Lietse (2)

1 In class, Chuang Tzu narrated a story: Huan from the State of Zheng studied in Qiushi. After hard study of three years, he attained a title of Ju (Confucian) scholar and held a position in the government.

2 His career benefited his family and relative, so his kin gradually got rich. Having been rich, he financed his young brother to study in Mo College. Since then Huan often had fierce disputes with his brother for different views between Mo and Ju schools.

3 In disputes, Huan’s father always stood with his young son, supporting the view of Mo. The disputes lasted for ten years, and the relation between the father and son was estranged gradually. Later Huan committed suicide for some reasons. His father seldom visited his tomb, letting alone the memorial ceremony.

4 One night, Huan came into his father’s dream. He said, “In the first place it was me who financed my young brother for traveling expenses and tuition. So, he got opportunity to learn knowledge from Modi. You two become fond of Mo school, which you should take credit to me for. Why are you so ruthless? The pine and cypress around my tomb already started to fruit. Why do you two never pay a visit to my tomb?”

5 His farther should thank Huan for his efforts in financing family members. It is people’s normal feeling for his farther and other family member to pay respects to Huan at his tomb at the time of Ancestors Respect Festival. However, if Huan thought that his young brother ranked high in Mo school because of his financing, it was also wrong.

6 Nobody can change a man’s character and talent that is endowed by heaven. It was his brother’s gifts and wit that made him achieving high ranking in Mo school. There was no direct tie to Huan.

7 In the view of fate, heaven offered Huan an opportunity for being official and making money because his young brother needed be financed. When his brother didn’t need it, Huan got useless and died. Hence, we shouldn’t scramble for credit to ourselves for supporting the young. The right attitude is that-- you produce it but don’t possess of it; you do it but don’t take it--.

8 We should not be like some people in the State of Qi. They looked well as their private estate and didn’t allow others to draw water. Sneaking water often caused serious fight. They should know that though you made the well, you should not look it as yours because the water is offered by heaven not you.

9 Most people in modern society are selfish. Selfishness is their starting point in considering of doing anything. For example, Bill Gates holds the patent of Windows Operation System, making money from all computer users. He becomes the top rich man in the world. In English, ownerships are clearly distinguished, such as your, my, his, our, your and their. A slight trespass is filed to court.

10 Speaking in earnest, these things are from gift by heaven. It is very natural for possessor to share it with others. Selfishness does severe harm to the peace and tranquility of a country. We should reflect on the mind: we flatter ourselves that we deserve rewards because we do some contribution to society, group and family.

11 Reasonable people hold that selfishness is very unwise. A man of perfect practice hasn’t it because his heart is no-self and being flexibility.

12 In the past, men of practice held that he, who showed no solicitude for the arrangement of nature and abused private emotion so as to diverge the direction of natural operation, would be punished by the retribution of Nature. So, people should not wail in funeral. Death is arranged by heaven. Why do you cry?

13 Heaven endowed Huan’s brother with knowledge of Mo school. There was no direct tie between his wit and Huan’s financing. Huan should not take the credit to himself for it. We also should not take the credit to ourselves for education and bringing up of our children so as to ask them to return. We should be discreet to evade the retribution of Nature.

14 A man of practice, in his life, he seeks for nothing but a simple condition that can maintain his life.

15 If there is place to maintain life, he just stays there for industrious practice of Samadhi. He isn’t interested in trying any other life style and environment.

16 Common people don’t think so. They hold that it is lagged to stay in status in quo. A company impetus depends on entrepreneur who keeps taking risks and trying. Soul of capitalism economy is bold acting forward. If there is no entrepreneur of animal spirits and no speculator who dares to risk, the capitalist economy gets stagnant, ebbed and depressive.

17 Hence, people are taught as the ones who should dare to risk and try; people of routinism instead are regarded lagged and would be washed out.

18 Young students of practice who just finish their study spout all the day. They show their unripe skill of no-learning to everyone, especially in medical treatment. I am afraid that they would delay patients’ treatment. Meanwhile, they might be infected themselves. It is worse to do harm to both.

19 “You, my dear student”, Chunag Tzu said: “should know that it is easy to know Tao but is difficult to practice it. Now that you’ve already started to practice Yoga, the skill of no-learning emerges on you in succession. What I want to say is that the way of practice is very long. Having hit the way, you should apply yourself to practice. Never be attracted by some supernatural functions, and instead forget the more important goal. Remember that these functions are used to help you practice further, instead of flaunting.

20 The work of aiding the world and saving the people is the duty of Buddha and Bodhisattva. You just start to learn Tao. At this immature stage, you had better learn from nature—no action.

21 As you see, how wonderful are creatures created by heaven and earth. Heaven and earth, however, never say something to us and never disturb our each action.

22 Our daily life is free and easy, because heaven doesn’t do harm to a thing by being over-enthusiastic about it. Only human would open classes to teach others by their poor little knowledge. All days they chatter to correct this and instruct that.

23 Kids! Bend to your study! What you know is far from what professor and tutor knows.”