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TRANSLATEDBY

SILENTVOICES

NAMOAMITABHA

南無阿彌陀佛

箏藏淨京學會印贈Printedanddonatedfbr仕eedistributionby

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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|emanattheCompas-

sionateCloudTempIe‧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『ecaIcuIa-

tionsf0『me.HetoIdmethatasascho∣a『『I

wouIdbep∣acedfou『teenthinthecountγ

examination『seventγ-fi『stinthe『egional

examination﹜andninthinthep『ovinciaIex-

amination‧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.Af-

te「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「e-

dictedanddonenothingtochangeit「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（toat-

tainthem?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』onecanonIγat-

tain『atmost『whathadbeendestined‧Seek-

ingf「omtheoutside『onemightIoseboth

inne「pu「itγandwhatonewasdestinedto

have;thus/theseekingwouIdhavebeeninvain·

Naste「YungunextaskedaboutⅢ『‧

KongⅡsp「edictionsfO「the「estofmγ∣i「e‧I

9

honestIγto∣dhimeve『γthing.Heaskedi「I

「eItthatIdeseⅣedimpe「iaIappointmentso「

ason‧Renectingonmγpastdeedsandatti-

tudes『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「monγisthecuItiva-

10

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。Thosewhohavenode-

scendantshadtoolittIeme『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『γthingisdes-

tinedwithno「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『otedownmγwishtopasstheimpe-

11

『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「stand-

ingthis／beginthe「i『stst「o∣（ewithasti∣∣

mindafte『thep『imaIda『kness‧Inthep『oc﹣

15

esso「d「awing／onemustIetgoofaIIwan-

de「ingthoughts‧OnIγinthiswaγcana

cha「mbee什ectIv巳

﹨﹨Whenonep『aγsfO『andseeksfO『some﹣

thIngo『t『Iestochangeone叭s「ate』itIsim-

po『tantthatonedoessowIthoutgiving「ise

toasingIethought‧Inthiswaγ『onewiIIeas﹣

iIγ「ece】vea「esponseⅡenciusw「ote『﹨the『e

!snodIffe『encebetweenIongIifeandsho「t

Iife∕Atfi『stgIance／onewouId「indItha『dto

unde『standhowtheγcanbethesame｝how-

eve『!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’Thischangedependsontheac-

cumu∣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『oIIedandof-

fensive‧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「icuItγincompIet-

ingthetenthousandgooddeeds·Theheav-

enlγbeing『emindedmeuponbecoming

maγo「『Ihad「educedthetaxesonthefa「m-

Iands‧Thatonegooddeedwaswo『thten

thousandme「its‧I／lγvowwasa∣「eadγfuI-

n∣Ied!WhenIhadbecomemaγo「／thefa『m-

e『sinthecountγwe『ehighIγtaxedsoI「e-

ducedthetaxbγnea「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／wecanthinkofhowtoad-

vocatethevi『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「thoughtsandac-

tionsf「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‘Se-

c「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‧

OnewhodoesknowshamewiIIbejustIIkeananImaI: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「dγingmo-

mentswe『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「eputa-

tionthatwiIIlastfo『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·Becomingan-

g「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「ecognizeandstopanim-

p「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「as-

sistanceisneededtot『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

vi『tuouspe「son／o「becomedispIeasedat

hea『ingp「ope「「easoning‧Whenkindtooth﹣

e『s『wewi∣IbemetwithhostiIitγ。Wemaγ

havenightma「eswhe『eeve『γthingisupside-

down『andtaIkincohe『entIγandbehaveab﹣

no「ma∣Iγ‧Thesea「ealIsignsofmisfO『tune‧

Ifwehaveanγo「thesesγmptomsJwe

mustimmediateIγ「einfO『ce0u「wiIIpowe「to

co「「ectaIIofou『fauIts‧ItisnecessaⅣto

sta『tanewandnotdelaγI

45

THETHIRDLESSOI:

THEWAγSTO

CU<TIVATEGOODNESS

We「eadinI叻〃】q﹨﹨「amiIieswhope「-

fO「mgooddeedswi∣Iaccumulatep「ospe「itγ

thatcanoutlastmanγgene「ations‧〃Anex-

ampIeistheγanfamiIγ‧BefO「etheγma「『ied

thei「daughte「tothemanwhowastobe

Confucius／s「athe「!theγinqui「edaboutthe

famiIγ‧Afte「findingthattheγp「acticed

goodnessandaccumuIatedvi『tues『theγan

famiIγ「eItconfidentthattheγwe「ema「Ⅳing

thei『daughte「intoa「amiIγthatwouldp『os-

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

pe『fO「minggooddeeds。InFUjianp『ovince’a

mannamedRongγangheldapositioninthe

Impe「iaICou『tastheEmpe「o「’steache「‧

Rongγang’sancesto「swe「eboatpeop∣ewho

madeaIivingbγheIpingpeop∣ec『ossthe

『ive「‧Oneγea「／asto「mIastedsoIongthat

vioIentfIoodingsweptawaγpeop∣e『anima∣s『

housesIandbeIongings·

Theothe『boate「stookadvantageofthe

situationtocoIIectthenoatingbe|ongings·

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﹣

denme『its叭thei『descendantswouIdenjoγ

weaIthandp「ominence‧Hethensuggesteda

speciaIpIacewhe「etheγcouIdbuildthean﹣

cest「a∣tomb‧TheγfOIIowedhissuggestion.

TOdaγitiscaIIedtheWhiteHa「eG「ave‧

Sho『t∣γafte『『Rongγangwasbo「n‧He

passedtheimpe『ia∣examinationwhenhe

wasonIγtwentγγea『so∣dand∣ate「『eceived

theimpe『iaIappointmento「Ⅲaste「‧TheEm-

pe『o「evenbestowedthesameimpe「iaIhon﹣

o『sonhisg「andfathe「andg「eatg「and伯﹣

the「‧TOdaγ’hisvi『tuousandp「ospe「ousde﹣

scendantsa「esti∣Ip「ominent‧

Zichengγang／f『omtheZhejiangp「ov-

ince﹩isanothe『exampIe‧Hewo「kedinthe

countγcou『thouseandwaskind／fai「／and

48

honest.Once／thecountγmagist「atepun-

ishedac「iminaIbγbeatinghimuntiIhewas

bIeedingp「ofuseIγ‧ZichengkneItand

pIeadedwithhimtostop。Theinfu「iated

magist「ate『eto『ted／﹨﹨it／sa∣I「ightfO『γouto

pIead/buthowcanInotbeangIwhenhe

hasb「okentheIawI〃Zicheng『epIiedthat

whengove『nmentIeade「sdonotfO∣Iowthe

p『ope『path!o「dina『γpeopIewouIdIosethei『

waγ.ReaIizingthis『weshou∣dfeelso「『ow

andnotpIeasu『e（atsoIvingthecase）‧And

weshouIdce『tainIγnotbecomeangⅣ‧A

caseIikethiscaIled「O『mo「eunde「standing‧

ⅢovedbγZicheng『spIea』themagist「ate

ceasedthebeating·

AIthoughZicheng『sfamiIγwaspoo『〃he

『efusedaIIb「ibes‧Ifthep「isone『swe「esho『t

of「Ood﹩hewouIdta∣﹙esomef『0mhisown

hometogiveittothemevenifitmeantgo-

inghungⅣhimself‧Onedaγ『itwastime「o『

49

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

ZichenghimseIfhadIitt∣e「Ood‧I「hegave

thep「isone「swhathehad『hisfamiIγwouId

gohungⅣ;i「hekeptthe「OodfO「his「amiIγ『

thep「isone「swouIdhavenothingtoeat:an

appalIingdiIemma‧He佗Itthatthep「isone「s

neededthefOodmo「ethanhisfamiIγdid.He

discusseditwithhiswifewhoaskedwhe『e

thep『isone「swe『ef『om‧Zi﹣Chengtoldhe『

thattheγwe「ef『omHangzhow‧

Late『!Zichenghadtwosonswhoboth

heIdimpo『tantgovemmentpositions‧His

e∣destg「andsonbecameViceWIiniste「ofthe

I∕IinistⅣo「﹞usticeandhissecondg『andson

wasahighIγp∣acedmembe『o「thegove『n-

mentstaffinSichuanp『ovince‧Theγtoo

we「ep『ominent‧TOdaγ「oneofthei「descen﹣

dants『alsoagove『nmento什iciaI『isknown

「O「hisvi『tuousdeeds‧

Anothe『accounttookplacedu「ingthe

50

Zheng-TOngpe「iod‧InFujianp『ovince’manγ

inteIIectuaIshadjoinedag『oupo『「ebe∣s‧

Theempe「o『appointedImpe「ia∣Censo『

Zhangtostopthem‧Het「icI（edthe「ebeIs

andcaptu「edthei『Ieade『‧

Late「『Impe「ia∣Censo「Zhangdispatched

Gene「alXietoputanendtothe「emaining

「ebeIsintheeaste「npa『tofthep「ovince‧

TheGene『aIobtainedaIistoftheinsu「gents

andcommandedthatwhitenagsbesec「etlγ

giventoeveIonenotonthatlistaIongwith

inst「uctionstopIacethenagsonthei「doo「s

whentheimpe『iaIa「mγcametotown‧He

o『de「edthesoIdie「snottoha「mtheinno﹣

centandwiththisonethoughtofgoodness『

hesavedtensofthousandso「peopIef「om

being∣（iIIed‧AsonpIacedfi「stintheimpe「iaI

examinationsandeventuaIlγbecameanad-

viso「totheempe「o「andag『andsonpIaced

thi『dintheimpe「iaIexaminations‧

51

Anothe「exampIeistheLinfamiIγinFu﹣

jianp『ovince‧Amongthei「ancesto『swasa

veⅣgene「ouseIde「∣γIadγ‧EveIγdaγshe

made「icebalIsfO「thepoo「andgaveawaγ

asmanγastheγwanted‧AnImmoItaIwho

manifestedasaTaoistmonkcamedailγ「O『

th「eeγea「sandalwaγsaskedfO『sixo「

seven.He「ceaseIessgene「ositγconvinced

himofhe「deepsince「itγ.

HetoIdhe「:﹨﹨Ihaveeatenγou「「icebaIls

「O『th『eeγea『sandhavedonenothingto

showmγg「atitude’pe「hapsIcandosonow‧

OntheIandbehindγou「houseisagood

pIacefO「γou『g『ave‧Ifγoua「epIacedthe「e

whenγoudie『thenumbe「ofγou「descen﹣

dantswhowiIIhaveimpe『ia∣appointments

wiIIequaIthenumbe『o「seedsinapoundof

sesameseeds.〃He「son「OI∣owedhissugges-

tion‧Thefi「stgene「ationa仕e「that’nine

menpassedtheimpe『ia∣examinationsandit

5Z

continuedthatwaγfO『gene「ations‧Itwas

saidinFujianthatthesu「nameo「Linwas

aIwaγsonthelistofthosewhohadpassed

theimpe「iaIexamination‧

Anothe『exampIeisⅢ「‧Feng’thefathe「

oftheimpe「iaIhisto「ian／ZhuoanFeng‧One

winte『manγγea『sago／Ⅲ「‧Fengwasonhis

waγtoschoo∣whenhesawsomeoneIγingin

thesnow‧Findingthatthemanwasba「eIγ

b『eathingJhequickIγtooI（offhiscoat’

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﹣

nastγtobe『ebo『nasγou『son‧〃Late「!

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

deadanda「efO『cinghe『to『ema『Ⅳ‧TOmo『﹣

「ownight『sheisgoingtocommitsuicideand

wiI∣『eplaceme‧ThenIwillbe「ebo「n!〃

Uponhea「ingthis!Ⅲ『‧γingimmediate∣γ

setouttoseIIsomelandthatheowned·He

「eceivedtwohund「edg「amsofsilve「『O「it‧

HethenmadeupaIette「f『omthedaughte『-

in﹣Iaw,shusband’andsentittohe「home

aIongwiththesiIve「。Thepa『entsknewthat

theIette「wasnotintheson,shandw「iting『

butexaminedthesiIve「andsaid『﹨﹨This∣ette『

maγbe「aIseⅡbutthesiIve「isnot‧pe「haps

ou「sonisaIive‧〃Consequent∣γ!thedaugh﹣

5q

te『﹣in-IawwasnotfO「cedto『ema『Ⅳ‧A仕e『a

whi∣ethehusband「etu「nedhomeandthe

coupIe「esumedthei「Iivestogethe『‧

Wl『。γingnexthea「dtheghostsaγ!﹨﹨o「igi﹣

naIIγ／IwassupposedtoIeavehe「eandbe

「ebo「n／but∣∕I『.γingmessedupmγchance!〃

Theothe『ghostasked!﹨﹨whγdon’tγouget

evenwithhim?〃Then『stghost「eplied:﹨﹨I

can『t‧Theheaven∣γbeingshave『ecognized

hisgoodnessandheisgoingto『eceivea

p『ominentpositioninthefutu『e‧HowcanI

hu『thim?!〃

Uponhea『ingthis『Ⅲ『.γingbecameeven

mo『ediIigentinp『acticinggoodnessandac﹣

cumuIatingme『its’Wheneve『the『ewasa

「amine!hegaveg『ainf『omhissto『ehouses

tothosewhoneededit.Hea∣waγsheIped

「eIativesineme『gencies‧Whenthingsdid

notgohiswaγ／heaIwaγs『enectedwithin

himseIf『athe『thancomplaino「othe『s‧Thus「

55

heaIwaγsquietIγcompIiedwithconditions‧

Eventodaγ!hisdescendantsa「ep『ominent‧

Anothe『pe『son『FengzhuXu『Iivedin〕i-

angsup「ovince‧Wheneve『the『ewasa伯m﹣

ine『hisweaIthγfathe『wouldbethefi『stto

waivethe「entonthe『icefie∣ds『h0pingthat

othe『weaIthγpeopIew0uldfOIIowsuit‧He

aIsodonatedg「ainf『omhissto「ehousesto

thosewhowe『ehung『γ‧

Onenight『hehea『dghostsoutsidehis

homesaγ!﹨﹨Acountγscho∣a『intheXufamiIγ

isgoingtopassthep「ovinciaIimpe『ia∣ex-

amination!〃ThiswentonfO「seve「aInights

andindeedthatγea『hissonFengzhupassed

theexaminatIon’Afte『that「Fengzhu!sfathe『

becameevenmo『ediligentinaccumuIating

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‧

Anothe『examp∣eisI（angxiTu‧He

wo『kedinthecou『thouseandwouIdspend

nightsinthep『isonceIIs／taIkingwiththe

inmates‧Insteadofmal（inganame「O『him﹣

seIf』hewou∣dw『itesec「et『epo「tstothe

lvliniste『of﹞ustice／teIlinghimwhγce『tain

p『isone『swe『einnocent.TheⅢiniste「wouId

thenquestionthep『isone「acco『dingIγand

cIea『thecases‧Th「oughⅢ『。Tu／sef「O「ts『

mo「ethanteninnocentpeop∣ewe『e『eIeased

anda∣Io「themwe『eext『emeIγg『ate「uIto

thejudge〃p『aisingthe∣／liniste『of〕ustice「O『

hiswisejudgment·

Soonafte『j∕I「.Tumadea『epo「ttothe

Impe『ia∣﹞udgesaγing:﹨﹨Ifinnocentpeople

57

a「eimp「isonedhe「e『the「emustbemanγ

mo「eth「oughoutthecountⅣ‧I「ecommend

thatinvestigato「sbesenttocheckthep「is-

onsfO「innocentpeopleeveⅣnveγea「s‧The

sentencescanbecanceIedtop「eventthe

innocent「『om『emaininginp「ison’〃Themin﹣

iste「JⅢ『‧Tu『ssupe「io『『tookthe「epo『ttothe

empe「o『／whoag『eedwithⅢ「‧Tu!ssugges﹣

tion‧Ⅲ「‧TuwassubsequentIγchosenasone

ofthespeciaIagentsincha『geof『educing

sentences「O「thosewhowe『e「Oundinno﹣

cent·

Onenight／hed「eamtthataheavenIγbe﹣

ingcametohimandsaid:﹨﹨O『igina∣IγⅡγou

didnotdese『veasoninthisIife『butthisact

of「educingp『isonsentencesfO「innocent

peopIeacco『dswiththewishesoftheheav-

ens‧Youwi∣Ibebestowedwithth『eesons

andtheγwiIIa∣∣attainhighpositions‧〃Afte『

that『hiswifegavebi『thtoth『eesonswhoaI∣

58

becamep『ominent‧

Anothe「exampIeofattaininggood「e﹣

su∣tsf「omp『acticingkindnessispingBao

whoIivedinJiaxing‧pingwastheγoungest

ofsevensonsofamagist「ateinAnhuiP『ov﹣

ince‧Hema「「iedintotheγuan「amiIγin

Zhe】iangP『ovince／andwasagoodf「iendo「

mγ「athe『‧pingBaowasknowledgeabIeand

taIented／butalwaγs「ailedintheexamina-

tions.HespenthistimestudγingBuddhism

andTaoism·

0『Ice!whiIet『ave∣ingtoLaI（eⅢao『he

cametoavi∣lageandsawatempleindi『e

needof「epai「‧ThestatueofG『eatCompas﹣

sionBodhisattvawaswetf『omthe「ainthat

IeaI（edth「oughthe『oo「‧PingtooI（outaIIhis

moneγandgaveittotheAbbot叭sothathe

couId『esto「ethetempIe‧TheAbbot「ep∣iedⅢ

﹨﹨Itisamajo『p『Oject『Iamaf『aidthisisnot

en0ugh‧〃pingBaothentookoutaIlhisex﹣

59

pensivecIothesandhandedthemtotheAb-

bot‧HisseIvantt「iedtope『suadehimto

I（eephisbestoutfit’buthe「e「used﹜saγing:

﹨﹨Itdoesnotmatte「tome‧As∣ongasthe

statueo「G「eatCompassionBodhisattva「e﹣

mainsundamaged!Idonotca「eifIhaveto

gowithoutc∣othes’〃

Theabbot／withtea『sinhiseγes『ex-

cIaimed﹜﹨﹨togiveupmoneγandcIothingis

notdifficuIt!butγou「deepsince『itγist「uIγ

『a「e‧〃Afte『thetemplewas「epai「edⅡPing

Baoaskedhis「athe「tovisititandtogethe『

theγspentthenightthe「e‧Thetemp∣e『s

Dha『maP『otecto『’QieIan!cameinhisd「eam

tothankhimsaγing／﹨﹨Sinceγouhaveaccu﹣

muIatedtheseme「itsandvi『tues’γouwiII

havemanγgene「ationsofdescendantswho

wiIl「eceiveimpe『iaIappointments.〃Hisson

andg『andsonbothpassedhighexaminations

andwe『eappointedasimpe『ialofficia∣s’

60

Lizhif「omZhe】iangP「ovinceisanothe「

exampIe‧His伯the「usedtobeacIe「kinthe

p「0vinciaIcou『thouse‧Once／whenLizhi’s

fathe「Iea「ntthataninnocentmanhadbeen

giventhedeathpenaItγ﹜het「iedtosavethe

man’sIi「e‧Whenthep「isone「hea『dabout

this『heto∣dhiswi「e:﹨﹨Iamg「eat∣γindebted

tothismanwhohasspo∣（enonmγbehaIf』

butIhavenowaγtoshowmγg「atitude‧WiII

γouinvitehimtoou「houseandof「e『γou「﹣

se∣「tohim?pe「hapsthiswiI∣pIeasehimand

inc「easemγchancestoIive。〃

Thewifec「iedassheIistenedtohis『e-

questJbutthe『ewasnoothe『waγtoheIp‧

ThenextdaγwhenthecIe「kcametovisit「

sheoffe『edhimwineandtoIdhimofhe「

husband’swish‧ThecIe「k『efused!butcon﹣

tinuedtodoaI∣hecouIdfO『theman‧When

at∣astthep「isone「was「eIeased『heandhis

wifewenttothecIe「k’shousetothankhim‧

61

Hesaid:﹨﹨Onewithsuchvi『tueasγou「sis

t「uIγ「a『ethesedaγs『howcanIshowmγ

g「atitude?Sinceγoudonothaveason『aI-

Iowmetoof「e「mγdaughte「inma「「iageto

γou‧pIeaseacceptfO「thisistheon∣γwaγ

thatIcan「epaγγou‧〃

Thec∣e『kacceptedandsoonafteIwa「dsf

shebo『ehimhisson／Lizhi‧Hepassedthe

highest∣eveloftheimpe『iaIexaminations

whenhewasjusttwentγγea「soIdandIate「

wasappointedtoanimpo『tantgove『nment

position‧HissonGao／g「andsonLu『and

g「eatg「andsonDaIun』aIIpassedtheexami-

nationsand『eceivedimpe「iaIappointments

asweII·

ThesetenexampIesa||teI|ofthedeeds

cuItivatedbγdif「e『entpe0pIe‧AIthoughthei「

actionsdif「e「ed『thei「intentwasthesame:

tope『TO「mgoodness‧Ifweca「efuIlγthink

aboutgoodness『wewil∣「eaIizethatthe「e

6Z

a「emanγdif「e「enttγpes:『eaIandfaIseⅢ

honestandc「ooked’hiddenandvisib∣e『ap-

pa『entandactuaI叭p『ope「andimp「ope「／fuI∣

andhaI「／bigandsmaII『anddif「icuItand

easγ.Thesedif「e『enttγpeseachhavethei『

owncausesthatneedtobeunde「stood‧If

wet『γtop『acticegooddeedsbutdonot

l（nowhowtodistinguishbetween「ightand

w『ong『wemaγendupdoingmo「eha「m

thangoodanda∣Iofou『effOltswilIhave

beeninvain·

Whata『e﹨﹨『ea∣goodness〃and﹨﹨fa∣se

goodness?〃IntheγuanDγnastγ『ag『oupof

schoIa「swenttovisitI∕laste『Zhong「eng‧One

said:﹨﹨Wehea『inBuddhismthattheka『mic

『ewa「dfO『goodandbadis﹨IiI﹙eashadow「

fOIIowingthefO『mwhe「eve『itgoes／But

whγisitthataIthoughsomepeoplep「actice

goodness『thei『famiIiesanddescendantsa『e

notp「ospe「ous?0ntheothe『handJwhiIe

63

othe『sbehaveimmo「aIIγ!thei『「amiIiesand

descendantsdoveIweI|·Whathashap-

penedtocauseandef「ect?A「ethe「eno

standa「dsintheBuddha!steachings?〃

I／laste『Zhongfeng「epIied:﹨﹨O『dinaⅣ

peopIea「ebIindedbγwo「IdIγviewpointsand

nothavingc∣eansedthei「mindsofimpu「ities

a「eunabIetoseecIea「Iγ‧ConsequentIγ『theγ

∣ooI（upon「eaIgoodnessasw『ongdoingand

mistal（ew「ongdoingasgoodness’Thisis

veIγcommontodaγ‧Ⅲo『eove『／thesepeopIe

donotbIamethemse∣ves「O「faiIingtounde「-

stand『andunfai『∣γb∣amethei「misfO「tunes

ontheheavens。〃

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

wasbadandgood『butthemaste「aIwaγs

concIuded『﹨﹨notnecessa『i∣γ‧〃

Ⅲaste『Zhongfengthensaid:ⅥTbdo

thingsfO『thebenefitofothe「sisgood;todo

thingsfO「seIf﹣benentisbad‧Ifwhatwedo

is「0『thesakeofbenefitingothe「s『thenit

doesnotmatte『ifweγelIato「hitthem;itis

stiIIgood.But『ifou『intentionisfO「seIf﹄

benefit∕then『ega「dIessofou「appea『anceof

『espectandcouItesγ『itisbad‧

﹨﹨p『acticinggoodnesssoleIγtobenefit

0the「sisconside「edpubIicbenefitandis「eal

goodness‧IfweonIγthinkofou『seIveswhile

65

doinggoodacts『thenthatisconside「edp「i﹣

vatebenefitandisfaIsegoodness·When

goodnesssp「ingsf「omthehea『t!itis「eaI

goodness·ButJwhenwedosomethinggood

justbecauseothe「sa「edoingso／itisfaIse‧

Whenwedogoodwithoutexpectinganγ-

thingin『etu「n『itis「eaIgoodness‧But『when

wep『acticegooddeedsfO「somepu『pose

othe「thantobenefitothe『s『itis「aIse‧Those

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

anddignified八sfO「thosewhoappea「tobe

compliantandca「efuIinthei「actions’eveⅣ-

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「omthethoughttonat-

te『0the『stoobtainwhatwewant。ToIove

othe「sishonest『andtohateothe「sandbe

jeaIousisc「oo∣（ed‧ThesealIneedtobeveⅣ

67

ca『efuI∣γdi肫「entiated‧

Whata「e﹨﹩hiddengoodness〃and﹨﹨visib∣e

goodness!7GoodnessishiddenwhennooneknowsaboutitandvisibIewhenou「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『wheIm-

ingadve「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「goodinten-

tions『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

ofexpIainingwholegoodnessandhalfgood-nesso

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:﹨﹨AIthoughtheem-

pe「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

shouIdbeginwithwhatismostdimculttoove「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

『efusestocuItivategoodnesswhentheop-

po『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『teach-

Ings·

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;someonewhothinksofpubIicweI-

fa『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∣Iedwithloving-

kindnessand「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「ap-

pea「ance‧TheγcaneasiIγbew「ong∣γac-

cused『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『i-

ousdi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『edofoth-

e『stoweakenou『「esoIvetodowhatisvi『﹣

tuOuS·

Whatdoes﹨﹨accumuIatingme『itSand

goodfO『tunebγgivingwealth〃mean?In

Buddhismγgivingisconside『edthe「O「emost

p「acticeamongaI∣themethods‧Whatisgiv-

ing?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『adicateat-

tachmentsandstinginess’

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「an-

scendtheSixRealms?

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『andheIpoth-

e「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「i-

o「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『adiatedsuchhumiI-

itγthatIfeItIcouIdaImostho∣ditinmγ

hands·

Seve『aIγea『sago『tenofusf『omtheviI﹣

∣agewenttota∣（ethep『e∣iminaⅣimpe「iaI

examination‧TheγoungestJJingγuDingwas

ext「emeIγhumble‧ItoIdoneoftheappIi-

cants『﹞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「mis-

fO『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『i-

ma『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『ac-

ticegoodness‘TheTaoistexpIainedthat

p『acticinggoodnessandaccumu∣atinghidden

vi『tuesdependedonthehea『t‧AsIongas

oneintendedtop『acticegoodnessandac-

cumuIatevi『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(ingupBefO『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「ac-

110

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

attainSup「emepe『TectEnIIghtenmentfO『them﹣

seIvesasweIIas「O「aIIsentientbeings‧WhiIe

Buddhassγmbo∣Izeou『vi『tuousnatu『e』theBo﹣

dhisattvasandA『hats「ep「esenttheviItueofp「ac﹣

tice.WithouttheⅦtueofp「actice’theinnate

vIItuousnatu『ecannotbe「eveaIed.

Buddha佛Fo.BuddhaisaSansk『itwo『d似mean-

Ing﹨﹨wisdomandenIIghtenment‧〃ABuddhaisone

whohas「eachedsup『emepe『fectionbothinseI「﹣

「eaIizatlonandInheIpingothe「stoattain『ealiza﹣

tion.TheInnume「abIeBuddhasa「enotgodstobe

wo『shippedbutcompassIonateandwisebeingsto

be『espectedandemuIated.

CauseandE什ect果YinGuo。Eve『γthingthat

happenstousisthe「esuItofwhatwehave

thought﹜said妒o「done‧Whatweunde『gointhis

113

li佗timea「etheconsequenceso「whatwehad

doneinou「p「evious∣i佗times『whiIewhatwedo

nowwiIldete「minewhatweunde『goinou「fUtu「e

Iifetimes.

ConstantⅡind『ulnesso『Buddha▲mi偭bha

功夫成片Gong『uChengpian‧ConstantⅢind﹣

fuInessisthestateinwhichwedonothavedis-

c「iminatoⅣthoughtsandattachments‧Atthis

point『themind『emembe「stheBuddhaanddoes

notfO『gethim‧A仕e『p『oIongedcuItivation『we

ceaselessIγcontemp∣atetheBuddha‧

DeIusion迷惑ⅢⅡu◎‧Falsebe∣ie『Sandviews.

Itisnotunde「standingthet「ue『ealitγ.

Dha『ma法「a‧1﹚TheteachingsoftheBuddha

﹙gene「aIIγcapitaIizedinEngIish）;2）Things〃

events﹩phenomena『eve『γthingintheunive「se;

and3）Dutγ’Iaw’doct『ine‧

Dust塵Cheng.AlIthepo∣Iutantsthatcontami﹣

nateou『T『ueⅡatu『e.Theγinclude「O『m』sound『

114

scent『taste『touch／andviews‧

FⅡiaIp『etV孝Xiao.FiIiaIpietγhasp『o「Ound

meaningsinBuddhism.Itmeanstotakeca『eof

pa『entsphγsica∣Iγ『mentaIIγandtofu∣nIIthei「

wishes‧T0fu『the「extendandenhanceou『『e﹣

spectandca『efO『ou「pa『ents』wehavecompas﹣

sionfO『aIIbeingsinthisw0「Id‧

Fou『Kindso『氐indness四恩SiEn‧T「ipIejew-

eIs『pa「ents’teache「s／aIIsentient﹣beings‧

GoodFo『tune幅報FuBao.AIlthegoodnessIn

one,s∣ife‧Itmaγmanifestashappiness『什iends『

fami∣γ／health’Iongevitγ叭inteIIigence』p「ospe「itγ’

position’etc.Good「O『tuneisthebenentofthe

humanandheaven『ea∣ms『andcanbeca『『ied

withusf「omonelifetoanothe「butitcannotheIpustot「anscend『einca『nation‧

岡e『i也andⅥ『tues功德G◎ngDe.Ⅲe「itsa「e

accumu∣atedbγseI「Iesslγdoinggooddeedswith﹣

outwande『inganddisc「iminato『Vthoughts『o「

115

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.

IoumenonisthetheoIasopposedtothephe-

nomenathatis「ealitγ.

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.

Wande『ingThoughtWangxiang.A用ictions

thatcloudou『T「ueNatu「eTohavenowande『ing

thoughtsmeanstohaveabsolutep『ope『andvi『﹣

tuousthoughts『notthatou「mindsa『eemptγof

aIlthoughts.Aso「dina『γbeIngs／weuseaniIIu-

so『γmInd『themindthata『isesandceases’and

thathaswande『ingthoughts‧Enlightenedbeings

usethet「uemindthatconstantIγdwelIsont『uth.

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rTHEPOURTHLESS•N:

r∕beBe几皂∕:trγ亡／te↙吵f“eγ／∕…z∕物／

鱗莘藏I學守犖會

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