Liao Fan's Four Lessons_Changing One's Destiny

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LIAoPANls FouRLEssoNs

LIAOPANYUAN

TRANSLATEDBY

SILENTVOICES

NAMOAMITABHA

南無阿彌陀佛

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Remembe「the

l﹤indnessofothe「s’

Repaγthe I（indnesswithG「atitude.

THEFIRSTLESSON:

LEARⅡIⅡGTOCHANGEDESTINγ

Ⅲγfathe『passedawaγwhenIwas γoung‧Wlγmothe『pe『suadedmetoIea『n

medicineinsteadofstudγingandpassingthe

impe『iaIexaminationsbecauseitwou∣dbea go0dwaγtosuppoItmγselfwhiIehelping othe『s‧pe『haps／IcouIdevenbecomefa-

mousth『oughmγmedicalsI（i∣Is》thusfulfiI∣ingmγ「athe『!saspi『ation「O「me‘

Onedaγ／ImetaneIde「Iγbutdistin-

guished|ookinggent|emanattheCompassionateCloudTempIe‧HehadaIongbea『d

andtheIookofasage.IimmediateIγpaid mγ『espectst0him‧HetoIdme:﹨﹨γoua「e destinedtobeagove『nmentofficiaI‧Next

γea「『γouwiIIattainthe「ankofLea『nedFi『st LeveISchoIa「‧Whγa「eγounotstudγingfO「 theexamination?〃ItoIdhimthe「eason.

1

IaskedtheeIde『IγgentIeman「O『his nameandwhe『ehewasf「om‧He『epIied:

﹨﹨∣vIγfami∣γnameis∣（ongandIamf『om γunnanp『ovince’Ihaveinhe『itedave『γsa-

c「edandaccu『atetext0nast『oIogγandp『e-

diction.Thetext／w『ittenbγShaozi『iscalIed

the∕〉γ叨e巾∕Sra〃巾㎡o／GDI／巴m〃U叻e 〃I／b／㎡Bγmγcalcu∣ations／Iamsupposedt0

passitontoγouandteachγouhowtouse it‧〃

IinvitedⅢ『.I（ongt0mγhomeandto∣d

mγm0the『ab0uthim‧Shesaidtot『eathim weII‧Aswetested卜／I『‧∣（ongIsabiIitγatp『e﹣

dicti0n／wefOundthathewasaIwaγsco『「ect

whethe『itwas「O『bigeventso『f0『mino『

eveⅣdaγmatte『s.Ibecameconvincedof whathehadsaidandagainbegantothinI(of

studγingfo『theexaminations.IconsuIted mγcousinwho『ecommendedⅢ『。Yuwho wasteachingatthehomeo「af「iend／and Z

becameⅢ『‧γu『sstudent‧

Ⅲ『‧Kongthendidsomemo『ecaIcuIationsf0『me.HetoIdmethatasascho∣a『『I

wouIdbep∣acedfou『teenthinthecountγ examination『seventγ-fi『stinthe『egional examination﹜andninthinthep『ovinciaIexamination‧The「O∣Iowingγea『『IpIacedex﹣

actIγwhe『e『／I『。I〈onghadsaidfO『a∣Ith『ee examinations.

Ithenaskedhimtomakep『edictionsfO『

the『esto「mγIife.Ⅲ『‧I（ong／scalculations

showedthatIwou|dpasssuchandsucha testinsuchandsuchaγea『／theγea『thatI wou∣dbecomeaciviIscho∣a『!andtheγea『

thatIwouId『eceiveap『omotiontobecome

anImpe「iaISchoIa『.AndIast∣γ『IwouIdbe appointedasamagist『ateinSichuanP『ov﹣ ince‧Afte「ho∣dingthatpositionfo『th『eeand

aha∣fγea『s!IwouIdthen「eti『eand『etu『n home.Iwou∣ddieattheageoffi「tγ-th「ee〃 3

onthe14thdaγoftheeighthmonthbe-

tweenonetoth『eeo『cIockinthemo「ning‧

UnfO「tunate∣γ／Iwou∣dnothaveason‧I

ca「e「uIIγ「eco「dedandthen『emembe「ed eve『γthingthathesaid‧ TheoutcomeofeveIexamination tu「nedoutexact∣γasp「edicted‧Ⅲ『‧I（ong

hadaIsop『edictedthatIwouldonIγbep「o﹣ motedafte「『eceivinga『ationoftwohun-

d「edfi「tγ-ninebushe∣sof『ice‧Howeve「／I had「eceivedonIγtwentγbusheIsof「ice whentheCommissione「ofEducation!Ⅲ『‧

Tu『「ecommendedmefO『ap「omotion‧Ise-

c「etIγbegantodoubtthep『ediction‧Neve『﹣ theIess『ittu『nedouttobeco『『ectafte『a∣∣「 becauseWI『.Tu『s『epIacementtu『neddown thep『omotion‧

Itwasn0tuntilsomeγea「s∣ate『thata newEducationCommissione『『eviewedmγ

oIdexaminati0npape『sandexcIaimed: 4

﹨﹨Thesenveessaγsa『easweI∣w「ittenas『e﹣

po『tstotheempe『o『‧HowcanwebuⅣthe ta∣entsofsuchag『eatschoIa『?〃Thenew Commissione「wantedthemagist「atetois﹣ sueano「de「fO「metobecomeacandidate

fO『Impe「ialSchoIa「unde『hisautho『itγ.Afte「unde「goingthisevent「uIp『omotion’mγ caIcuIationsshowedthatIhad『eceivedex﹣

actIγtwohund『edfiftγ-ninebusheIsof『ice.

F『omthenon∕IdeepIγbeIievedthatp「omo﹣ tiono『demotion∕weaItho「pove『tγaIIcame

aboutinduetimeandthateventheIength ofone’sIifeisp『e﹣a『「angedIbegantoview eve「γthinginadetachedmanne『andceased

toseekgaino「p『ofit‧

Afte「beingse∣ectedasanImpe「ia∣

SchoIa「!IwastoattendtheUnive『sitγat Beijing‧Du「ingmγγea「Iongstaγinthecapi﹣

taI『mγinte『estinmeditationg『ewandIof﹣

tensatinsiIence『withoutgiving『isetoa 5

singIethought‧I∣ostinte「estinboo∣（sand

didnotstudγataII‧ ThefOI∣owingγea「IwenttoNanjing。Be「O「eIwastoente「theⅡationa∣Unive「sitγ

the「e／IpaidavisittoⅢaste「γungu『aven﹣ e「abIeZenⅢaste「atQixiaⅢountain.Wesat

inmeditationⅡfaceto伯ceintheZenhaIIfO『

th「eedaγsandnightswithoutsIeep‧Ⅲaste「 γungusaid:﹨﹨The「easonwhγo『dinaⅣpeo﹣ pIecannotbecomesagesisbecauseofaII

thei「wande『ingthoughts‧Inou「th『ee-daγ meditation『IhavenotobseⅣedasingIe

thoughta『iseinγou‧Whγ?〃 I「epIiedthatⅢ「‧I（onghadcIea『∣γp『e﹣

dictedtheenti「eoutcomeo「mγIi「e‧Ihad seenthatthetimeo「Iife『death’p『omotion∕ andfailu「ea『efatedsothe『ewasnoneed

「O「metothinl（ofanγthing.Themaste「 smiIedand「epIied:﹨﹨Ithoughtγouwe「e someoneo「「ema「∣（ab∣ecapabiIities!ⅡowI 6

「eaIizeγoua「eano「dina『γpe『son!〃FeeIing

confusedbγwhatW∣aste「Yunguhadsaid’I askedhimtoexpIain‧HetoIdmethatano「-

dinaⅣpe『son’smindis「O「eve「occupiedbγ wande「ingandimaginaⅣthoughts﹜sonatu-

『alIγhiso「he『Ii「eisboundbγthemathe﹣ maticso「destinγ‧Wecannotdenγthe「act thatdestinγexists／butonIγo「dinaⅣpeopIe

a『eboundbγit‧Destinγcannotbindthose whocuItivateg「eatkindnesso「thosewho havecommittednag「antw「ongdoings‧Since

IhadIivedmγ∣i「ejustasⅢ「.I（onghadp「edictedanddonenothingtochangeit「Ihad beenboundbγdestinγ.Thus『Iwasatγpical o『dinaⅣpe「son‧

TakenabackJIas|(edifwecouIdchange ou「destinies‧Themaste「answe「ed:﹨﹨We

can「e﹣c「eateou「owndestinγandsee∣（good 「O『tune‧Itisthet『ueteachingandis「Ound

in伽ko／印／U5and肋kof／化fD／﹚﹪Inthe 7

Buddhistteachings『itisw「ittenthatifwe wishfb「andseekweaIthJahighposition『a

son『adaughte『『o『longIife『wecanattainit‧ SincetheBuddhatoIdusthatIγingisoneof

theg「eatestt「ansg『essionsJwecanbeas﹣ su「edthatBuddhasandBodhisattvaswouId notdeceiveus‧〃

ItoIdⅢaste「γunguthatIhadhea「dthat Nenciusoncesaid『﹨﹨whateve「issoughtcan

beattained‧TheseeI（ingiswithinou「seIves‧〃 This『e「e「stoinne「quaIitiessuchasvi「tue『

integ「itγ『and∣（indness‧Thesea「ea∣IvaIues wecanwo「ktowa「d‧Howeve『／whenit comestooutside「acto「ssuchaswea∣th『

fame『andp『estige／howcanweseeI（toattainthem?He「ep∣iedthatⅢenciuswas「ight／ butthatIhadmisunde「stoodhismeaning‧

Ⅲaste『YungusaidthatⅢaste『Huineng『the Sixthpat「ia『cho「theZenSchooItaught:﹨﹨AII theneIdsofme「ita「ewithinone／sown 8

hea「t‧I「oneseeksf「omthet『uemind

within『onecanbeintouchwithaIIthatone

wishesfO『‧〃Bγseekingwithinou「seIves『we

wiIInoton∣γattaintheinne「qualitiesofvi『﹣ tue’integ「itγ／andkindness;wewiIIaIsoat-

tain（exte「naIbenefitssuchas）wealth／伯me／ andp「estige‧TObeabIetoattainbothinne『

quaIitiesandexte「naIbenentsisinvaIuab∣e‧ Ⅲaste『γunguthentoldmethati「one

doesnot『efIectinsideone’sownhea「t;but!

insteadbIindlγseeksfame『fOItune『and∣ong Iifef『omoutsidesou『ces『nomatte「howone

schemestopu「suethem』onecanonIγattain『atmost『whathadbeendestined‧Seek-

ingf「omtheoutside『onemightIoseboth inne「pu「itγandwhatonewasdestinedto

have;thus/theseekingwouIdhavebeenin vain·

Naste「YungunextaskedaboutⅢ『‧

KongⅡsp「edictionsfO「the「estofmγ∣i「e‧I 9

honestIγto∣dhimeve『γthing.Heaskedi「I 「eItthatIdeseⅣedimpe「iaIappointmentso「

ason‧Renectingonmγpastdeedsandattitudes『Ianswe「ednoIdidnot‧Thosewho

「eceivedimpe「iaIappointmentsa∣Ihadthe appea「anceofgoodfO『tunebutIdidnot‧I a∣sodidnotwo「ktowa「dsaccumuIatingvi「﹣

tuestobuiIdupmγgood「O『tune‧IwasveⅣ

impatientandna「「ow﹣minded『andwouId showoffmγintelIigenceandabi∣itiesbγput-

tingothe「sdown‧IbehavedasIpIeasedand spokewithout『est「aint‧Thesewe「eaIlsigns ofscantgoodfO『tuneandvi「tue‧HowcouId

Ipossib∣γ「eceiveanimpe『iaIappointment?

The「eisano∣dsaγingthat﹨﹨∣ifesp「ings 「「omthedi「toftheea『thwhiIecIea「wate『

oftenha「bo「snofish‧〃Thefi『st「easonwhγI 「eItthatIdidnotdeseⅣeasonwasthatI

wasobsessiveaboutcleanIiness’Thesecond

「easonwasthatwhi∣eha「monγisthecuItiva10

to『o「Iife『Iwasquick﹣tempe「ed‧Thi「d!a∣﹣

though∣ovingI（indnessisthecauseoffe「ti∣itγ andha「shnessthecauseofste「iIitγ『Iwas selfishIγconce「nedaboutmγ「eputationand wouldnotsac「ificeanγthing「O「othe『s‧The fOuIth「easonwasthatItaIkedtoomuchand

thiswastedaIotofene『gγ‧Fi「th『Id『anktoo much‧Andsixth『Ididnothaveasonbe﹣

causeIo仕enstaγedupalInightandwasted

mγene『gγ‧Asidef「omthese!Ihadmanγ othe『fau∣tsthatwe「etoonume「oustomen﹣ tion·

Ⅲaste「γungusaid:﹨﹨Acco「dingtoγou

then’the『ea「emanγothe『thingsinIifeγou donotdeselve『noton∣γ「ameandason!

ThosewhohavemiI∣ionsofdoIIa「sinthisIi「e

cu∣tivatedthegoodfO「tunewo『thγofthat amountinthepast·Thosewhohavethou-

sandsofdoIIa「smustaIsohavethegood

fb『tunewo『thγofthatsum‧Those!whodie 11

ofstaⅣation’we「einfactmeanttodiein

thatmanne「‧The∣（a「mic「esuIttodaγissim﹣

pIγthef「uitofthei『owndeedsandhas nothingtodowithexte「na∣powe「s‧

﹨℉o『exampIe!ifape『sonhasaccumu﹣

Iatedenoughme『itsandvi「tuestoIasta hund『edgene「ations『thenheo「shewilI haveahund『edgene『ationsofdescendants‧ OnewhoaccumuIatesenoughme「itsand vi『tuesto∣asttengene「ationswilIhaveten

gene「ationsofdescendantstoIiveoutthat

good「O『tune‧ThesameappIiestoth「eeo「 twogene『ations。ThosewhohavenodescendantshadtoolittIeme『itsandvi『tues‧

﹨Wowthatγou「ecognizeγou「sho「tcom﹣ ings『γouneedtodoa∣Ithatγoucanto

changeandco「「ectγou「misdeedsthat causedγounottohaveachildo『nottobe﹣

comeanimpe『ia∣ofncial‧γouneedtocuIti﹣ vateviItueandto∣e「anceJandto「ega「doth﹣ 1Z

e「swithgoodwiIIandcompassion‧YouaIso needtoca「e「O「γou『hea∣thandconseIve

γou「ene「gγandspi「it‧Liveasifeve『γthing inthepastdissoIvedγeste「daγandab「and﹣

newfutu「ebeginstodaγ‘Ifγoucanaccom﹣ pIishthis／thenγoua「eape「sonbo「nanew『

ape「sonofvi『tueandsince『itγ‧

﹨﹨Ifevenou「bodγisgove『nedbγdestinγ『 thenhowcanabodγofvi『tueandsince「itγ notevokea「esponsef「0mHeaven?Asis

saidinthe﹨TaiJiaChapte『Jin比oko／／佔﹣ fD∕﹚rOnemaγ『unawaγf『omthe「et「ibution

ofHeaven『butonecanneve『escapethe 「et『ibutionfO「one』smisdeeds／Itissaidin

伽kofSb〃g5》﹨TOpe『manentlγacco「dwith themindofHeavenandtoseekou「own

g「eatgoodfO『tune∕〃

﹨﹨Ⅲ「‧I（onghadp「edictedthatγouwouId not「eceiveanimpe「ialappointmento「have

ason‧Thesea「ethe「et『ibutionso「Heaven!

13

buteventheγcanbechanged‧γouonlγ needtodeve∣opγou『vi「tue『diIigent∣γst「ive

top「acticegoodness!andwo「ktoaccumu-

Iatemanγhiddenme『itsandvi『tues‧These

a「eγou『waγsto「e﹣c「eategood「oItune‘ Howthenisitpossib∣ethatγouwiIInotget

toenjoγit?I叻〃U印oko∕叻a〃ges﹜was w『ittentohe∣ppeop∣eacc「uegoodfO「tune andtoavoidadve「sitγ’Ifeve『γthingisdestinedwithno「oom「O「change『howcanwe

hopetodothis?Then『stchapte「ofI叻叩 said『﹨﹨fami∣ieswhooftenpe『fO「mgooddeeds willhaveanexcesso「goodfO『tunetopass

ontothefO∣∣owinggene『ations／Doγoube﹣ Iievethis?〃I「epIied『﹨﹨γes‧〃

Ig「atefuI∣γacceptedhisadviceandpaid mγ「espectstohimbγp『ost『ating‧ThenI

beganto『eg「etaIImγpastw『ongdoings!

Ia「geandsmaI∣’in「「ontoftheBuddha叭sim﹣ age‧Iw『otedownmγwishtopasstheimpe11

『iaIexaminati0nsandvowedtocomp∣ete th「eethousandme『ito『iousdeedstoshow

mγg『atitudetowa「dsmγancesto『s『Ea『th『

andHeaven’Uponhea「ingmγvow／themas-

te「showedmeame「it-「au∣tcha「tandtaught mehowtokeepadaiIγ「eco「dofaI∣thego0d andbaddeedsIhaddon巳Hewa『nedme

thatbaddeedswouldneut「a∣izethegood ones‧Themaste「aIsotaughtmeto『ecite

theZhunTiⅢant『a‧○nIγwithamindofpu「itγandconcent「ationc0uldIattainwhatI

sought‘HeexpIainedthatithadbeensaidbγ speciaIistsind『awingtaIismanicfigu「es! ﹨﹨Thosewhoa『econside『edexpe『tsinthea「t

ofd『awingcha『msbutdonotknowthe「ight waγtodosowiI∣be∣aughedatbγspi「its‧〃

Thekeγtod「awingcha『msishavingno thoughtsf「ombeginningtoend‧Unde「standingthis／beginthe「i『stst「o∣（ewithasti∣∣

mindafte『thep『imaIda『kness‧Inthep『oc﹣ 15

esso「d「awing／onemustIetgoofaIIwande「ingthoughts‧OnIγinthiswaγcana cha「mbee什ectIv巳

﹨﹨Whenonep『aγsfO『andseeksfO『some﹣ thIngo『t『Iestochangeone叭s「ate』itIsimpo『tantthatonedoessowIthoutgiving「ise toasingIethought‧Inthiswaγ『onewiIIeas﹣

iIγ「ece】vea「esponseⅡenciusw「ote『﹨the『e !snodIffe『encebetweenIongIifeandsho「t

Iife∕Atfi『stgIance／onewouId「indItha『dto unde『standhowtheγcanbethesame｝howeve『!whenthe『eisnothought／the「eisno duaIitγInsho伉o『IongIife

﹨﹨Uponca「efuIanaIγsIs『the『eisaIsono dualitγbetweengoodo「badhaⅣest.Unde『﹣ standIngthIsⅡwewII∣becontentwIthou「

p『esentsituation『beItoneofweaItho「pov-

e『tγ‧Andwithunde『standingthatthe「eisn0 duaIItγbetweenpove「tγandweaIthⅢou「 mindswi∣Ibecontentwith0u「p『esentstatus 16

insocietγ／beithigho『∣ow。A∣so〃the「eisno

duaIitγbetween∣ongandsho『tlives‧Unde『﹣ standingthis／wewiIIbecontentwithou『

existing∣ifespans!betheγIongo『sho『t‧The mostimpo『tantconce『nfo『humanbeingsis thato「Ii「eanddeath’Thus／ea『Iγdeathand

IongevitγsubsumeaI∣conditions!whethe『 favo『abIeo『unfavo『abIe『andwhethe『o「 gain0『Ioss’ ﹨﹨WehavetowaituntiIou『cuItivation

『eachesace「tain∣eve∣／thenou『destinies

wi||change’Thischangedependsontheaccumu∣ationofme『its／onseekinga『esponse

f「omtheheavens‧WhencuItivating!weneed tobeawa「eofou『fauItsand「esoIvetoco『﹣

『ectthemasifwewe「ecu『ingasickness.

WhiIewaiting!∣etgoofthethoughtofdesi『-

ingsomethingthatwea『enotsupposedto haveandthethoughtofwishing「o『a『e﹣ wa『d‧Atthis∣eve∣itwou∣dbeastateo「 17

「eachingthe﹨innatenatu「eofnothought’ thatistheactuaIIea『ningandp「acticeof wisdom·

ⅥIknowthatγoua「estiI∣unabIetoac﹣

compIishthestateofnothought『butγou canp『actice「ecitingtheZhunTiⅢant「acon﹣

tinuouslγwithoutcountingthenumbe「o「 「ecitationsandwithoutinte「『uption‧When

γou『eachahighe『IeveIofconstantmindfuI﹣ ness!γouwiIIbeabIetoachievetheIeveIof ﹨tonot『ecitewhen「ecitingandto「ecite

whennot「eciting／WhenγounoIonge「have wande「ingthoughtsⅡthemant「awi∣Ibecome ef佗ctive‧〃

ⅢγnameusedtobeXuehai『which means﹨﹨b『oadlea「ning‧〃Buta「te『「eceiving

theseteachingsf「omWIaste「γungu『I

changedittoLiao「an!whichmeans﹨﹨t「an﹣ scendingtheo「dinaⅣ‧〃Itsigninedmγun﹣ de「standingofthefactthatwecouId「e﹣ 18

c『eateou『destiniesandthatIdidnotwish

tobeIikeo『dinaⅣpeopIewhowe「econ﹣

t『o∣Iedbγdestinγ‧F『omthenon』Ibeganto

beveⅣcautiousinwhateve「Ithoughto「 didSoon／Ife∣tquitedif「e『entf『ombefO『e‧ Inthepast／Ihadbeenca『e∣essandwithout

seIf-discip∣ine.Now『Ifindmγse∣fbeingnatu﹣ 『aIIγwatchfuIandconscientious‧Imaintain

thisattitudeevenwhenaIone’f0『II（now

thatthe『ea『espi『itsandheavenIγbeings eve『γwhe「ewhocanknowmγeve『γthought anddeedIamcautiousnottoof「endthem

withmγthoughts‘EvenwhenIencounte「 peopIewhodisIikeo『s∣ande『me!Ibea「thei「

insuItswithapatientandpeacefuImind『and

donot「eeIcompeIIedtoqua『『eIwiththem‧

Theγea『afte『ImetⅢaste「γungu／I tookthep『e∣imina『γimpe『ia∣examinationin whichI∕I『‧I（onghadp「edictedthatIwouId comeinthi『dp∣ace‧Amazinglγ『Iwas「i「st!

19

川『’Kong’sp「edictionswe『ebeginningtoIose

thei「accu「acγ‧Hehadnotp『edictedthatI

wouIdpasstheimpe「iaIexaminationatal∣『 butthatautumn／Idid!AIthoughIhadco「﹣ 『ectedmanγfauIts!IfOundthatIcouIdnot whoIehea「tedIγdothethingsIoughtto‧ EvenifIdiddothem『itwasfO『cedandun﹣ natu「aI‧I『efIectedwithinandfOundthatI

stiIlhadmanγsho『tcomings『suchasseeing

anoppo『tunitγtop「acticekindnessbutnot beingeage『enoughtodoito『havingdoubts whenheIpingothe「s‧ SometimesIfO『cedmγse∣ft0act∣（indIγ﹟

butmγspeechwassti∣∣uncont『oIIedandoffensive‧IfOundIcou∣dcontainmγseIfwhen

sobe「!butafte『afewd「inks『Iwouldact without『est「aint‧AIthoughIoftenp「acticed kinddeedsandaccumuIatedme「its!mγ 「aultsandof「enseswe「esonume「ousthat

theγseemedtooutweighthegoodthatIdid‧ Z0

A∣otofmγtimewasspentvainIγandwith﹣ outvalue·

Ittookmemo「ethantenγea「stocom﹣

pIetetheth「eethousandme「ito「iousdeedsI hadvowedtodo·Iwasunab|etodedicate

theme『itsf『omtheseth「eethousandgood

deedsatatempIeunti∣I『etu「nedtomγ hometowninthesouth『afewγea「sIate「‧At

thattime『Ihadtheoppo『tunitγtoasI（two monI（stodedicatethemfO『me‧Then『I

mademγsecondwishandthatwas「O「a son’IvowedtocompIeteanothe「th「ee thousandgooddeeds‧A佗wγea『sIate「『

γou「mothe『gavebi『thtoγouandnamed γouTianqi‧

Eve『VtimeIpe「fO『medagooddeed!I wouId『eco『ditinabook‧γou『mothe『who

couldnot『eado「w『itewouIduseagoose

feathe『dippedinink‧Shemadea『edci『c∣e onthecaIenda「「O『eve『γgooddeedshedid‧ Z1

SometimesshegavefOodtothepoo「o「

boughtIivingc「eatu『esinthema「ketpIace andf『eedtheminthewi∣d‧She「eco「dedaII ofthesewithhe「ci「cIesonthecaIenda『‧At

times’shecouIdaccumuIatemo「ethanten

ci「c∣esinonedaγ!

EveⅣdaγwep「acticedIikethisandin 「Ou「γea「s『theth「eethousanddeedswe「e

compIeted‧Again『Iinvitedthesametwo maste『stomaI（ethededications『thistimeat

ou「home.Onthe13thdaγoftheninth monthofthatsameγea『『Imademγthi「d wishandthatwastopassthehighest|eveI oftheimpe「iaIexamination‧IaIsovowedto

compIetetenthousandme『ito「iousdeeds‧

A「te「th『eeγea「s／Iattainedmγwishand passedtheexamination·IwasaIsomadethe

maγo『ofBaodiCountγ‧

Ip「epa「edasma∣Ibookto「eco『dmγ me『itsandfau∣ts『andca∣Iedit印ok㎡CM／﹄ ZZ

叼﹝〃U叻e八仞﹚αEveⅣmo『ning／whenIbe﹣ ganwo『kintheofnce!mγse『vantwould b「ingthebooI（andhavethegua『dpIaceit onmγdesI（‧IwouId『eco「dmγeveⅣdeed『

goodo「bad『nomatte『howsma∣l‧Atnight『I setupana∣ta「inthecou「tγa『dandputon

mγof「icia∣unifO『mtoemuIatethewaγofan ofnce「intheSongDγnastγ.Ibu「nedincense

and『epoItedaIImγdeedstotheheavens‧ Once『γou『mothe「wasconce『nedwhen shesawthatIhadnotaccumulatedmuch

me「it‧Inthepast’shewasabletoheIpme inou『accumuIationo「gooddeedsandwe we「eabIetocompIetetheth「eethousand me「ito「iousdeeds‧NowfIhadmadeavow

tocompIetetenthousandmo『edeedsbut the「ewe「efewe「oppoItunitiestop「actice

thematthegove「nment『esidence‧Shewo「﹣ 「iedabouthowIongitwouIdbebe「O「emγ vowcouIdbefuInIIed. Z3

Thatnight「Id『eamedo「aheaven∣γbe﹣ ingandtoIdhimo「mγdif「icuItγincompIetingthetenthousandgooddeeds·Theheav-

enlγbeing『emindedmeuponbecoming maγo「『Ihad「educedthetaxesonthefa「m-

Iands‧Thatonegooddeedwaswo『thten

thousandme「its‧I／lγvowwasa∣「eadγfuIn∣Ied!WhenIhadbecomemaγo「／thefa『me『sinthecountγwe『ehighIγtaxedsoI「educedthetaxbγnea「lγha∣「’But》IfeItbe-

wiIde『edandsti∣Ihaddoubts‧HowcouIdjust onedeedbewoIthtenthousandme『its?

CoincidentaIIγ『theZen∣vIaste『Huanγu wast『avelingf『omWutaiⅢountainand

stoppedinmγt0wn‧Iinvitedhimtothe gove「nment『esidence『toIdhimofmγ d「eam『andaskedwhethe「itwasbeIievabIe‧

Ⅲaste『Huanγusaid:﹨﹨I「oned0esagood deedwithsuchat「ueandsince『ehea『t

withoutexpectationof「ewa『d／thenone Z4

deedcanindeedbewo「ththeme「itsoften

thousand‧Besides!γou「actof「educingthe taxesinthiscountγbenentsmo「ethanten thousandpeopIe!〃Uponhea『ingthis『Iim﹣

mediateIγgaveaIImγsavingsfO「himtotake backtoWutaiIountain·Iaskedhimtouse

themoneγfO『afoodoffe『ingfO「tenthou﹣ sandmonksandtodedicatetheme『itsfO「 meo

WI『。I〈onghadp「edictedthatIwouIddie

attheageoffiftγ﹣th『ee‧Howeve「〃IsuⅣived thatγea「withoutiIInessesaIthoughIdidnot asktheheavens「o『aIonge「life.ⅡowIam

sixtγ﹣nine‧印oko／／化﹝D／yexpIains:﹨Destinγ existsbutitischangeab∣e‧Destinγisnotset『

butisc『eatedanddete『minedbγou『seIves‧〃 A∣Ithisist「ue‘Icametounde『standthat

bothgoodfOItuneandmisfO『tunea「ethe 「esuItso「ou『ownactions‧Thesea「et「uIγ

thewo「dsofsagesandvi「tuouspeople!If Z5

someonesaidthatgood「OItuneandadve「﹣

sitγa「edete『minedbγtheheavens『Iwou∣d

conside「thatpe『sono『dinaⅣ‧ Tianqi!mγson『Iwonde「whatγou「life

wiIIbeIiI﹙e?WeshouIda∣waγsp『epa「efO「

thewo「st。The『e↑O『e／evenintimeso「p「os﹣ pe「itγ﹜actasifγouwe「enot。Whenthings a「egoingγou『waγ﹛bemindfuIofadve『sitγ‧ WhenγouhaveenoughfOodandclothing! bemindfuIofpove「tγ。WhenIovedand「e-

spectedbγaI∣J『emainapp「ehensiveand

conseⅣative.WhenthefamiIγisg「eatIγ「e﹣ spected『ca『Ⅳγou『se∣fhumbIγ’Andwhen γou「lea『ningisextensiveandp『ofOund』al﹣ waγsfee∣thatthemo「eγoulea『nthe∣ess γouknow.

Fo「thepast／wecanthinkofhowtoadvocatethevi『tuesofou『ancesto「s‧Fo『the

p『esent／wecanthinko「howtoc0nceaIthe

fauItsofou「pa『ents‧Fo『thecountⅣJwecan 26

thinkofhowwecan『epaγitskindnesstous and「b『thefamiIγwecanthinkofhowto

b「ingaboutitsgoodfO『tune.Fo『othe「peo﹣ pIe’thinkofhowtohe|pthoseinneed a『oundus!andfO『withinou『se∣vesthinko「

howtop『eventimp『ope「thoughtsandactionsf「0ma『ising‧

Weneedtofindou『「auItsdailγandto co「「ectthemimmediate∣γ.Ifwea『eunabIe todetectou『fauItsthenwewiI∣thinkthat

eve『γthingwedois『ight‧Whenwea「eun﹣

abIetoco『『ectou「fauIts『imp『0vementwiIl

beimpossib∣e‧The『ea『emanγinteI∣igent peop∣einthewo「∣dwhocannotimp『ovein

eithe『thei『cuItivationofmo『aIitγandvi「tues o『inthei「wo「k.Thei『伯i∣u『esinthislifea『e

owedtoasingIewo『d:Iaziness.

Tianqi!theteachingsofWlaste『γungu a『emostwo「thγ／p「ofOund『『eaI!andp『ope『‧ IhopethatγouwilI∣ea『nthemwelIand Z7

p「acticethemdiligentIγ‧Useγou「timewiseIγ anddonot∣etitsIipbγinvain‧

Z8

|

THESECOIDLESSON: WAγSTOREF0RⅢ

Du「ingtheSp『ing﹣Autumnpe『iod『 Chinawasdividedintoseve「aIsmaIIna﹣

tions‧Ⅲanγp「estigiousadvise「so「these

nationswe「eabIetoaccu「ateIγp『edict whethe『ape「son’sfutu「ewouIdbefo「tu﹣ nateo「unfo「tunatebasedonthei「obse「﹣

vationofthatpe『son’sspeechandbehav-

io「bⅢanγofthesea「e『eco『dedin印﹞／γ〃g a〃d月α﹝U／刀〃月〃〃a店‧

Asa「uIe『the「ea『esignsthatsignaI impendingdange「o『thecomingo「good fo『tune‧Thesesigns「isingf『omwithina『e

duetoone’sthoughtsandfeeIingsbeing 「eveaIedinhiso「he「behavioI﹩UsualIγa pe「sonismo「efo「tunatewhentending towa『dkindnessbutinvitest「oubIewhen

tendingtowa『dc「ueItγ‧O「dina「γpeople 29

oftendonotknowwhatis『eaIIγhappen﹣

ing.Itisasi「thei「visionwe「ebIu『「ed‧ Sincetheγcannotseethet「uth『theγ cIaimthatgoodfo「tuneandmisfo「tune a『eunp『edictabIe‧ Whenwea「esince「eandhonest『ou「 hea『tswilIacco「dwiththewiIIofHeaven.

Bγobse「vingou「goodness『othe「swiIlbe abIetofO「eseethecomingofgoodfo「-

tune;andbγobse「vingou『immo「aIitγ

theγwillfO『eseeapp『oachingmisfo「tune‧ Ifwewishtogaingood「o「tuneandavoid misfO『tunes〃wefi「stneedto『e「o「mbe﹣ fo「eweeventaIkaboutdoinggood deeds·

The『ea「eth『eewaγsto「efo「mou「

fauIts‧Fi「st’wemustbeab∣eto「eeI ashamed‧Thin∣（o「alIoftheancientsages

andvi「tuouspeopIewhosenamesand

teachingshaveIastedfo『hund「edsof 30

gene「ations.Theγwe「epeopIejustIIke us／butwhγismγnamewo『thIessIIkea b『oken『oof-tIIe?

Wea「ecIIngIngtowo『IdIγdesi『es‘Sec「etIγ『wedomanγimp『ope『thingswhi∣e thInkingothe『swllInotknowaboutthem andthena『eshameIessIγp『oudofou「﹣ seIvesIOnedaγ／wewi∣Ibebo『nasan

anImaIwithout「eaIizlngIt‧The「eisnoth﹣ IngeIseinthewo「Idthatca∣∣sfo『mo『e shameand「emo『sethanbehavio『suchas

this‘「vlenc∣usoncesaId／﹨﹨shameIsthe mostImpo『tantwo『dInape『son』sIif巳〃 Whγ?BecauseonewhoknowsshamewiII putfo「thhiso「he『beste「f0『tsIntoco『-

『ectingfau∣tsandwiIIeventuaIIγattaIn sagehoodo『becomeavi『tuouspe『son‧

OnewhodoesknowshamewiIIbejust IIkeananImaI:un『est『ainedandimmo「aI‘

ThisiSthekeγtoco『『ectIngou『「auIts. 31

Thesecondwaγto『e「o『mistoknow 「ea『‧CeIestia∣beingsandea『thIγspi『its hove『ove『ou『headsinobse「vation.

The『eisnowaγ「o『ustodeceivethem‧

Evenwhenmγw「ongdoingsa『edoneina

conceaIedp∣ace『thebeingsandspi『itso「 HeavenandEa『tha『ep「esentandseea∣∣

mγfauIts‧Ifmγbaddeedsa『ese『ious／ thenaIlkindsofadve『sitieswiI∣befa∣lme‧

IfmγfauItismino『｝itwi∣Isti∣I『educemγ cu『「entgoodfo『tune.HowcanInotfeel fea『?

Evenwhenwea『ea∣oneinou『『oom／

thebeingsandspi『itswatchusve『γca『e﹣

fu∣∣γand『ec0『deve『γthIng.Evenifwet『γ toconceaIou「imp『ope「actswithcIeve『

speech∕thespi「itsandceIestia∣beings canseeintoou「hea『tsasc∣ea「Iγassee﹣

ingintoou『lungs0『∣ive『.UItimate∣γ『we cannotdeceiveou「se∣ves‧I「othe『swe『e 32

toseeou『behavio『〉wewouIdfindou『-

selvesshamed·So/howcanwenotbe

constantIγcautiouso「ou『eve『γaction andnotbefea『fu∣oftheconsequences

theγmightevoke?

Howeve『〉as∣0ngaswesti∣lhaveone b『eathIeft!wehavethechanceto『eg「et eventhewo「stdeeds‧The『ea『ecasesin

hist0『γwhe『epeopIewhohadcommitted nume『ousbaddeedsbutwhoIate『deeplγ

『eg『ettedthemdu『ingthei「dγingmomentswe『eab∣etopassawaγpeaceful∣γ‧

Ifape『soncanhaveadete『minedand cou『ageouskindthoughtatthemostim﹣

po『tantmoment／itcancIeanseawaγhun﹣ d『edsofγea『sofaccumulatedoffenses‧ ThisisIikeonIγneedingoneIamptob「ing

Iightintoava∣Ieγthathasbeenda『kfo『a thousandγea『s‧Itdoesnotmatte『how

Iongonehasbeencommittingmisdeeds‘ 33

Ifonecan「efo「m『heo「sheisexcep﹣ tionaI!

We∣iveinaconstant∣γchangingand chaoticwo「∣d‧Ou『bodies『madeoffIesh

andbIood’a『epe『ishabIe‧I「ou「next b「eathdoesnotcome叭thenthisbodγwill

noIonge「beapa『to「us.Then﹜evenif wewantto『e「O「m『itwouIdbetoo∣ate‧

Whenwecommitaw「0ngdoing’ou『 「et「ibutioninthiswo『Idisabad「eputationthatwiIIlastfo『hund「eds﹜eventhou﹣

sandsofγea「s‧EvenfiIialandIovingde﹣ scendantscannot『esto「eou『hono『﹩Then∕

inafutu『eIife!wemightendupinheII

suffe「ingimmeasu「abIepain‧Wheneven thesages『vi『tuouspeople』BuddhasJand Bodhisattvascannothelpusescapef「om

ou『badconsequences『howcanwenotbe af「aid?

Thethi『dwaγto「efo「mistohavea 34

dete「minedandcou「ageoushea『t‧When wehesitateto「e「o「mou『fau∣tsbecause

wedonot「eal∣γwantt0change『wea「e contentwithwhatwecangetawaγwith‧ Fo「a「efO「mtotakepIace〃wemustbe

「esoIuteand「esoIvetochangeimmedi﹣

ateIγ‧WeshouIdnothesitateo『postpone unti∣tomo「「owo「thedaγafte脫 Amino「「aultisIikeatho「npie「cing ou『fIeshandshouIdbequickIγ『emoved‧ AbigfauItisIikeou『finge「beingbitten

bγapoisonoussnake‧WemustquickIγ cutoffthefinge『top「eventthepoison f「omsp「eadingandki∣Iingus‧Ifwecon﹣ suItI叻〃Uand「eceivethewind-thunde「

sγmbo∣『itmeansthatou「st「ongdete『mi﹣ nationin「efO『mingassu『esusofsuccess‧

IfwecanfoIIowtheth『eewaγso「shame『 「eaI》anddete「minationto「efo「m／then wewiIIsu『eIγbet「ans「o「medThe『eisno 35

needtowo「「γ‧Itwi∣Ihappenasassu「edIγ

asthesp『ingsunwiIImeItaIaγe『ofice‧ The『ea「eaIsoth『eemethodsofp『ac-

ticetoheIpus『efo「m‧Thefi『stischang﹣

ingth『oughbehavio『》thesecondischang-

ingth『ough「easoning『andthethi「dis changingf「omthehea「t。TTγingtofo「ce ou「seIvestosupp「essou『fauItsisex﹣

t「emeIγdi什icuItbecausewehavenot

pe『manent∣γup「ootedou『fauIts『me『e∣γ tempo「a「iIγcu『bedthem‧The「efo『e! changingth「oughbehavio『cannotheIpus tope「manent∣γeliminateou『faults‧ Instead』wecant『γto『efo『mbγun-

de『standingwhγweshouldnotdosome-

thing『「O『exampIe∕ki∣Iing‧TbIoveaIIIiv﹣

ingthingsisavi「tueofHeaven‧Unde『﹣ standingthatalIIivingbeingsIoveIifeand fea「deathJhowcanIbeatpeacewith

mγseIfbγtakinganothe「叭sIifetonu「tu『e 36

mγown?Attimes『anima∣ssuchasfisho「 c「absa「ecool﹙edaIive‧Suchpainandsuf﹣

fe「ing「eachdownintothei「ve「γbones‧ Howcanwebesoc『ueI?

Whenweeat∕weusemanγexpensive

andtastγthingstonou「ishou『selves／ enoughtofiI|thewhoIediningtabIe!But oncethemealisdone『eventhebestdeIi-

cacieswiIIbecomebodγwasteandbeex﹣ c「eted‧The『esuItofou『∣（iI∣ingaccom﹣

plishesnothing‧Consumingvegeta「ian foodscanfiIlandnou「ishusjustasweI∣.

WhγIetou『stomachsbecomeag「aveγa「d and「educeou『goodfo『tuneth「0ughkiI∣﹣ ing?

ThinkofaIIthe|ivingbeingswithfIesh andbIood‧Likeus『theγa『eseIf﹣awa「e‧

Theγandwea「eoneentitγ.Althoughou「 cultivationofvi「tuehasnotγet「eached thestatethatwiIIenabIethesebeingsto 37

「espectusandfee∣sa「ea「oundus似we canatIeastnotha「mthemo『makethem

hateus‧I「wethinkaboutit／wewiIInatu﹣

「aIIγfeeIso「「owfo『theseanimaIsand thusbeunabIetoswaIIowthei『「Iesh‧

Anothe「exampIeofchangingth「ough

「easoningisaneasi∣γange「edpe「son‧He o「shecanstopandthinkthatwea∣Ihave

ou「st「engthsandweaknesses‧IfItouch onsomeone’sweakness『IshouId「ee∣sad

aboutthei「faiIingandfo「giveanγsho「t﹣

comings‧Ifsomeoneoffendsmefo「no 『easonataII／itisthatpe『son『sp「obIem

andhasnothingtodowithme‧The「eis no「easonfo「metobecomeang「γ‧

IaIsothinkthatnog「eathe「othinI（s

thatheo「sheisalwaγs『ight’Ⅱo「doin-

teIligentpeopleb∣amethei「faultsonoth﹣ e「s‧Whenthingsdonotgothewaγwe

wish『itisbecausewehavenotcu∣tivated 38

ou「vi『tuesandmo『aIs『andhavenotac﹣ cumuIatedenoughme『itstomoveothe『s!

WeshouIdaIwaγs「ef∣ectuponou「﹣ seIvesfi『st。InsodoingⅡc「iticismcanbe﹣ comeat『ainingg「oundto「efineou「cha「﹣

acte「andtost「engthenou「abilities‧We

shou∣dbeve「γgladtoacceptsomeone e∣se叭sc「iticismandguidance’Whatis

the「etobeang『γandcompIainabout?

LiI（ewise『inthe「aceofslande『》weshouId

maintainthemindofstiIIness·AIthough

thesIande「ous「umo『sandtaIebea『ing sp「eadIikeahugefi「e﹩Iikeato『chⅡtheγ wiIIeventuaIIγbu『nthemseIvesout‧

Ifwebecomeang『γandt『γtodefend ou『seIveswhensIande『ed『itwouIdbeIike

thesp「ingsiIkwo「mspinningitsownco﹣

coonandsuffocatingitseIf·Becomingang「γdoesnotbenefitus;itha「msus‧ The「ea「eothe「fauItsando什enseswe 39

canchange‧Ifweunde「standthep『inci-

p∣ebehindtheneedfo「「efo「m!wewi∣∣

not「epeatou『mistakes.

Whatdoes﹨﹨changingf「omthehea「t〃 mean?AIthoughwehavethousandsof

di「fe『entfauIts!theγa∣lstemf『omthe hea『t／f『omthemindI「mγhea「tissti∣Iof thoughts!thenactionswillnota「iseand fauItscanbeavoided‧p「actitione「sdonot

havetot『γtoe『adicate「au∣tssuchasthe desi『efo「fame『sex『p「ofit『o『ange『〉one

bγone’AI∣weneedisasince『ehea「tto p『acticegooddeeds.As∣ongasou『hea「ts a「evi『tuousandkind『thennatu「aIIγou「

mindswi∣∣nothaveanγimp『ope「

thoughts’ ﹨﹨Demonsdonotappea「du『ingthe

daγ.〃Thisistheessence『thekeγtoou「

change.Sincea∣ImistaI（esstemf『omthe hea『twechangef『omthehea「t.Itis∣iI（e 40

getting『idofapoisonoust『ee’I「wewant

toputanendtoit﹜weup『ootitaIto-

gethe『soitcannotg『owagain.Whγexe「t ou『seIvestonoavailbγpuIIingoutits

Ieavesonebγoneandcuttingittwigbγ twig?

Thebestwaγto『efo『mou「fauItsis

th『oughcuItivatingou『hea『tsfo『pu「itγ wiIIsu「face「ightawaγ‧I「mγhea「tis pu『e『Ican「ecognizeandstopanimp「ope『thoughtassoonasita『ises.The

immo『aIideawiIIdisappea「themomentI amconsciouso「it‧

I「Iamunablet0succeedat『efo「ming mγfauItsth『oughchangingthehea「t『 thenIwiIIt「γattheIeveIofunde「stand-

ing!knowingthe「easonswhγIneedto makethechange·IfIcannotsucceed

withthis!thenIwi∣It「γto「efo「mbγ changingth『oughbehavio『’Thebestwaγ 41

istocuItivatethehea「tandunde「stand

the「easonsbehindtheneedtochange.It

is「oo∣ishifweigno『ethebestwaγthatis to「efo「m「『omthehea「t／andconfineou「-

se∣vestotheinfe『io「waγof『efo『ming th『oughbehavio「.

Butevenwhenwevowtochange「assistanceisneededtot『u∣γ「efo「m‧Wewi∣∣

needconstant「eminde『sf『omgenuine

f『iendswhowitnessou『actionsineve『γ﹣ daγ∣ife.Asfo『ou『goodandbad

thoughts／wecanaskthebeingsandspi『﹣ itsofHeavenandEa「thtobeou『wit﹣

nesses·Wea|soneedtobedi|igentandto

since「e∣γ「eg『etdaγandnight‧Ifwecan honest∣γ「eg「etfo『onetotwoweeks!one toth『eemonths／theninthiswaγ／wea『e assu『edofattaininggood「esu∣tsbenefits.

Whata「ethebenefitsofcont『ition?

Wemaγfee∣ve『γmuchateaseandou『 4Z

hea『tsmaγfee∣Iightandgene『ous.An

unintelIigentpe『sonmaγsudden∣γbecome

wise.Anothe『mightmaintainac∣ea『and 『e∣axedmindeveninadistu『bingand

confusingenvi「onment.0u『mindswiIIbe mo「ec∣ea「andou『compassionwiI∣in﹣

c「easeenab∣ingustonoIonge『「eeIange『

uponseeinganenemγwhiIewe『emain happγ.

Wemaγd「eamo「spittIngoutb∣ack things『ofhavinganclentsageso『vi「tuous peopIeencou『ageandesco『tus／o『we

maγd「eamoff∣γinglnspace.Wemaγ d『eamofcoIo「fuIpennantsando「nateIγ

deco「atedcanopies‧Suchphenomenaa『e indicationsofasuccessfu∣「e「o『manda

disso∣vingofpastoffenses‧Howeve『〉we mustnotconside『seeingthesephenom-

enaassignsofpe『「ection‧Instead／we must「eso∣vetofu「the『imp『oveou『selves 43

andwo「kevenha「de「to『efo「m‧

（AnexampIeisBoγu○u‧）AttwentM hewasaI『eadγmindfuIofhisfauItsγhad

ana∣γzedthem『andt「iedtotho「oughlγ co「「ectthem。Attheageoftwentγ-one『

hefeItthathestiIIhadnotcomp∣ete∣γ co「「ectedaIIofthem.Attwentγ-two!he fe∣tasiftwentγ-onewaswasted叭without anγ「ealimp「ovement‘ThusJγea「afte『

γea叮hecontinuedtoco「「ecthisfauIts‧ Whenhe「eachedfi「tγ／BoγustiIIfeltthat thepastfo「tγ-nineγea「swe「efiIIedwith w「ongdoings‧Thiswashowpa「ticu∣a『ou『

ancesto『swe「e「ega「dingtheco『「ectionof fauIts|

Wea「eaIIjusto「dina『γpeopIewithmis﹣ ta∣（esasnume『ousasapo「cupine,sspines‘ Oftenwhenwe|ooI(backIwedonoteven seeou『fau∣tsbecausewea『eca「eIessand

donotknowhowto「eⅡectonou『actions‧It 44

isasifacata「actisg「owinginou『eγe‧八II

thesea「esγmptomsofhavingaccumuIated

toomanγof「enses!Ou「hea「tsmaγfeeIcon﹣ fusedandopp「essed『Iackingene『gγ‧WewiII becomeext「eme∣γ「O「getfuIandfiIIedwith wo「「iesevenwhennothingishappening『feeI emba「「assedanddep『esseduponmeetinga

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45

THETHIRDLESSOI:

THEWAγSTO

CU<TIVATEGOODNESS

We「eadinI叻〃】q﹨﹨「amiIieswhope「-

fO「mgooddeedswi∣Iaccumulatep「ospe「itγ thatcanoutlastmanγgene「ations‧〃Anex-

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pe『andhave0utstandingdescendants‧ Inanothe『examp∣e『Confuciushad

p「aisedShunfO『hisnIialpietγbγsaγing: 、Duetohisg『eatfiIiaIpietγandsince『itγ﹜ ShuncouIddeepIγmoveevenhisancesto『s

toaccepthisof「e『ing’HisaccumuIationof 46

me「itsandgood「OItunewou∣d∣astfO「manγ gene「ations‧〃Thisp「incip∣eisconfi『medbγ manγexampIes‧

The「OIIowinga『esomeadditiona∣exam﹣

pIesofhowme「itscanbeattainedth『ough

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0nIγRongγang﹩sg「andfathe「andg「eat g『andfathe「『escuedthed「owningpeopIe andigno「edthebeIongings‧Theboate「s

laughedandthoughtthetwotobeveⅣ「OoI﹣ ish‧Late『『whenRongYang!s「athe『was 47

bo「n『the伯mi∣γg『aduaIIγbecameweaIthγ‧ OnedaγaheavenIγbeingwhohadmani-

「estedasaTaoistmon∣﹙toIdthefami∣γthat duetothei『ancesto「s!accumuIationo「hid﹣

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cest「a∣tomb‧TheγfOIIowedhissuggestion.

TOdaγitiscaIIedtheWhiteHa「eG「ave‧

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the「‧TOdaγ’hisvi『tuousandp「ospe「ousde﹣ scendantsa「esti∣Ip「ominent‧

Zichengγang／f『omtheZhejiangp「ovince﹩isanothe『exampIe‧Hewo「kedinthe countγcou『thouseandwaskind／fai「／and 48

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seve『aInewlγa「『ivedp「isone「stobefed‧But

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tion‧Thefi「stgene「ationa仕e「that’nine

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continuedthatwaγfO『gene「ations‧Itwas

saidinFujianthatthesu「nameo「Linwas

aIwaγsonthelistofthosewhohadpassed theimpe「iaIexamination‧

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w「appedita『oundtheman!ca『「iedhimbacI（ home!and「evivedhim‧Thatnight!Zhuoan’s fathe『d『eamtthataheavenIγbeingtold him:﹨﹩OutofcompIetesince「itγJγouhe∣peda

dγingman‧Thisisag『eatvi『tue‧IwiI∣have thefamousGene『aIQiHanoftheSongDγ﹣

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Zhuoanwasbo「nandwasnamedQi‧

AIso!the「ewasⅢ『‧γing『aI／liniste「who

livedinTaizhou‧Whenhewasγoung』he 53

studiedin「emotemountaina「eas‧Atnight『

heo仳nhea『dthesoundsofghostsand

spi『itsbutwasneve「a『『aidofthem‧One night!hehea「doneghosthappi∣γsaγman-

othe『:﹨﹨The「eisaviIIagewomanwhosehus﹣ band|efthomeaIongtimeagoandhasnot 「etu『ned‧He「in﹣∣awsthinkthatthei「sonis

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「eceivedtwohund「edg「amsofsilve「『O「it‧

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aIongwiththesiIve「。Thepa『entsknewthat theIette「wasnotintheson,shandw「iting『 butexaminedthesiIve「andsaid『﹨﹨This∣ette『

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p『ominentpositioninthefutu『e‧HowcanI hu『thim?!〃

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notgohiswaγ／heaIwaγs『enectedwithin himseIf『athe『thancomplaino「othe『s‧Thus「 55

heaIwaγsquietIγcompIiedwithconditions‧

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gooddeeds.Hepaid「O『the「epai「of「oads andb「idges﹜andp「0videdfOodfo『monksas weI∣as「o『thepoo「‧HedidaIIhecouIdto

he∣pothe『s.SometimeIate『fhehea『dthe 56

ghostsagain.Theγsaid﹜﹨﹨thep『ovinciaI scho∣a「f「omtheXufamiIγisgoingtohoIda

highpositioninthegove『nment‧〃Eventua∣Iγ﹜ Fengzhubecamethegove『no『ofZhejiang P『ovince‧

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Impe『ia∣﹞udgesaγing:﹨﹨Ifinnocentpeople 57

a「eimp「isonedhe「e『the「emustbemanγ mo「eth「oughoutthecountⅣ‧I「ecommend

thatinvestigato「sbesenttocheckthep「isonsfO「innocentpeopleeveⅣnveγea「s‧The sentencescanbecanceIedtop「eventthe innocent「『om『emaininginp「ison’〃Themin﹣

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empe「o『／whoag『eedwithⅢ「‧Tu!ssugges﹣ tion‧Ⅲ「‧TuwassubsequentIγchosenasone

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of「educingp『isonsentencesfO「innocent peopIeacco『dswiththewishesoftheheavens‧Youwi∣Ibebestowedwithth『eesons

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becamep『ominent‧ Anothe「exampIeofattaininggood「e﹣

su∣tsf「omp『acticingkindnessispingBao whoIivedinJiaxing‧pingwastheγoungest ofsevensonsofamagist「ateinAnhuiP『ov﹣ ince‧Hema「「iedintotheγuan「amiIγin

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pensivecIothesandhandedthemtotheAbbot‧HisseIvantt「iedtope『suadehimto

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andg『andsonbothpassedhighexaminations andwe『eappointedasimpe『ialofficia∣s’ 60

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Hesaid:﹨﹨Onewithsuchvi『tueasγou「sis

t「uIγ「a『ethesedaγs『howcanIshowmγ

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highest∣eveloftheimpe『iaIexaminations

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ThesetenexampIesa||teI|ofthedeeds

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notp「ospe「ous?0ntheothe『handJwhiIe 63

othe『sbehaveimmo「aIIγ!thei『「amiIiesand

descendantsdoveIweI|·Whathashappenedtocauseandef「ect?A「ethe「eno

standa「dsintheBuddha!steachings?〃

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nothavingc∣eansedthei「mindsofimpu「ities

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TheschoIa「squestionedhowgoodand badcouIdbemistaken「o「eachothe「.Ⅱaste『

Zhongfengaskedeachofthemtoexp「ess thei「thoughtsonwhatwasbadandgood‧ Oneschola「saidthattoγeIIatandhitothe『s wasbad;to『espectandt「eatothe「sina 64

poIitewaγwasgoodThemaste『「epIied『 ﹨﹨notnecessa『iIγ‧〃Anothe『scho∣a「saidthat

beingg「eedγandtakinganothe『’smoneγ wasbadwhiIebeinggene「ousandbehaving p『ope『Iγwasgood‧Ⅲaste『Zhongfengagain 『epIied!﹨﹨notnecessa「i∣γ‧〃The『emaining schoIa『saIIexp「essedthei「viewsonwhat

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﹨﹨p『acticinggoodnesssoleIγtobenefit 0the「sisconside「edpubIicbenefitandis「eal goodness‧IfweonIγthinkofou『seIveswhile 65

doinggoodacts『thenthatisconside「edp「i﹣ vatebenefitandisfaIsegoodness·When

goodnesssp「ingsf「omthehea『t!itis「eaI

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whowishtop「actice「ea∣goodnessneedto conside『aIlthesedif「e『ences‧〃

Whata『e﹨﹨honestgoodness〃and

﹨℃『ookedgoodness〃?PeopIetodaγo「tenIook

uponanext「eme∣γconse『vativeandnice pe「sonasgoodandkind‧Howeve『》thean﹣ cientsagesandviItuouspeop|ehaveshown thattheγp「efe「『edthosewhowe『easpi「ing

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onemaγIikethem『butsagesoftenspeakof 66

themas﹨﹨thievesofvi『tue‧〃F「omthis『we

canseethattheviewpointofo『dinaⅣpeopIe

ongoodandbaddif「e「sg「eatIγf『omthatof sagesandvi「tuouspeopIe‧ Becauseofthis!ou「judgmentcou∣dbe

e『「oneous‧Beingsandspi「itso「Heavenand EaIthaIIIookupongoodandbad「『omthe

sameviewpointasthesagesandnotthatof o『dina『γpeople‧The『e「O「e『whenwewishto accumuIateme「its『wemustnotgiveinto

g「eedo「beaf「ectedbγthethingsa『oundus‧ Assoonasimp「ope「thoughtsa『ise／weneed tobeawa『eofthemandthenpu「iⅣthem.

Honestgoodnessistobe『espect「uIand comesf『omthethoughttosince「eIγheIpaII othe「s‧C「ookedgoodnessistoactwithout

since「itγanda「isesf「omthethoughttonatte『0the『stoobtainwhatwewant。ToIove

othe「sishonest『andtohateothe「sandbe

jeaIousisc「oo∣（ed‧ThesealIneedtobeveⅣ 67

ca『efuI∣γdi肫「entiated‧

Whata「e﹨﹩hiddengoodness〃and﹨﹨visib∣e

goodness!7Goodnessishiddenwhennoone knowsaboutitandvisibIewhenou「good

actsa「eknownbγothe『s‧Thosewithhidden vi『tueswiIlnatu『aI∣γbeknownbγtheheav﹣ ensandbe『ewa『ded‧Thosewhop「actice

visibIegoodnesswiIlbeI（nownbγpeopIeand

enjoγfame‧FameitseIfisgood「Oltune』but HeavenandEa「thshunfame‧Thosewho

haveg「eatfameⅡbut∣acI（thevi『tuetosup-

po「titwilleventua∣lγencounte「ove『wheImingadve「sities‧Thosewhohavenotdone anγthingw「ongbuta『efaIseIγaccusedwiII havedescendantswhowi∣IsuddenIγbecome

p「ospe『ousandsuccess「uI‧F『omthis!wecan seehowimpo『tantitistounde『standhidden andvisibIegoodness·

Whata「e﹨﹨appa『entgoodness〃and﹨﹨ac-

tuaIgoodness『7IntheSp『ing﹣Autumnpe﹣ 68

「iod’thecountⅣofLumadeaIawthat『e﹣ wa『dedthosewhopaidthe「ansomtof「ee thei「feIlowcitizenswhowe「eseIvant﹣sIaves‧

Atthattime’Confuciushada「ichstudent

namedZigongwho『a∣thoughhepaidthe

「ansomtof「eepeopIe『didnotacceptthe 「ewa「dfO「doingso‧

WhenConfuciushea「dthis／hewasveⅣ unhappγandscoIdedhim:iiγouacted

w「ong∣γ’Whensagesandvi『tuouspeopIedo something!itistoimp『ovemo「aIitγand teachpeopIehowtobehave·Wedonotdo

something「O「self-benefito『「eputation‧In Lu『thepoo『outnumbe「thewea∣thγ‧Since γou『efusedthe「ewa「d『othe「swiIIthinI（that

accepting「ewa「dmoneγisbeingg「eedγand ifthishappens,noonewiIIpaγthe「ansom tof「eeou「people‧〃

Anothe「studentofConfucius『ZiIu﹜once sawamand「owninginthe「ive「and「escued 69

him‧Late『『themanthan∣（edhimbγgiving himacow‧WhenConfuciushea「dthatZiIu

hadacceptedthegift『hewashappγand said『﹨﹨inthefutu『e『peoplewi∣Ibeeage「to helpthosewhoa『ed『owning‧〃

Intheeγeso「o「dinaⅣpeopIe『Zigong『s 「e「usa∣o「the『ewa「dmoneγwasgoodfwhiIe

ZiIu,sacceptanceofthecowwasn0t.Who wouIdhaveexpectedConfuciustop「aiseZiIu

andscoIdZigong?F「omthis『wecanseethat

thosewhop「acticegooddeedsmustnotonIγ conside「thecu「「entoutcomebutthatofthe

futu『easweII‧Neithe「shouIdweonIγcon-

side「ou「owngainandlossbutthinkabout

theimpactmadeonothe「s‧ Whatwedonowmaγbegoodbutin

timemaγp「oveha『mfu∣‧Thus『whatseems

Iil（egoodnessmaγactuaI∣γbebad.What

appea「stobebadmaγactua∣Iγhavepositive

Iong-te「mef「ects『tu「ningouttohavebeen 70

gooda什e「aI∣‧Thus『whatseems∣iI﹙eabad deedmaγactuaIlγbegoodness‧Fo「exam﹣

ple『appa「ent「esponsibiIitγmaγbeactua∣

i「「esponsibi∣itγ叭appa「entp『op『ietγmaγbe actuaIimp「op「ietγ『appa「entt「ustwo『thiness

maγbeactuaIunt「ustwo『thiness『andappa『﹣ entkindnessmaγbeactua∣unI（indness‧We needtoca「efu∣∣γdif「e「entiatetomakep『ope『 choices·

Whata「e﹨﹨p『ope『goodness〃andⅥim﹣

p『ope『goodnessll?WenγiLuwasap『ime Ⅲiniste『intheⅢingDγnastγ.Whenheg『ew

oId『he「eti「edtohishometownwhe「ehe wasweIIIovedandhighIγ「espected‧Once『a

d『unkenviIIage「wenttohishomeandbegan

toγelIinsuItsathim‘WI「‧LucaImIγtoIdhis se『vant／﹨﹨thismanisd「un∣（’don’ta「guewith him‧〃Withthat『hecIosedthedoo「andig﹣

no「edtheonsIaughto「insuIts‧

Aγea「∣ate「『thesamemancommitteda 71

g「avec「imeandwassentencedtodeath‧

Hea「ingthis『Ⅲ「‧Lu『emo「se『u∣Iγsaid:﹨﹨If

onlγIhadtakenhimtotheautho『itiesfO「 punishmentthatdaγ’pe「hapsa∣ittIedisci﹣ pIinecouIdhavep「eventedthis‧Atthetime』 IwastⅣingtobekindbutIinadve『tentlγ encou「agedhisa「「oganceandc『ueItγ‧Now『 hehasbeensentencedtodeath‧〃Thisisan

exampIeofhavinggoodintentionsbutdoing somethingbad·

The『eisalsoanexampIeofthosewho

achievedgoodnessaIthoughtheγhadacted f『omimp『ope「intentions.Once『ane「adev﹣ astatingfamine『peop∣ewe「e「educedto

steaIingfOodinb『oaddaγIight‧AweaIthγ

fami∣γ『epo『tedthistotheautho「itieswho didnothing.Asthepoo「g『ewmo「eda『ing∕ chaoswasimminent‧The「ami∣γ『tal（ingthe ∣awintothei「ownhands『caughtandpun﹣ ishedthethieves‧Inthiswaγ!peacewas 72

「esto「edandthetheftswe『e了topped‧Ifthis hadnotbeendone『chaoswouIdhave

e「upted

WeaIlknowthatgoodnessisp「ope「and w「ongdoingisimp『ope『‘Howeve『『the『ea「e

caseswhe「edeedsdoneouto「goodintentions『esuItedinbadThisisca∣Iedthe﹨﹨im﹣

p『ope『withinthep「ope『’〃The「ea「ea∣so deedsdoneoutofimp『ope『intentionsthat

『esuItedingood‧Thisisca∣Iedthe﹨﹨p「ope『 withintheimp『ope「‘〃Wecanbenefitf「om unde『standingthis.

Whata『e﹨﹨haIfgoodness〃and﹨﹨fuIIgood﹣ ness〃?We『eadinI叻〃】α﹨﹨peopIewhodo notaccumuIatevi『tuousdeedswiIInot

achievehono『whi∣epeopIewhodonotac-

cumuIatebaddeedswiIInotb「ingaboutse∣f﹣

dest「uction‧〃Andf「om比oko／∕化﹝D／ywe Iea「nthat﹨﹨theIastempe「o「oftheShang Dγnastγ∕committedho『『ibIec『imes‧〃The 73

dγnastγendedwithhisdeath。ItisIikecoI-

Iectingobjectsinacontaine「‧WithdiIigence『 itwiIlsoonbefuIIbutifwea「eIazγJthenit

wilIbeonlγhaIf「uII‧Thisisanexampleof 「uIIandhaI「goodness‧ OnceawomanvisitedaBuddhisttempIe andwishedtomaI(eadonation’Beingex-

t「emelγpoo「『sheonIγhadtwocentsbutshe f「eeIγgavethesetoamonI（‧Tohe『su『p『ise〃 theabbothimseI「cametoheIphe「『eg「etfO『

pastof「ensesandtodedicatehe『me「its‧ Late『／shewaschosentoente「theimpe「iaI

pa∣ace／andobtainedwealthandp「estige‧ CIadinhe「「iches『she『etu『nedtothetem-

pIetomakeadonation／thistimeb「inginga smalIfO「tune‧TOhe「dismaγ’theabbotsent anothe「monktohelpdedicatehe「me「its‧

Shedidnotunde「standandquestionedthe

abbot:﹨﹨InthepastJIon∣γdonatedtwo cents『γetγoupe「sonaIlγhe∣pedme「eg『et 74

mγpastof「enses‧TodaγJIhaveb「ought muchmoneγbutγouwiIInotheIpmepe「﹣ fO「mmγme「itdedication‧Whγ?〃

Theabbot「epIied:﹨﹨AIthoughγougave onIγaIittIeinthepast『itcamef「omat「ue

andsince『ehea『t‧ItwasnecessaIγfO『meto 「epaγγou「since「itγbγpe「sonaI∣γpe「fO「ming γou「dedications‧TOdaγ!γou『donationis

muchg「eate『』butthehea『tofgivingisnot assince「e‧The「e「O「e∕itisenoughthatmγ

studentpe『fO『mγou「dedicationsfO「γou‧〃 Thisisanexampleofhowthousandsofsil-

ve「coinsa『eonIγconside『ed﹨﹨haIfgoodness〃 andtwocentsa「e﹨﹨whoIegoodness‧〃

Anothe「exampIeisofZhongIiQuan!an

immo『tal／whowasteachinghisstudentthe

a『to「t「ansfO「mingi「onintogold‧Theγ wouIduseittoheIpthepoo「’ThestudentⅡ Dongbin’askedhisteache「ifthegoIdwou∣d eve「changebacktoi「on.ZhongIisaid’叭afte「 75

nvehund『edγea「s／itwiII『etu「ntoitso「igi﹣

naIfO『m‧〃Dongbin「epIied／﹨﹨thenIdonot wanttoIea「nthisa『tfO「itwiIIha「mthose

whopossessthegoldinfivehund『edγea『s‧ ZhongIisaid:﹨﹨T0becomeanimmo『taI「one mustcompIeteth「eethousandvi『tuous

deeds‧Whatγouhavejustsaidcamef「oma

t「ulγ∣（indhea『t‧γou「th「eethousanddeeds a『efuln∣Ied‧〃Thisisaccountisanothe『ex-

amp|eofwholegoodnessandha|fgoodness· Whenwepe『1O『magooddeed’itisbest nottoattachtowhatwehavedone·Ifwe

p「acticeinthiswaγ『thenaIIofou「good deedswiIl「eachfulfiIImentandsuccess.But『

i「weaIwaγsthinkofthegoodthatwehave doneasweIook「O「a『ewa「d!thennomat﹣

te「howdiligentIγwep「actice／evenf0「an enti「e∣i「etime『thedeedswiIIstiIIbeconsid﹣ e『edha∣「goodness‧

Fo「exampIe『whenwedonatemoneγ『 76

wecanp『actice﹨﹨pu『edonation‧〃Wedonot linge『onthethoughto「﹨﹨I〃whoisgiving’on theimpo「tanceoftheohjectthatisgiven『o『

the「ecipient‧Wesimplγgiveouto「t『uesin﹣ ce「itγand「espect‧Whenwep『acticepu「e

donation『onepoundof『icecanb『inginnnite goodfO『tune『andtheme『itsf『omgivingone

centcanwipeawaγthet「ansg『essionso「a thousandeons‧But!ifweaIwaγsthinkofthe

goodthatwehavedoneandexpect『ewa『ds fO「ou「actions『thenevenadonationo『one milIiondo∣Ia『swouIdnotb「ingusthe『ewa『d

ofafuIIγgoodf0Itune‧Thisisanothe「waγ

ofexpIainingwholegoodnessandhalfgoodnesso

Whata「e﹨﹨biggoodness〃and﹨﹨sma∣∣

goodness『7Once／animpoltantofnciaI』 ZhongdaWeiwasIedintotheundelwo「ld「O『 judgment.Whenthe「eco『dsthattheJudge hado「de「edtobeb「oughtouta「「ived’ 77

Zhongdawasastoundedatthecou『tγa『d fiI∣edwithhisbad「eco「dsandthesingIe sc「oIIofhisgooddeeds。Theof「icialthen

o「de「edthemtobeweighed‧Su「p「isinglγ『 thebad「eco「ds『whichhadfiIIedthecou『t﹣

γa「d『we「elighte「thanthesinglesc『oIIo「 gooddeedsthatwasasthinasachopstick!

ZhongdaaskedthejudgeJ﹨﹨Iamba『eIγfO「tγ γea『soId『howcou∣dIhavecommittedso manγof「enses?〃Thejudgeanswe『ed『 ﹨Whenγougive「isetoasingIethoughtthat isimp『ope「!itisconside「edabadof『ense the「eandthen;itdoesnothavetobeca「﹣

「iedouttobecountedasaw「ong‧〃

Zhongdathenaskedthejudgewhatwas 「eco『dedonthesing∣esc『oII。Thejudge『e-

pIied:﹨﹨Oncetheempe「o「p∣annedtobuiIda g「eatstoneb『idge.γouopposedthep「Dject duetotheha『dshipsitwouldcausethetens ofthousandsofpeopIeneededfO「thewo「k‧ 78

Thisisacopγofγou「objection‧〃Zhongda said:﹨﹨Ididmakethep「oposaI／buttheem﹣

pe「o「dismisseditandp「oceededwiththe p「Oject’WhatIsaidhadnoef「ectonthe matte「‧Howcanitbea「somuchweight

againstalImγof「enses?〃

Thejudge『ep∣ied:﹨﹨AIthoughtheempe「o『『e】ectedγou『suggestion『γou「one

thoughto「I（indnessf0『aIIthosepeoplewas

ve『γg『eat‧Iftheempe『o『hadacceptedγou『 idea!thenthegoodpe『﹢O『medwouIdhave beeneveng『eate『‧〃The『efo「e『whenoneis dete『minedtodogoodfO『thebenentofa∣I peop∣e!asmaI∣deedcan『esuIting「eatme「﹣ its。Ifonethinkson∣γaboutbene「itingone-

seIf／thenevenifmanγdeedso「kindness

we「epe「fO『med『theme『itswouldstilIbe smaII·

Whata「e﹨﹨dif「icuItgoodness〃and﹨﹨easγ

goodness〃?SchoIa「so「thepastsaidthat 79

onewhowishestoconque「g「eedanddesi「e

shouIdbeginwithwhatismostdimcultto ove「come‧WhenConfuciustaIkedaboutou「

cultivationofhumanitγ叭heaIsosaidtobegin withwhatismostdi而culttop「actice‧Fo「

example『aneIde「Iγteache「／卜／I「‧ShuJgave

twoγea「’ssa∣a『γtoapoo「manwhoowed moneγtothegove「nment’Ifthemanhad beensenttop『isonJthefamiIγwouIdhave beento「napa『t‧

Anothe「exampIeisⅢ「‧Zhangwhogave whathadtakenhimtenγea「stosavetoa

poo「manwhoowedthegove『nmentmoneγ‧ Thissavedtheman「『omgoingto﹞aiIand enab∣edhimto『emainwithhiswi「e‧Such

examplesasthesea『e「a『e『「O『thesemen

gavewhatismostdif「icuIttogive.Whatoth﹣ e『swou∣dnotsac「ifice!theγdidsowi∣IingIγ‧

Also’the『ewasaⅢ「‧〕inwhowasoId

andwithoutanγsons.Hisneighbo「so「「e「ed 80

himthei「γoungdaughte「inma「「iagesohe mighthavedescendantstoca『『γonhisfam﹣ iIγ’Ⅲ「‧Jin『e「usedtheof「e「andsenthe「

home‧Thisisanothe「exampIeofbeingabIe toove「comewhatismostdi什icuIttoconque「 inoneseIf‧Theheavensshowe「eddownes﹣

peciaIIγgoodfO「tuneontheseth「eemen。

Itiseasie「fO「thosewhohavemoneγ andpowe「toaccumulateme「itsandvi「tues

thanfO「thosewhoa「epoo「‧Howeve「『ifone

『efusestocuItivategoodnesswhentheoppo『tunitγp「esentsitseI﹝thenitwouIdt「u∣γ beashame‧Fo『thosewhoa『ewithout

wea∣tho「status『doinggoodthingsfO「oth﹣

e「sisveⅣdifncuIt‧Howeve「『ifonecanheIp othe『sinthefaceofdif「icuItiesitwiIIbeeven mo「evaIuabIe‧

The「ea「emanγwaγstoheIpothe「s wheneve「theoppo『tunitγp『esentsitself。

ThesecanbesimpIinedintothefOIIowingten 81

impo『tantcatego「ies‧

1‧TOsuppo『tthep「acticeofl（indness‧

Z‧TO『eve『eloveand「espect‧

3。TOhelpothe「ssucceedinp「acticing goodness·

1‧TOpe「suadeothe「stop「acticekindness。

5‧TOheIpthoseindespe「ateneed‧

6‧TOdeveloppubIicp「OjectsfO「the g「eate「benentofpeop∣e‧ 7‧TOp「acticeme『itsbγgivingweaIth‧

8‧TOp「otectandmaintainp「ope『teachIngs·

9‧TO「especteIde「s‧

10‧TOIoveandche『ishaI∣Iivingthings‧

Whatdoes﹨﹨tosuppo『tthep「acticeof

I（indness〃mean?Empe『o「Shunliveddu「ing seve「aIthousandγea「sago‧Onedaγ’befO「e hebecameempe「o「『hewaswatchingsome fishennenonLakeLeize·HenoticedthataII

theγounge「andst「onge「fishe「mentoo∣（the 8Z

spotswhe『ethewate「wasdeepandthefish we「eabundant『whiIethosewhowe『eo∣de『

andweake「we「eIeftwiththe『apidsand

shaIlowwate『『whe「ethe「ewe『eveIY佗w fish‧WhenShunsawthis』hesγmpathized withtheo∣de『fishe「men‧Hejoinedinthe

「ishingandwheneve「hesawγounge『fish﹣ e「meng『abthegoodspots『hesaidnothing‧ Butwheneve「someγieldedtoothe『s『he

p『aisedthemeve「γwhe『ehewentandemu﹣ latedthei『humb∣eandpolitemanne『‧Hedid

thisfO「oneγea「untiIthefishe「mengotin帕 thehabitofγie∣dingthegoodspotsmoth﹣ e「So

AwiseandcapablemansuchasShun

couIdhaveeasilγinnuencedothe「switha

fewwo「ds‧Whγdidhenotsimp∣γsaγsome﹣ thinginsteadoftⅣingtochangeothe「sbγ

settingagoodexamp|e?Shunlspainstaking

andgoodintentionswe「eIiketheexpe「ta『ti﹣ 83

sanshipthat『esuIts「「omIongp「acticeand ha「dwo「k‧

Intodaγ’se『aofIowmo「alitγ『socia∣

b「eakdown’andIossofp「ope「thinking『itis ext「emeIγdi「ficulttofindagoodstanda『dof behavio『‧The「e「O「e’whenthosea「oundus

havesho「tcomings『wedonotuseou「 st『engthstopointoutthei「deficiencies‧

Whenothe「sa「eunkindJwedonotuseou『

kindnesstocompa「eou「seIvestothem‧

Whenothe「sa「eIesscapabIe『wedonot pu「poseIγsu「passthem‧Evenwhenwea『e

inte∣∣igentandcompetent『thesea『etobe

kepthidden‧Insteadofboasting『weneedto behaveevenmo「emodestIγ‧Whensomeone makesamistake』wetoIe「ateanddonot

「eveaIit.Thisp『ovidestheoppo『tunitγto 「efO「mwithouttheIossofse∣f-「espect‧

Whenweallowothe「stokeepthei『dig﹣ nitγ『theγwiIIbeevenmo『eca「efuIoffutu『e 刖

actions‧Whenweseest「engthso「small kindnessinothe「s『wecanIea「nf「omthem

andp「aisethemtoothe『s‧IndaiIγIife『we can「ef「ainf「omspeakingandactingwith se∣fishintentions『butinstead／seektobenefit

societγ.WecanheIpsetstanda『dsfO「othe『s tofO∣∣ow‧Thesea「ethequaIitiesofag『eat

pe「son;someonewhothinksofpubIicweIfa『easmo「eimpo『tantthanhiso『he「own‧ Whatdoes﹨﹨to『eve『eIoveand『espect fO「othe「s〃mean?Sometimesitisha「dtoteII

onappea『ancewhethe『someoneisanhon-

o『ab∣epe『sono『af「aud》sincef「audsp「e﹣ tendtobehono『able’Thedif「e『enceisas

obviousbIacI（andwhite‘AsⅢenciussaid『

thedif「e『encebetweenhono『abIepeopIeand

o『dinaⅣpeopIeIiesinthei「intentions‧The hea「tofagenuine∣γhono『abIepe「sonis

fiIledwithIovingkindnessand『espect「O『 othe「s.The「ea『ethousandsofdi什e『ent 85

tγpeso「peopleinthiswo「Id!somecIoseto

uswhi∣eothe「sa「est「ange「s‧Somehave p「estigewhiIeothe「shavenone‧Somea「e sma『twhiIeothe「sa『enotandsomea「e

vi『tuouswhiIeothe「sa「eco『「upt‧ Neve『theIess!wea「eaIIhumansanda「e

thus『aI∣oneentitγ。WeshouIdneithe「hate no「dis「espectanγone。

Whenou『hea『tsa『efiIledwithIoving﹣ kindnessand『espect「b『othe「s’itisthe sameasifou「hea『tswe『efi∣Iedwithlovingkindnessand「espectf0『thesagesandvi「﹣ tu0uspeop∣e‧Whenweunde『standand

ag『eewithothe『sJitisthesameasifweun-

de『standandag『eewiththesagesandviItu﹣ ouspeopIe.Whγ?Becausea∣Ithevi『tuous

peopIeandsageswantpeopIetoobtainwhat

theγwishfO「‧IfwecanhaveIovingkindness and『espectfO『peopIe『andheIpthemto

achieveinthei「endeavo『s『wea「eactingas 86

asageo『avi『tuouspe「son‧

Whatdoes﹨﹨heIpingothe『stodogood〃 mean?I「wetossedasideapieceof『aw

jade﹜itwould『emainawo『th∣essstone’But i「wecaⅣedandpoIishedit／itwouIdbe t『ansfO「medintoavaIuabIeob】ect.So／when

weseepeopIewhomwefeeIhavethe

potentia∣top『acticegoodnesso『towo「k towa「dsap『ope『goaI／wecanguide／ suppo「t『p『aise『andencou『agethem／thus he∣pingthemtosucceedIfothe「sw「ong∣γ accusethemJwecantⅣtoc∣ea『thei「name

andsha『ethei「bu『denofsIande『‧0nIγwhen

wehavehelpedthembackonthei『「eetto becomeafunctioningpa『tofsocietγ／wi∣lwe havefuIfiIIedou『『esponsibi∣itγinheIping othe『stodogood.

WIostpeopledisIiI（ethosewhoa『ediffe「﹣

entf『omthem‧（Fo『examp∣e〃thosewhoa『e badfeeIuncom「Oltablea『oundthosewho 87

a「egood。）Asthe「ea「eaIwaγsmo「ebad peopIea『oundthangoodpeop∣e;thosewho

a「egoodoftenhavedifncu∣tγstandingon thei「own‧GoodpeopIehaveabiIitiesand vi「tuesthatenabIethemtobecomefamous‧

TheγusuaIIγpaγIitt∣eattentiontothei「appea「ance‧TheγcaneasiIγbew「ong∣γaccused『sost「ivingtodogoodtu『nsouttobe

achalIenge‧Whenthishappens’itisenti「eIγ uptovi『tuouspeop∣eandelde「stop「otect andheIpthosewhoa「edecenttostandon

thei『own‧Theγcandothisbγp『oviding whatthepeopIeneedtop『acticegoodness‧ Theme「itsofthevi「tuouspeop∣eandeIde『s whodothiswiIIbeg『eat‧

Whatdoes﹨﹨pe『suadingothe『stop『actice kindness〃mean?Ashumans『wea∣Iwan↑to

begood似andtohaveaconscience／butchas﹣

inga仕e「wea∣thandfamehaskeptusso busγthatwehavestoppedIisteningtoou「 88

consciences。Thisisthe「esuIto「havingto

suⅣiveinawo「Idfi∣Iedwithha「dships‧

Whenaf「iendisabouttoigno「ehiso「 he『consciencetodosomethingunwo『thγ『 wecan「emindandwa「nthisf「iend『hoping towakehimo『he「f「omdeIusion‧ItisIike

wakingupsomeonewhentheγa「ehavinga nightma『e‧Itisuptoustoshaketheminto

『eaIitγ‧Whenape『sonisunde「goingaIong speIIofdep「essionγwecanpuIIthispe佰on outofitandhelptocIea「hiso「he『mind‧ Wea『emostvi『tuousifwecant『eatou『 f『iendswithsuchkindness‧

Thescho∣a『Hanγuoncesaid:﹨﹨Bγwo『d ofmouthⅡonecanonIγpe『suadeandinfIu﹣ enceothe『sfO『awhiIe’Ifonecanpe「suade andinfluenceothe『sth『oughw「ittenwo『ks『

onelswo「dscanbepassedonfO「hund『eds

ofgene「ationsa『oundthewo「∣d〃Depending onwhatisapp『0p『iateintheci『cumstances／ 89

wecanuseeithe「speaI（ingo『w「iting‧

TOencou『agevi「tue’wecanpe「suade

othe「sth「oughspeecho「w「iting’Compa『ed withteachingothe『sth「oughbehavio『these a『emo『edi「ectandcIea『‧Sometimes／wedo

nothavetimetoteachothe「sth『ough behavio『‧Thenve『ba∣o『w「itteneducation

wiIlbemo『eef「ective‧Howeve「Ⅱifwecan

appIγitIiI（ethe『ightmedicinefO「ani∣lness! oftenitwi∣Ip「ovetohavewonde『fulef「ects‧

The『e「O『e『wecannotgiveup‧Ifwema∣（e

themista∣（eof﹨﹨Iosingape「son〃（itwas p『ope「fO『ust0guidethispe『sonbutwedid

not）o『叭wastingou『wo『ds〃（itwasimp「ope「 fO『ustope『suadethispe『sonandwet「ied to)weneedtothinl(andnndthewisdomnot to『epeatthemistake‧

Whatdoes﹨﹨helpingthoseindespe『ate need〃mean?peop∣e0ftensuf「e『f『omse『iousdi什icu∣ties‧IfwemeetsomeoneIikethis!

90

thenweimmediateIγheIpthatpe「sonasif

wewe『etheonewhowassuf「e「ing‧Ifape「﹣

sonhasbeenw「ongIγaccusedo「convicted『 thenweshouIdp∣eadonthei『behaIfasweII asheIpinanγwaγwecan‧TheschoIa「Cui Zioncesaid:﹨﹨Itdoesnotmatte『whethe「a

favo「isbigo『sma∣I‧Whatisimpo「tantis thatitisdoneatatimewhenothe『sneedit

most.〃Thesea「ewo「dsofIovingkindness‧

Whatdoes叭developingpubIicp「OjectsfO『 thebenefitofothe「s〃mean?Sma∣Iconst「uc﹣

tionwo「ksa『eneededfO「viIIagesandbig const「uctionjobsa『eneededfO『cities‧As

∣ongastheγhe∣ppe0pIe∕theγshou∣dbe buiIt‧PubIicp『Ojectscanbetheconst「uction

o「sγstemstoi『「igate「a『mlands『damsto p『event「Iooding／o『b「idgestofaciIitate t『aveI.AIso!wecangivefOodo『wate『to

thosewhoa「ehungⅣo『thi『stγ‧Wheneve『

wehavetheoppo「tunitγ『weneedtoinspi『e 91

othe「stodothei「sha「easwelItoheIpac﹣

compIishthep「Oject／eithe「th「oughthe sha「ingofwealtho「oflabo『‧Donotbe af「aidofwhatothe「smightsaγo『become

discou「agedwhenthejobbecomesdifncult。 DonotaIlowthejealousγandhat『edofothe『stoweakenou『「esoIvetodowhatisvi『﹣ tuOuS·

Whatdoes﹨﹨accumuIatingme『itSand

goodfO『tunebγgivingwealth〃mean?In Buddhismγgivingisconside『edthe「O「emost

p「acticeamongaI∣themethods‧Whatisgiving?Givingis∣ettinggo.Awisepe『sonwho unde「standsthisp『incip∣ewouIdbewi∣lingto

giveawaγeve『γthing／eventothepointof lettinggoofou『attachmentstothesixsense o『ganswithin‧Exte「naIIγ／wecanaIsogive awaγthatwhichwesee／hea『「smeII「taste『 touch『andthink‧

Wecangiveawaγeve『Vthing‧Whenwe 9Z

「indou「selvesunab∣et0d0so／wecanbegin

withthegivingofweaIth‧O「dinaⅣpeople

「ega『dthei「c∣othingand「Oodasdea「Iγas thei『∣ives;the「e「O『e『theγconside『weaIthto beoftheutmostimpo『tanceWhenwegive

spontaneous∣γ』wecancu「estinginesswhiIe helpingothe『sindi『eneed‧Howeve『『fo『 manγthisisveⅣdif「iculttodo／especiaIIγat fi『st‧But!g『adua∣Iγthemo『ewegivethe mo『enatu「a∣itwilIbecome‧Thisisthebest

waγtocu『eseIfishness』andtoe『adicateattachmentsandstinginess’

Whatdoes﹨﹨p『otectingp『ope『teachings〃 mean?Fo『miI∣ionso「γea『s『p『ope『teachings

havebeenastanda『doft『uthandp『ovided

spi『ituaIguidancefO『aIIIivingbeings‧With﹣ outp『ope『teachings!howcanwepa『ticipate

inandsuppo『tthenuItu『ingofHeavenand Ealth?Withoutp『ope『teachings!howcan weheIppeop|etoachieveattainment?How 93

canbeingsinaIIthe『ealmssucceedinthei「 endeavo「swithoutastanda「dto∣ivebγ?

Howcanwebef「eeoftheFiveDesi『es『the

SixDusts『ou「de∣usions『ou「afnictions?

Withoutp『ope『teachings』howcanweseta standa「dinthewo「∣dandheIppeopIet「anscendtheSixRealms?

Wheneve『weseeWaγpIaces﹜memo「i﹣

aIs’o「pictu『esofpastviltuouspeopIeo「

sages’o「Buddhisttexts!weshouIdbe「e﹣ spectfuI‧Iftheγa『einneedof『epai「Jwe shou∣d「epai『them‧Wecanp「opagateand passonthep「ope「teachings『andheIpothe「sto∣ea「nthei「va∣ue‧Inthiswaγ『wecan

「epaγou「g『atitudetotheBuddha‧We shouIddoou「bestandencou『ageothe「sto dosoasweI|·

Whatdoes﹨﹨「espectingou『elde「s〃mean?

Itistomakeanext『aef「O『ttobeattentive

toand「espect「uIofpa「ents’oIde「sibIings『 94

Ieade「s『supe「io「s『eIde「s『andthoseofg「eat vi「tueand∣ea『ning‧Whentakingca『eo「ou「 pa「entsathome『wea「etodosogentIγwith Iovinghea「tsandobIigingdemeano「s‧We shouIdnot「aiseou「voicebutmaintaina

peacefuIbea「ing‧AswecuItivatethesevi『﹣

tues!theγwilIbecomeapa『tofusandwe

wiIlchangeintoagentIe﹣hea『tedpe「son‧ Thisisthewaγwecantouchthehea「tsof Heaven·

Whenwo「kingfO『ou『supe「io「so『the gove『nment∕weshouIdfOIIowthe「uIesand

notdoaswepIeasejustbecauseou「supe「io「sdonotknowwhatwea「edoing‧Be「O『e weconvictsomeoneofac『ime／「ega『dIessof

whethe『thec「imeisse「iouso『not『we

shouIdinvestigateca「efu∣Iγandbejust‧We shouIdnotabusepowe「o『bec『ueIbecause ou「supe「io「sdonotknowwhatwea「edo﹣

ing。Whenwithou「supeⅣiso「『weshouId 95

showhimo『he「thesame「espectasifwe

we「efacingtheheavens‧（八sthep「ove「b

saγs『）帆thisistheco「「ectbehavio「handed downf「omou『ancesto『s‧〃Ithasanimpo「﹣

tantbea『ingonou『hiddenvi『tues‧Lookat aIlthe「amiIieswhop「acticedloγaItγandnIial

pietγ‧Thei『descendantsp『ospe「edfO「a∣ong timeandhadb「ightfutu『es‧WecanfO∣Iow thei『examp∣eandp「acticewithcaution‧ Whatdoes﹨﹨Iovingandche「ishinga∣IIiv﹣

ingthings〃mean?AcompassionateheaIt makesape『son’Ape『sonseekingthevi「tues ofIovingkindnessandcompassioncuItivates

hiso『he『hea「tofcompassion‧Ape「sonwho wantstoaccumu∣ateme『itsaIsocu∣tivatesa

compassionatehea「t‧Itisstatedin伽ko／ ∕?／r巳s｝﹨﹨In﹞anuaⅣ／whenmostanima∣sbea「 thei『γoung∕fema∣esofthespeciesa「enotto beusedfo「sac『ificiaIpu『poses‧〃Ⅲencius oncesaid『﹨﹨anhono「abIepe「sonwiIInotgo 96

nea「thekitchen’〃Thisistop「otectacom﹣

passionatehea『t.Ou『ancesto『sdidnoteat meatunde『fOu「ci『cumstances:i「theγhea「d thekiIIing／sawthel（iIling『hadtheanimaI ∣（iIIed『o「『aisedtheanimaIthemseIves‧Ifwe

cannotstopeatingmeatimmediateIγ『wecan

beginbγfOl∣owingthese「Ou『guide∣ines’In thiswaγ／wea『eg『aduaIIγinc『easingou『 compass∣on。

WeshouIdnotonIγ『ef『ainf「omkiIIing

anγanimaIs／butinsectsasweII『fO「theγa「e aIso∣ivingc『eatu『es‧I／lanmakessi∣k「『om thecocoonso「si∣kwo『msthathavetobe boiIedinwate『withthesiIkwo『msinside.

WhenwecultivatetheIand「O『fa「ming／how

manγinsectshavetobekilIed?Weneedto beawa『eofthecostinIivesinvolvedinou「

fO0dandcIothing‧WekiIItop『ovidefO『ou「se|vessotowastefOodandcIothingisas

se『iousanoffenseaskiIIing.Howoftenhave 97

weunknowinglγha「medo「steppedona

Iivingc「eatu「e?WeshouIddoou「bestto p「eventthisf「omhappeningagain‧Anan-

cientg『eatpoetoncew『ote『﹨﹨inIoveo「the mice『weoftenleavethemsome「iceandin

pitγingthemoth!wewiIInotIighttheIamp‧〃 Thisiscompassion·IcannotbegintotaII(of aIItheinnnitetγpesofgoodness’Ifwecan expandthetenp『eviouscatego『ies『wecan makethemintoamu|titudeofgooddeeds andvi「tues‧

98

THEFOURTHLESS0I:

THEBEⅡEFITSOFTHEVIRF「UEOF HUNILITγ

InIChingⅧthehexag「amfO「humiIitγ stated:﹨﹨TheIawsofHeaventakef「omthe

a「「ogantandbenentthehumble‧TheIawso「

Ea「thb「ingⅡowingwate「f『oma「easthata『e

fuIItothosethata「elowe「asitpassesbγ‧ AndtheIawsofspi「itsb「ingha「mtothose

whoa「ea「「ogantandgood「O「tunetothose

whoa「emodest‧EventheIawsofpeopIe despisethosewhoa『ea「「ogantandp「efe「 thosewhoa「emodest‧〃

InIα〃】qonIγthehumiIitγhexag『am containsso∣eIγgoodoutcomes’伽kof／佑﹣

〔D／yaIsoexpIains『﹨﹨whiIea『『oganceinvites disaste『『humiIitγgainsbenent.〃Ioftenwent

totaketheexaminationsaccompaniedbγ othe「sandeveⅣtimeIwouIdmeetschoIa「s 99

whowe「eve「γpoo「‧I『eaIizedthatbefO『e

theγpassedtheexaminationsandbecame p『ospe『ous!thei『faces『adiatedsuchhumiIitγthatIfeItIcouIdaImostho∣ditinmγ hands·

Seve『aIγea『sago『tenofusf『omtheviI﹣

∣agewenttota∣（ethep『e∣iminaⅣimpe「iaI examination‧TheγoungestJJingγuDingwas

ext「emeIγhumble‧ItoIdoneoftheappIicants『﹞inpoFei『thatJingγuwouIdundoubt﹣

edIγpasstheexamination‧〕inpoFeiasked howIcouIdteIlandIto∣dhim:!iOnIγthose whoa『ehumbIe『eceivegoodfOltune‧WIγ

f『iendⅡIookatthetenofus‧Isthe「eanγone ashonest∕gene『ous!anduncompetitive’as

﹞ingγu?Doγouseeanγonewhoisas『e﹣

spectfuI!to∣e『ant／ca『efuIJandhumbIeas

〕ingγu?DoγouseeanγoneIikehim『who wheninsu∣teddoesnottaIkbacI（o「who

whenslande『eddoesnota『gue?Anγpe『son 100

whocanachievesuchhumilitγwiII「eceive

p「otection「「omtheEa「th『Heaven’andspi「its‧The「eisno「easonhewiIInotbecome

p「ospe「ous’〃Su「eenough『whenthetest 「esuItscameout『〕ingγuDinghadpassed Oneγea「inBeijing’Istaγedwitha chiIdhoodf「iend／∣〈aizhiFeng‧AIwaγshum﹣

bIe/hehadakindandaccommodatingap-

pea「ance‧HewasnoIonge『thea「「ogant

pe「sonIhadknownγea「sago‧Hisf「iend『 whowasveⅣbluntandoutspoken『o「ten sco∣dedhimfO「hismistakes!but∣（aizhijust

ca∣mIγacceptedtheaccusationswithouttaI∣（﹣ ingbacI（‧Ito∣d∣（aizhi:﹨﹨Justasthe「ea「e signsthatteIIofcominggood「O「tuneo「misfO『tune!wecanseethatp「ospe「itγo『adve「-

sitγcometothosewhohavecuItivatedthei「 causes‧HeavenwiIlheIpthosewhosehea「ts a「ehumb∣e‧γou『mγf「iend﹜wilIdoubtless

passtheimpe「iaIexaminationthisγea「!〃 101

Late『’hedidjustthat’

The「ewasaγoungmannamedYu『eng

Zhaowhopassedthep『e∣iminaⅣ∣eve∣ofthe impe「iaIexaminationsbefO「ehewaseven twentγ.But似tⅣashemightJhecou∣dnot

passthesucceedingexaminations·Whenhis fathe『movedtoanothe『towntoacceptan﹣

othe「gove「nmentpost『Yu佗ngwentwith himandcametog「eatIγadmi「eaweII﹣ knownschoIa「intheviIlage‧γu『engb『ought hiswo「l（totheschoIa『whopickeduphis

caIIig『aphγb「ushandmademanγco「「ections totheessaγ‧ⅡotonIγwasYu『engnotang『V’

heg「ate「uIIγacceptedaIIoftheco「『ections

andimmediate∣γmadethe「ecommended

changes‧The「OlIowingγea「『γu「engpassed theimpe「ialexamination‧

Oneγea「／IwenttothecapitaItopaγmγ

「espectstotheempe「o「andmetaschoIa『 named]iansuoXiawhohada||thequaIities 10Z

ofag『eatmanwithoutat「aceo「a「「ogance‧ Ifelttheintenseau「aofhisvi『tueandhu﹣

militγ‧WhenI「etu「nedhome『ItoIdaf「iend: ﹨﹨WhenHeavenwantsape「sontop『ospe『∕it n「stbestowshimwithwisdomthatcanmake

apompouspe『sonhonestandweIIdisci﹣ p∣ined〕iansuoisgentIe『kind『andgood‧ Su「eIγJHeavenwil∣nowma∣（ehimp「ospe『﹣

ous‧〃Su「eenough「whenthetest「esults cameout『Jiansuohadpassedtheexamina﹣ tion·

The「ewasaschoIa『namedWeiγan

Zhangwhowaswe∣Ieducated!w「otegood essaγs／andwasweIIknownamongschoIa「s‧ Oneγea「’whiIetakinghisexaminationin

Nanjing『hestaγedatatempIe’Whenthe test「esultswe「epostedandhefOundthat hehadfaiIed『hebecamefu「iousandIoudlγ accusedtheexamine「ofbeingbIindtoobvi﹣ ousta|ent· 103

ATaoistmonkwhosawthisbeganto

smiIe‧WeiγanimmediateIγ「edi「ectedhis

ange『towa「dsthemonkwhosaidtheessaγ mustnotbegoodWeiγangotevenang「ie『

anddemandedhowheknewitwasnotgood whenhehadnoteven「eadit∣TheTaoist

『epIiedthathehadoftenhea「dthatthep『ima『Ve∣ementinw『itinggo0dessaγswasa peacefu∣mindandaha「moniousdisposition’

Weiγan!s∣oudandangⅣaccusationscIea『Iγ showedthathismindanddisposItionwe『e vioIentsohowc0uIdhepossib∣γw『itewe∣∣!

WeiγanacceptedwhattheTaoistsaidand askedfO『hisadvice’

TheTaoistsaidthatwhethe『o『notone

passesdependsondestinγ‧Ifsomeoneis notdestinedtopass『thennomatte『h0w

goodthepape「is『heo『shewiIIfail.When

theTaoistconcIudedthatWeiγanneededto makesomechanges『Weiγanaskedhowhe 101

cou∣dchangedestinγ‧TheTaoist『epliedthat aIthoughthepowe『tofO「mou『destinies∣ies

intheheavens『the『ighttochangethemIies

withinus‧AsIongaswep「acticegoodness andcuItivatehiddenviItues『wewiIl「eceive whatweseek。

WeiγansaidthathewasonIγapoo『

scho∣a『andquesti0nedhisabi∣itγtodop『acticegoodness‘TheTaoistexpIainedthat p『acticinggoodnessandaccumu∣atinghidden vi『tuesdependedonthehea『t‧AsIongas oneintendedtop『acticegoodnessandaccumuIatevi『tues『theme『itswou∣dbeinfi﹣

nite∣Heusedtheexamp∣eofthevi「tueof

humi∣itγthatcostnothing.Weiγanneededto IookwIthininsteadofbe「atingtheexamine「 fb『beingunfai「.WeiγanIistenedtotheTao﹣

istmonkandf『omthenonsupp『essedhis a『『ogance‧EveⅣdaγ／het『iedha「de「to

p「acticegoodnessandtoaccumu∣atemo『e 105

me『its‧

Onenight’th「eeγea「s∣ate「『hed「eamt thathehadente「edave『VtaIIhouseand sawabooI（withmanγnamesaswelIas

manγblanI（Iines.Heaskedthepe「sonnext tohimaboutitandwastoIdthatthenames

belongedtotheapplicantswhohadpassed theexaminationthatγea『‧WhenWeiγan askedaboutaIItheb∣ankIines叭hewastoId

thatthespi『itsoftheunde『wo「ldcheckedon

theappIicantseveⅣth「eeγea「s‧OnIγthe nameso「thosewhowe「efauItIessandp「ac﹣

ticedgoodness「emainedinthebooI（‧The b|ankIineshadcontainedthenamesofthose

destinedtopass／butdueto「ecentof「enses’ thei『nameshadbeen「emoved‧

Thepe「sonpointedtoabIan∣（Iineand saidthatfo『thepastth「eeγea「sWeiγan

hadbeenve「γca「efu∣andsodiscipIined thathehadnotmadeanγmistakes‧pe「106

hapshisnamewouldfiIIthebIanI(·He hopedthatWeiγanwouIdvaluethisop﹣

po「tunitγandcontinuehisfau∣tIessbehav﹣ io脫Thatγea『〉Weiγanpassedtheexami﹣

nationandp∣acedonehund「edandfifth‧ Wenowknowthatspi「itsandheav﹣

enIγbeingsa「eth「eefeetaboveou「 heads‧ObtaininggoodfO「tuneandp「e﹣

ventingmisfo『tuneisuptous‧AsIongas wehavegoodintentions『『ef『ainf『om w「ongdoingsⅡdonoto什endthebeings

andspi「itsofHeavenandEa「th『a「eto∣e『﹣ antandnota「「ogantJthenthebeingsand spi「itso「HeavenandEa「thwiII『eeIcom﹣

passionfo「us‧OnIγthenwi∣Iwehavea foundationfo『futu「ep「ospe『itγ‧ Thosewhoa「efiI∣edwithconceita『e

notdestinedfo「g「eatness‧Eveniftheγdo p「ospel》thei「goodfo「tunewiIIbesho『t

Iived‧InteIIigentpeopIewouIdneve『be 107

na「「ow﹣mindedand「efusethegoodfO「﹣ tunetheγa「eentitIedto‧Thosewhoa「e

humbIeaIwaγsinc「easethei『oppo『tunities toIea「nandinthiswaγ／thei「gooddeeds a「eboundIess!ThosewhowishtocuIti﹣

vateandimp「ovethei「vi「tuescannotdo

withoutthevi「tueofhumiIitγ.

Theancientssaid/\\Thosewhohave

thei「hea「tssetonsuccessandfame『wiII su「eIγattainthemjustasthosewhohave

thei「hea「tssetonwealthandpositionwi∣I attainwhattheγwishfo脫〃Ape『sonwho hasg『eatandfa「﹣「eachinggoalsisIikea t「eewith『oots‧TheγmustbehumbIein

eve「γthoughtandt『γto「eIieveothe「『s

bu『denseveniftheoccu「「enceisasinsig﹣ nificantasaspeckofdust·Ifwecan

「eachthisIeveIofhumi∣itγ／wewiIInatu「alIγtouchthehea『tsofHeavenand Ea「th‧ 108

Iamthec「eato「ofmγownp「ospe「itγ.

LookattheappIicantswhosoughtfame andwealth‧InitiaIlγ『theγwe「einsince「e andwhattheγsoughtwasapassingim﹣

puIse‧Whentheγwantedsomething’theγ

soughtitbutwhenthei「inte『estwaned／ theγstoppedseekingit’Ⅲenciusonce

said（totheempe「o『ofQi）:﹨﹨Ifγoucan

expandf『omthehea「tthatseekspe「sonal happiness!tosha「inghappinesswithal∣ γou「subjectsandmakethemjustas

happγasγoua「e﹜thensu「elγthenation wiIIp「ospe「!〃Thisisa∣sot『uefo「mein seekingtopasstheimpe「iaIexamination‧

（IaIonecanseekandthuschangemγ destinγ。）

109

THETEN﹣RECIT八TIOⅡⅢETHOD

Thissimp∣e『convenient／ande「「ectivewaγto p「acticeBuddhaRecitationisespeciaIIγsuit﹣ abIe「O「thosewhonndthattheγhaveIittIe

timefO「cultivation。Ithe∣psustobemindful ofAmitabhaBuddha／andb「ingsusquietjoγ.

Webeginwhenwewakeup‧Situpst「aight andclea「Iγ「ecite﹨﹨AmituofO〃tentimeswitha caImandfOcusedmind／aloudo「si∣ent∣γ‧We

「epeatthisp「ocesseightmo『etimesJeach timedoingone「oundoften「ecitations‧Re﹣ citeninetimesdaiIγatthesetimes:

UponwaI(ingup BefO『eb『eak『astAfte「b「eaI（「ast BefO「ewo「k

BefO「e∣unchA「te『Iunch BefO「edinne「

Afte「dinne『

Upon「eti「ing

Thekeγis『egula「itγ;dis「uptionofthisp「ac110

ticewiI∣「educeitsef「ectiveness‧Whenwe

「eciteconsistent∣γwithoutinte「「uption『we

wiIIsoonfeeIaninc「easeinou「pu「itγof mindⅡwisdom『andse「enitγ‧DiIigentp『actice ofthismethod『togethe『withunwave「ing beliefandvows／canensu「efuI「iIImentofou『 wishto「eachtheWeste『npu「eLand.

111

GLOSS八Rv

Afniction煩惱Fannao‧Conditiono『causeo「

pain／dist『ess『andsuffe『ing／whichdistu『bsthe bodγandmind‧TheγcanbethoughtsofgaIno「 Ioss!ofwantingtocont『oIothe「s／ofc「iticismo「 s∣ande「.TheγmIghtbewo「「ies’doubts!「eg『ets『 etc·

Amitabha阿彌陀Amituo.Thenameofthe

BuddhaoftheWeste『npu『eLand!p『ima「IIγ

meanIngInfiniteLifeandInnniteLIght.ToheIpall

beingsattainBuddhahood『BuddhaAmitabhac「e－ atedtheWeste『npu「eLand／anIdea∣pIaceof cuItivation‧BuddhaShakγamuni〃thehisto「icaI 8uddhaofou「wo『ldJexpIainedthatpeopIeinou『

agewouIdbeImme「sedinafnictionsandbad habits.Duetothis『vi『tuaIIγtheon∣γhopethatwe havetot「anscendou「suf「e「ingsistop「ope「∣γ

p『acticethepu「eLandmethodandthusbebo『n intothepu「eLand‧

▲ttachments執著Zhizhuo‧Thesea『est『ong 11Z

desi『eso「c「avingsfO『famiIγJ「「Iendsγposses﹣ sIons伋sensuouspIeasu「es!e『『oneousviews『IifeJ theideaoftheseIfasanindividual『etc‧ Bodhisattva菩薩pusa.Onewhohasvowedto

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dhisattvasandA『hats「ep「esenttheviItueofp「ac﹣ tice.WithouttheⅦtueofp「actice’theinnate vIItuousnatu『ecannotbe「eveaIed.

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CauseandE什ect果YinGuo。Eve『γthingthat happenstousisthe「esuItofwhatwehave

thought﹜said妒o「done‧Whatweunde『gointhis 113

li佗timea「etheconsequenceso「whatwehad

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c「iminatoⅣthoughtsandattachments‧Atthis

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Itisnotunde「standingthet「ue『ealitγ.

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Dust塵Cheng.AlIthepo∣Iutantsthatcontami﹣ nateou『T『ueⅡatu『e.Theγinclude「O『m』sound『 114

scent『taste『touch／andviews‧

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pa『entsphγsica∣Iγ『mentaIIγandtofu∣nIIthei「 wishes‧T0fu『the「extendandenhanceou『『e﹣

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attachmentsandtheco『「ectiono「ou『e「「oneous

th0ughtsandbehavio『‧Vi『tuesa『ise「「omdeep concent『ationandwisdom.

phenomena事相ShiXiang‧Things／events『

happenings:eve『γthingintheenti『eunive『se. Ⅱoumenonisthep「incipIeo『essencewhiIephe﹣ nomenaistheevento『「O『m.Ⅱoumenonispe『﹣

ceivedth「oughintuitiono『thoughtwhi∣ephe﹣ nomenaispe「ceivedth『oughthesenses.

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Ret『ibution報應BaoⅥng.Ka『micpunishment 「「ome「『oneousthoughts『wo『ds『o『deeds‧ SixReaIms六道止iuDao.Th『eeuppe『「eaIms

a「eheavens『demi﹣gods『andhumans.Th『ee Iowe「「ea∣msa「eanimaIs』hungⅣgh0stsⅢand he|Is.

SixSenses六境liu】ing‘Sight（色Se）’hea『ing

（聲Shen）’smeII（香Xiang）『taste（味Wei）!touch 116

（觸Chu）’andthought（法Fa）‧Exte「naI‧

Sut『a經】ing‧TeachingbγtheBuddhaⅡinitia∣∣γ givenve『baIIγ『Iate「compi∣edJandw「ittendown bγtheBuddha’sstudents.

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Theγdonothavewande「ingthoughtsbutdeep concent『ationⅡthestatewithoutdisc『lminatoⅣ wande「ingthoughtso「attachments‧

WaVpIace道場DaoChang‧UsuaIlγcaIIeda tempIe『aplacewhe「eBuddhistp『actitione『s cometop「actice.

117

Wes帕『nPu『eLand極樂世界】ⅡeSMjie‧The wo「Idc「eatedbγBuddhaAmitabha『whichisan ideaIp∣aceofcuItivation『fO『thosewhoa「ebo「n the「ea「enoIonge『subjectto「einca『nation.

118

DEDIC盯ION◎FⅡERIT

Ⅲaγtheme「itsandvi「tues acc「uedf「omthiswo「k

ado「ntheBuddha台Pu『eLand’

「epaγthefbu「kindsofkindnessabove『 and「e∣ievethesu肫『ingsofthose intheTh『eePaths陀∣ow‧

Ⅲaγthosewhoseeandhea「o「this〃 aIlb「ingb『ththehea『to『 unde「standingandcompassion andIivethe槌achings fb「the『田tofthisIi佗‧

Thenbebomtogethe「 intheLandofUItima槌BIiss。

DEDIαTI◎N◎FNERⅡT

Naγtheme『肪andvi『tues acc『ued『『omthiswo『k

ado「ntheBuddha’SPu肥Land’

「epaγthe佗u『kindso『kindnessaboveJ and「eIievethesu肫『ingsofthose intheTh「eepaths怩Iow‧

Ⅲaγthosewhoseeandhea「o「this’ a∣Ib「ing巾『ththehea『tof unde『gtandingand印mpassion andlive怵eteachings 『O「the「estofthisIi佗‧

Then槌比『nt叩ethe「 intheLandofUItimateBIiss·

THEPIRSTLESS•N:

Leα』γ‘z勺幻CA釩勺ep“α／g／ THESECONDLESSON:

↓’bu／r幼R弓／b〃“／ THETHIRDLESS0N:

nteⅡbu／r句cα▲z‘／㎡已qDO‘Me占r THEPOURTHLESS•N:

r∕beBe几皂∕:trγ亡／te↙吵f“eγ／∕…z∕物／

鱗

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