(Minghui.org) Ancient Chinese culture emphasizes accumulating virtue and planting good seeds for one's future. The following is a story from Chinese legend concerning this subject.
Lord Mengchang, chancellor of the State of Qi during the Warring States Period (453 BC – 221 BC), once received a guest named Feng Huan. Feng Huan was very learned, wise and had good foresight.
The Era of Warring States is a period in ancient China concluding with the victory of the state of Qin in 221 BC, which created a unified China under the Qin Dynasty.
Lord Mengchang was known for the size of his entourage. It was common during that time for an aristocrat to pay for guests like Feng Huan to stay on his property and provide consultation. Strategies and alliances for the balance of power were key to the survival of any major aristocrat.
Lord Mengchang sent Feng to his fiefdom in Xue (an area in today's Shandong Province) to collect some overdue taxes. Feng asked if Lord Mengchang wanted him to bring anything back home with the collected money. Lord Mengchang said, “You can buy whatever you think we are missing.”
Feng found that the fiefdom of Xue was full of poor farmers who owed a lot of taxes. He declared in the name of Lord Mengchang that all taxes were forgiven, and burned the debt receivable documents.
When Lord Mengchang asked Feng what he had brought home, Feng said, “I brought back benevolence and righteousness for you. You have all the treasure, good horses, and beautiful women, so I brought benevolence and righteousness for you.” Mengchang was very upset, but could not do anything since the debt documents had already been destroyed.
Some time later, Lord Mengchang had to go back to his fiefdom of Xue to live after the King of Qi voided his position as the chancellor. When the residents there heard the news that he was coming, they walked dozens of Chinese imperial li (about 6.4 km or 4 miles) to the outskirts of the town to welcome him. Lord Mengchang then realized the value of the benevolence and righteousness that Feng Huan had bought him.
This story is widely known to many Chinese people. Feng Huan’s vision and wisdom were profound. Meng had everything, except for benevolence and righteousness. Feng prepared him for the future in case he lost power one day. A wise person knows that one’s fate is unpredictable, so one should to do good things when he is in power and plant positive seeds for the future. Feng Huan prepared a way out for his lord.
In Chinese history, there were many such wise men, leaving many inspiring stories.
There are many wise people within today's political and legal system as well. They know that Falun Gong practitioners are good people. They are reluctant to persecute them as directed by their superiors. They have seen that the main perpetrators who persecuted Falun Gong have been sued internationally, and many 610 Office personnel have received karmic retribution.
Some police officers turn on their sirens and simply make a circle around the block when they receive a call reporting Falun Gong practitioners. Some detain a practitioner in their police vehicle for a bit, then release him a few blocks up the road. Some judges let practitioners go on bail. Some 610 Office directors hint to the practitioners not to speak, so as to not leave any documentation, then release them after going through a few formalities.
Such wisdom is comparable to that of Feng Huan’s. It is widely known that one will meet with karmic retribution after doing bad things. People also know that Falun Gong is freely practiced in over one hundred countries. The situation in China can change at any time and the truth about Falun Gong will become clear to all people. What are such people going to do when that day comes? Why not learn from Feng Huan and save a positive way out for oneself?
In today’s China, where power means everything and right and wrong are turned upside down, the situation is very precarious. Without security, fortune and fame are nothing. Officers in the political and legal system in China seem to lead lives full of power and advantage. But if they do bad things, even if the bad things are within the scope of their “job responsibilities,” they will meet with due retribution.
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Category: Improving Oneself
