During the Ming Dynasty, there was a scholar named Wu Zitian. His mother passed away early, and his father remarried. His stepmother favored her own son over him, treating him poorly. Over time, he harbored feelings of resentment in his heart. Later, he married, and his stepmother also treated his wife poorly. Feeling discontent, he wanted to confront his stepmother, but his wife in her wisdom advised against it.
Eventually, his father passed away, leaving behind much land and wealth. However, the stepmother unequally divided the inheritance, leaving Wu with the lesser share and secretly keeping a significant portion for herself. Wu Zitian was on the verge of confronting his stepmother when his wife intervened. She told him: “Enduring losses can sometimes be a hidden blessing. What truly belongs to us will never escape our grasp. Seeking happiness through conflict is futile. In fact, the more we engage in disputes, the more we risk diminishing our own fortune.”
Later on, the stepmother’s own son fell into the habit of gambling, squandering all the money, and they were on the verge of becoming beggars. At this point, Wu Zitian’s wife convinced him to take them in and he also helped the stepmother’s son quit gambling. In the end, they both expressed their gratitude and the family lived together happily.
The wisdom and compassion of Wu Zitian’s wife prevailed, turning challenges into blessings and bringing harmony to their lives.
The wisdom of forbearance
Those who gracefully accept losses often sidestep greater misfortunes. Individuals adept at embracing adversity tend to cultivate positive relationships. Conversely, those who chase unfair advantages frequently end up with nothing, akin to losing an entire forest while fixating on a single blade of grass. Consider the “clever” ones who conveniently disappear to the restroom or fumble with their wallets when it’s time to settle the bill — such individuals rarely achieve notable success.
In the grand scheme, wealth is as insignificant as dust, whereas kindness and integrity are beyond price. A limited mindset constricts one’s universe. Particularly for men, a generous spirit and the capacity to embrace life’s entirety pave the way to serene steadfastness.
Valuing connections ensures their endurance. Your journey through life is intertwined with fate, bringing you into contact with many souls. Often, your kin in this life might have been close allies in another; those who trouble you might be settling past scores. Hence, it’s crucial to cherish your kin, attend to your friends, and pardon your adversaries. All of life is interconnected, following the principle of cause and effect.
While the affluent may invest in their abodes, the genuinely virtuous devote themselves to enriching their minds and souls. Embellishing one’s character with moral beauty far surpasses any material adornment.
Those with faith are the richest; those with moral integrity are the happiest; those committed to enriching their minds and spirits are the most content; and those with wisdom are the most revered. Goodness of heart leads to universal benevolence, whereas an evil heart breeds universal adversity. It is through compassion that we uplift others, through understanding that we accommodate others, and through patience that we truly embody humanity.
Translated by Katy Liu
