucius remarked, “In the practice of archery we have something resembling the principle in a moral man’s life. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure within himself.”
Doctrine of the Mean 14 (Confucianism)

An individual natively desires to be cause.¹³ He tries not to become a bad effect. You try to help people and people try to help you because you and they want to be cause. When something bad happens, neither one wishes to be cause. You want to be an effect. Then you find the effect bad. You try not to be an effect. And then you blame something or somebody.
Handbook for Preclears (Scientology)

He who knows himself well never complains against others. He who knows his fate well never complains against Heaven. He who complains against others will find no way out. He who complains against Heaven will lose his will. The failure is caused by himself, yet he shifts blame to others. Is not such a man foolish?
Hsün Tzu (Confucianism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

The problem here is myself, not anything else. Nevertheless, you complain about the world. When you say, “The world is going to ruin,” it means you think, “I am not in trouble, but the world in which I live is in trouble.” You blame the world for every problem while commending yourself for every good thing. This way of thinking is the problem. You do not understand what is wrong with you, yet you complain about what is wrong with the world.
(140:25, February 1, 1986)

Regardless of whether a problem stemmed from your father or your grandfather, put them all on your list. Then, put your life on the line to save your ancestors, for it is Heaven’s will that their problems have come to you. With that, get rid of all the blemishes from the past and build a bridge to the new heaven and earth.
(310:126, June 15, 1999)

Hundreds of thousands of years of history are coalesced in you. You exist on the foundation of many countries and the sacrifices of billions of people. You are composed of all their resurrected cells; they exist in you. Therefore, if you fail to fulfill your responsibility, your ancestors and the world will suffer on your account.
(124:78, January 23, 1983)

However, when you overcome all difficulties and become a victor, it polishes a glorious path for your descendants to follow because you, their ancestor, once walked it.
(98:213, August 1, 1978)

As an individual, each one of us is a product of the history of the providence of restoration. Hence, the person who is to accomplish the purpose of history is none other than I, myself.

I must take up the cross of history and accept responsibility to fulfill its calling. To this end, I must fulfill in my lifetime (horizontally), through my efforts, the indemnity conditions which have accumulated through the long course of the providence of restoration (vertically).

Only by doing this can I stand proudly as the fruit of history, the one whom God has eagerly sought throughout His providence.
(Exposition of the Divine Principle, Restoration 3)