What is the meaning of the saying "I would rather see myself as Mount Sumeru than as a mustard seed"?

The saying, "I would rather see myself as Mount Sumeru than as a mustard seed," is a profound reflection of Buddhist wisdom. It asserts that in recognizing the world, we should be as accepting and inclusive as Mount Sumeru, rather than as neglectful and exclusive as a mustard seed. While Mount Sumeru symbolizes grandeur and permanence, the mustard seed represents smallness and transience. In Buddhism, it encourages us not to be too attached to our personal opinions and status, accepting everything like Mount Sumeru, while at the same time not falling into empty negativity, ignoring important things like a mustard seed.

The Tang poet Bai Juyi's "On the Balance of the Three Religions" actually leads us to think about the relativity and impermanence of things by questioning the possibility of "the mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru". The poem of Fu Xi Jushi, "The father of the mustard seed, the master of the mustard seed, the master of the Sumeru," vividly expresses the seemingly contradictory but harmonious relationship of all things in the world, reminding people to realize that there is a reason for everything in this world, and that even great achievements may be transient, and that fame, fortune, and status are just like clouds in the eye of the beholder.

Overall, the quote teaches us to keep an open mind, to understand the relativity and changeability of all things, to avoid falling into extreme obsessions, and to maintain a tolerant and balanced attitude toward both self and the world. It promotes a wisdom that transcends the world's vision and transcends the limitations of the self, allowing us to understand that in life, true understanding and acceptance are often more important than obsession.