What does “the measure a person uses is the measure used on him” mean for how I judge others?

Rabbi Landau teaches that our sages' words, “b'midah she'adam moded, bah modedin lo,” describe something we do to ourselves. “The same ruler you judge others, you also judge yourself.”

In A Soul at Peace, he explains that this is not only reward and punishment from Heaven. When you train yourself to see others only through their outward actions, that same cold way of seeing turns inward, and you start to judge yourself just as harshly.

So the practical rule is consistency. “Judge everyone by their intention or judge yourself by your actions. You can't have it both ways.” Use one ruler, not two.

Going deeper: Rabbi Landau's teaching, level by level

Surface claim

The measure you use on others becomes the measure used on you.

What may be behind it

In A Soul at Peace, Rabbi Landau writes that this happens “not only from Heaven, but right inside you.”

Deepest human truth

Fair judgment means one ruler for yourself and for others.

More questions from this teaching

• Why do I judge myself by my intentions but others by their actions?