To receive help from the heavens, one must first be a good person with integrity. Your deeds shape your fortune. As the saying goes: “You reap what you sow.” Planting seeds of kindness ensures a harvest of goodness.
The scholar’s integrity
There’s a story from the Ming Dynasty about Peng Jiao, a scholar on his way to the imperial examination in Beijing. Accompanied by his book boy, they embarked on their journey. One evening, they stayed at an inn, where the boy found a golden hairpin.
As their journey continued, Peng, mindful of their expenses, urged frugality. The book boy, however, presented the golden hairpin, suggesting its use as a source of funds. Peng, appalled, insisted on returning it immediately. The book boy tried to convince him to just keep going to the capital, since returning to the inn would delay them and might cause Peng to miss the examination.
Peng reasoned with him, saying: “This hairpin, likely a young lady’s, could bring disgrace to her family if found missing. They might suspect her of gifting it to a man with whom she plans to elope. We must return it at once.” Understanding the gravity of the situation, the boy agreed, and they hastened back to the inn.
Upon their return, they found the innkeeper’s daughter in despair and contemplating suicide, her honor hanging by a thread over the lost hairpin. Peng’s timely restoration of the hairpin saved her life and preserved her dignity. Meanwhile, a tragic fire engulfed the examination hall in Beijing, claiming the lives of many. Peng, delayed by his act of integrity, miraculously escaped this fate. In the rescheduled examinations, Peng excelled, securing second place and later earning the highest honor in the palace examination.
Kindness often acts as a person’s greatest protector, like an unseen shield against life’s adversities. The ancients believed that those who commit good deeds invite fortune into their lives, even before it’s visible, while misfortune tends to avoid them. In contrast, those who choose the path of wrongdoing find misfortune lurking, as good luck turns away.
The world is in constant motion, yet it operates on the fundamental law of cause and effect. When we engage in acts of kindness, we usually do so from a place of genuine concern, without any desire for personal gain. This sincere approach to life, where we empathize with others’ suffering, feel moved by their misfortunes, and stand against injustice, allows our kindness to resonate at a frequency that brings positivity back into our lives. The people we help and the causes we support often come back to reward us in unexpected ways. The surprises and blessings we encounter in life are essentially the fruits of the kindness we have sown.
Gratitude: The foundation of blessings
The ancients deeply believed in the virtue of repaying kindness. Zhang Juzheng, a prodigious talent from Jiangling, faced a pivotal moment during the provincial examination. Despite his exceptional skills, he found himself intentionally failed by the chief examiner, Gu Lin, who feared Zhang’s youthful arrogance and sought to humble him. Gu later confessed: “I decided your fate in the exam.” Zhang, perceiving Gu’s well-intentioned act as a lesson in humility, let go of his anger and delved deeper into his studies, regarding Gu as his mentor.
Years later, when Gu faced peril from political adversaries, Zhang stood by him, a testament to his gratitude. Zhang’s profound respect and repayment of kindness deepened his knowledge and earned him widespread admiration, aiding his path to influential reforms.
In life, everything is interconnected, bound by collective fate. The kindness and gratitude we show enrich our lives and create ripples of positivity that extend far beyond our immediate circle. As we journey through life, the warmth and support we receive and give back — from family, friends, partners, and children — shape our existence. Recognizing and repaying these acts of kindness is a duty and a pathway to a more fulfilled and harmonious life.
Translated by Joseph Wu
