There are people who can judge if a thing is right or wrong from their minds, and some judge from words. There is a balance scale in everyones mind to judge whether things are important or not, and to determine whether something should be done or not. Some people are greedy for the short term while some plan for long term when they find something profitable for themselves. If something is of disadvantageous, they will usually be angry and may detest it. This is like when the spring rain falls with heavy downpour, farmers will like the rain because it nourishes their crops, but pedestrians will not like the rain because the country road will turn muddy. Likewise when the moon is full and bright like a mirror in the sky, people will feel happy at such a wonderful moon, but thieves will hate the luminance of the moon.

Some people have power in their hands but are unwilling to pass it on to others. This is because of selfish desire and will produce contention for power. When human beings have profits at hand, they will only consider their own enjoyment. This is caused by their material desire and thus it produces competition for profits. If one can put oneself in the other persons shoes, then all the undesirable events will be expelled and all extreme anger will be dissolved. If in all circumstances one could think about other people, then ones motive for self-profit will be dispelled, and ones sympathy will grow and increase.

Heaven says that all normal human beings are surrounded by blessings; it is just that they are not aware of it and thus feel dissatisfied in their temporary condition. If a person never experiences danger, and never encounters a tough environment, then he will never know he is surrounded by the blessing of a calm life. If a person never experiences freezing cold and starvation, then he will never know the blessing of being safe and sound. If a person never experiences sickness and pain, then he will never know the blessing of being healthy. If a person never experiences extreme bitterness, and does not know what it is like to be homeless and wandering place to place, he will never know the blessing of peace. Therefore being satisfied will always bring happiness, and being tolerant will naturally bring peace and safety to oneself.

In the teaching of Tao, when a person of virtue is in a tough environment he will not lose his virtue, and when he is in a successful position he will not be far from Tao. Fame and profits are the sources of worries and to lead a tranquil life without worldly desires is the source of a blessed life. By renouncing fame and profits, one can free oneself from worldly ways; by abolishing the concept of life and death, one can become a Saint. One who is impervious to the temptations of wealth and high position may be called a sage.

When one cultivates according to Tao, he should dispel complaints, have a broad mind, renounce ones physical nature in favor of ones original nature, put into practice equality, expel greed, keep a satisfied heart, get rid of ones violent mind, grow a lenient heart, give up ones stinginess, initiate ones generous heart, renounce ones evil ways and expand ones virtuous heart.

On the road of life, confidence is the best companion, the sweetest provision and the greatest wealth. Confidence can bear all the heavy burdens and guide one on the righteous and enlightening way, and allow one to face real difficulties. It also has the power to challenge temptation and to give one the power to fight through long-term trials.

Difficulty is the benefactor of success, thus one should feel grateful to difficulty instead of complaining about it. If there exists something which obstructs our progress, then we will be able to generate power to conquer it. It is hoped that we can find the confidence and perseverance to accomplish our great responsibilities.

A few words of advice from my Heavenly Teacher JiGong:

We must cherish a helping heart to help others. You must start doing this with your own relatives. Then you can enlarge and widen the scope and attend to the needs of your friends, neighbors and society. It is hoped that all of you can be humble and gentle. We will not only make oneself perfect, but we will make the under-heaven (world) perfect too. Contentment gives constant happiness. Regardless of whether one is in a haste or in the most unfavorable situation, dont leave the truth and dont ever leave your Heavenly heart. No matter how tempting the flowery world is, no matter how stirring the material desire is, as long as you take fame and wealth lightly, and you are clear about your aspiration, you would not be disturbed by these external things. In words, conduct and all manners, may you disciples present oneself properly in every aspect and you must understand within yourself all the rights-and-wrongs of the world.

These are the words of wisdom from Heaven and will help us to improve our lives. People do things for themselves, but Saints do things for human beings. We must prevent evil from penetrating our minds, do not refuse Truth, make the devil our enemy but do not make people into our enemies. To have mercy, we must show mercy. To live in peace, we must let others live in peace. Life is just too short to have enmity; we will never be able to live in peace. Between the four seas, we are all brothers and sisters.

Author: T.A Chew