The Ledger of Good and Evil: A Manual for Humanity by Teja Jaensch

Author:Teja Jaensch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookVenture Publishing
Published: 2015-02-12T00:00:00+00:00

The three scholars and Yuan Liang

One day, as the three scholars Yu Kai, Xin De and Yin Fu all sat together discussing matters of the Heart, a visitor was announced. This guest had travelled for many days in order to speak with Yu Kai, whose reputation had become great. He had arduously studied astrology, geography, the three doctrines and nine schools and as a Confucian, he knew everything concerning human affairs.

Yu Kai greeted the traveller as an honoured guest and brought him to sit with Xin De and Yin Fu. Observing propriety they first drank some fine tea and, as was appropriate, Yu Kai opened the conversation.

‘Distinguished guest, may I bother you with making an enquiry of your first and last name?’

‘Me, the lowly scholar,’ answered the guest, ‘my name is Yuan Liang. Having travelled throughout the nine provinces, I came to hear of this residence where true cultivation is practised. Hence, I am in your presence ready to receive your deep teachings.’

Whilst the words were grand, from hearing just this one sentence, Yu Kai could tell from the sound of his voice that this man had sadly been walking an incorrect path. Words either come from the mind or the Heart. To further test his assumption he arranged a banquet and graciously hosted his guest, serving wine three times as was the custom. Feeling relaxed, Yuan Liang loudly opened a conversation, which did not follow the propriety of a guest.

‘People who study the Dao,’ he began gregariously, ‘all have a great destiny to meet their teacher, who will guide them in the right way. There are so many examples in history! Through their greatness we still hear their stories, thereby they have achieved immortality! They had great luck in finding the truth, which led to their successes.’

‘Yuan Liang,’ said Yu Kai, his suspicions confirmed, ‘why do you mention these historical figures? Mostly they knew nothing of accumulating cultivation or meeting a true teacher. Rather, they benefitted through their position close to the king, often selfishly thinking only of fame and fortune. It was their children and grandchildren who had to bear the brunt of their misdoings.

‘Today’s people practise a little goodness and feel like they have accumulated great merit, but find out quite quickly how easily it is washed away. Admiring the saints rather than contemplating their own Hearts, unavoidably they are led astray. My Heart is like the sages’ Hearts and because of that, the sages are like me. The results of our efforts are the same. Why then should we look for distracting stories? How is it that you forgo your own Heart in place of theirs? Looking within, you will see that your Heart is the same as the saints.’

Yuan Liang realised he had spoken out of turn, thereby revealing his faults. He did not dare speak any more stray words as the man before him had a deep understanding and awareness of life.

‘Dear sir,’ he asked softly, ‘how do you practise this, the art of

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.