A rose can't be compared to a tulip¹ to determine which is better， which is more beautiful， which brings more joy. Both， along with all floral² variations， are important and necessary.

Similarly， each individual reflects a distinct³， equally important， variation. People and things should be judged on their own merits and not measured against somebody or something else. The theory that one flower， person， or experience is better than another or preferred over another leads to partiality.

Comparison results from a subtle⁴， insidious belief in a power. But the existence of such a power is not possible， because all creation is maintained by its one creator. One creator allows no room for comparison.

We don't need to let comparisons deny⁵ our inherent individuality by suggesting a uniform path， solution， or reflection for everyone. Instead of thinking we don't measure up to where society says we should be.

This new understanding led me to embrace⁶ the unconventional， guided path of my experience. I no longer felt the need to play the com- parison game. Not long after this spiritual growth， I discovered a career I could pursue passionately and launched out on my own again. I finally had the independence and direction I thought I'd been lacking. But the real achievement was learning that true happiness and success come only as the limiting stepping stones of human progress are replaced by a desire for spiritual progress.

注釋：

1 tulip n.郁金香

2 floral adj如花的

3 distinct adj．不同的

4 subtle adj. 敏感的

5 deny v. 拒絕

6 embrace v.擁抱

一朵玫瑰并不能與郁金香作比較，判斷哪一朵更好，哪一朵更美麗，哪一朵會帶給你更多歡樂，這兩種花，和其它各種不同類別綻放的花兒一樣，每一個都很重要，也很必須。

同樣，每個人都會反映出其獨特、同等重要的差異。人和事物應以本身的好壞來衡量，不應以他人或他事物作尺度。一朵花、一個人或者是一種經(jīng)歷要比另外一個更好或者超過另外一個的理論會導致人們對事物產(chǎn)生偏愛。

攀比會使人們對力量產(chǎn)生敏感而陰險的信念。但是這種力量是不可能存在下去的，因為世界上的萬物都是由一個造物主來維持的。一個造物主是不允許有對比存在的。

我們并不需要一個統(tǒng)一途徑、方法或者對每個人進行反思來讓攀比否決我們天生的個性。不去思考我們無法達到社會對我們的要求。

這種新的理解引導我欣然去接受自己所經(jīng)歷的這種不合常規(guī)的做法。我感到?jīng)]有必要再進行什么攀比游戲了。通過這次精神上的飛躍，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了可以去熱情從事的事業(yè)，并再次引領自己開始新的生活。我終于擁有了獨立的意識和前進的方向，以前我一直認為我沒有。但是真正的進步是我現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)認識到，在人類前進的路途中，只有在思想上當要求進步的熱望戰(zhàn)勝那些阻礙我們前進的絆腳石時，真正的幸福和成功才會降臨。