In ancient China, people tirelessly endeavored to subdue unrighteous thoughts. They likened virtuous thoughts to the sun’s radiance, illuminating the self and others. In contrast, evil or unrighteous thoughts were viewed as dark clouds, shrouding one’s heart and casting shadows upon others. The ancients left behind many remarkable stories.
3 examples of virtuous thoughts
1. Recording good and evil thoughts
During the Song Dynasty, a man named Zhao Kangjing lived there. At one time, Kangjing decided to experiment on himself. He sourced a bottle and two types of beans, black and white. Whenever he had a virtuous thought, he would toss a white bean into the bottle; if he had an evil thought, he would add a black bean.
Kangjing initially found that he was adding many black beans to the bottle. With determined effort and increased willpower, he gradually decreased the number of black beans. Eventually, Kangjing found that his mind had become entirely pure, devoid of virtuous and evil thoughts, and he no longer needed the guidance of the bottle and beans to experiment.
Ancient wisdom states: “Performing good deeds is like the grass in the spring, gradually growing day by day. Committing evil is like a grinding stone, showing no apparent wear yet gradually diminishing. Fortune and misfortune move subtly; the deluded remain unaware.”
With the fluctuation of one’s thoughts, a person’s fate quietly shifts and evolves without his awareness.
2. A single thought can determine one’s fortune or misfortune
During the Song Dynasty, Wei Zhongda was initially an official in the Hanlin Academy. One night, he dreamed of being taken to the underworld, where he was asked to review the records of his deeds. The underworld officials were astonished to find numerous records of his misdeeds filling the courtyard, while records of his virtuous deeds only filled a small scroll.
Upon scrutiny, they found that the small scroll of virtuous deeds far outweighed and surpassed that of the misdeeds. Delighted, the underworld official said: “You may leave.”
Wei Zhongda asked: “I am not yet forty years old. Why do I have so many records of misdeeds?”
The underworld official replied: “Whenever an unwholesome thought arises, spirits and Gods immediately know and record it.”
Zhongda asked: “What did the small scroll of virtuous deeds record?”
The official said: “When the Imperial Court planned extensive construction projects to build the Sanshan Stone Bridge, you advised the Emperor against it to prevent wasting resources and exhausting the people. The small scroll recorded your memorial.”
Puzzled, Zhongda remarked: “But the court did not heed my advice and proceeded with the construction. Why does this memorial still hold such great merit?”
The official explained: “It is because your intent was sincere. If the court had listened, your merit would have been immeasurable. If you use such a heart to benefit others, it will not be difficult. However, your evil thoughts have halved your merit, so you cannot hope to rise further to be Prime Minister.” Later, Wei Zhongda only rose to the position of Minister of Personnel.
3. Enduring one’s self-imposed misfortune is transformed via pure intent
During the Ming Dynasty, in the reign of Jiajing, there was a man named Yu Du, also known as Liangchen. While studying at a private school, Yu Du and a dozen others formed a literary society called the Wenchang Society. They vowed to cherish words, save lives, refrain from killing, abstain from lust, and avoid unrighteous speech. They diligently practiced these principles for many years.
After all this moral practice, however, Du failed the rural examination seven times. His wife bore five sons and four daughters. Four of the sons died young, and one son disappeared at the age of eight. Three of his four daughters also died prematurely, leaving only one daughter behind. His wife wept for the children until she lost her eyesight.
Du lived in poverty, and his circumstances only worsened. Reflecting on his life, he wondered why he faced such misfortune despite committing no significant wrongs.
On New Year’s Eve, at the age of 47, an older man named Zhang visited Yu Du’s home. During their conversation, Du recounted his life’s hardships and recited the petitions he had written to the Kitchen God over the years.
The old man said: “I have known about your family’s situation for a long time. Your evil thoughts are too heavy, especially your pursuit of fame. Your petitions were filled with complaints, even blaspheming the Jade Emperor. You may face even greater punishment in the future.”
Yu Du was shocked to hear this and listened as the older man analyzed each past thought. Though he had not committed acts of adultery, he was easily swayed by beautiful women, harboring immoral thoughts incessantly and unknowingly.
After clarifying the true meaning of virtue and evil, the older man advised Yu Du to relinquish greed, lust, and envy and to consistently engage in virtuous deeds, regardless of their scale or difficulty.
Yu Du eventually became known as Monk Jingyi. He committed himself to helping others and abandoning impure thoughts. He strove for three years until the fourth year of the Wanli era when he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi — a successful candidate. Moreover, he miraculously found his lost son, and his wife’s vision was restored as well.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Maria
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