In everyday conversations, there’s a saying that “good deeds don’t always bring good rewards.” This suggests that some people, despite their virtuous actions, don’t receive the corresponding positive outcomes and may even face misfortune. This can lead to feelings of injustice and complaints against the heavens. However, many are unaware that the universe’s principles weigh everything, and one’s fate is predetermined. The misfortunes that befall good people are often the heavens’ way of helping them reduce past sins, paving the way for future blessings.
Complaining about good deeds: A divine reprimand
During the Qing Dynasty, a scholar named Liu Tianyou lived in Changzhou County, Jiangsu (modern-day Suzhou). Despite multiple attempts, he had not succeeded in passing the provincial examinations. Liu lived near the west side of the city guard’s office in Cha Yuan Lane. To the south of this office was a large mound containing the remains of many civilians who had perished in the chaos since the late Ming Dynasty.
During the Qianlong era, the city guard planned to relocate these remains to construct a screen wall. Liu Tianyou, feeling compassion for the deceased, borrowed money from relatives and friends to ensure the remains were reburied correctly. After reinterring 110 sets of remains, Liu exhausted all borrowed funds. Unable to do more, he could only sigh in frustration.
A plea to the heavens
In the autumn of that year, Liu participated in the provincial examinations. Although his paper was recommended, he still did not pass, leaving him somewhat disheartened.
On the evening of the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, Liu took the opportunity of the Kitchen God festival to write a petition to the deities. In his petition, he expressed that although he had not accumulated significant virtue in his life, burying the remains should have been enough to alter his fate. He questioned why the gods and Buddhas had not acknowledged his actions, conveying a sense of grievance.
A dream of reprimand and redemption
The following night, Liu dreamt of visiting the City God Temple, where the City God reprimanded him: “As a scholar, do you not know that fame and fortune are predetermined? How dare you boast about burying bones and offend the divine? If you do not repent, even your scholar title will be revoked. The underworld recognizes your good roots; as long as you persist in doing good, why worry about lacking fame?”
After this reprimand, Liu Tianyou agreed repeatedly and dared not utter another complaint against the heavens. Three years later, he passed the provincial examination, ranking over one hundredth, and eventually became a middle-ranking official.
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