Traditional Chinese Culture: The Harm of Greed

(Minghui.org) The ancient Chinese sage Laozi wrote, “The divine has no favoritism, and always helps those with virtue.” Many, however, are greedy, forget virtue and commit wrongdoing, for which there are consequences.

A Porter’s Tragedy

Mount Hua in western China is well known for its treacherous terrain. Local residents, including Taoists, often paid porters to transport supplies. A Taoist asked a porter to take 120 silver coins to the Zhenyue Temple, and keep two silver coins as payment.

However, the porter was greedy. He only delivered 60 silver coins and kept the rest. He went down the mountain with 62 silver coins (including the two he was given as compensation). When he reached Qianchi Zhuang (the Thousand-Foot Cliff), he slipped and fell to his death.

After his companions carried his body home, they found the 62 silver coins. His family used the money for his funeral, and not a penny was left.

People in ancient times believed that good deeds were rewarded and bad deeds met with consequences, and this was an oft-cited example.

A Corrupt Official

Yang Dang was an official during the Three Kingdoms (AD 220 – 280) era, and he was responsible for arranging rations for the military. Over time, he made a fortune by illegally lining his pocket.

After his uncle Yang Xiu, who worked as a secretary for general Cao Cao, was executed for arrogance and disobedience, Yang Dang was afraid that he’d face the same fate. Despite this, he still planned to make more money before he retired, through an upcoming shipment of rations. Soon after he had that thought, his chest felt constricted, causing him to panic.

Yang sought medical treatment, but nothing he tried helped. He heard that the renowned physician Hua Tuo was in town, so he contacted him. Hua knew that Yang was corrupt, so he made up an excuse and did not come. Yang continued asking for help, and even asked his son to kneel down to Hua and beg. Hua relented and gave Yang two prescriptions. He instructed Yang to take them one by one.

The first prescription had a list of eight Chinese herbal medicines: er wu, guo lu huang, xiang fu zi, lian qiao, wang bu liu xing, fa xia, bi ba, and zhu sha. When the eight first characters are connected: “Er guo xiang lian, wang fa bi zhu,” in Chinese they mean: “With two crimes combined, you will for sure be punished by law.” Surprised by the message, Yang decided not to embezzle from the upcoming shipment of rations. The constriction in his chest quickly eased.

When he opened the second prescription, Yang found a list of six Chinese medicines. The first characters were, “Shang ni guan mu yi fu,” meaning, “Here is a coffin for you.” Yang screamed, vomited blood and passed out. He felt better when he regained consciousness.

When Hua visited Yang, he told him that his illness was due to “too much accumulated greed.” After Yang sweat and vomited blood, he felt better. He stopped lining his own pockets when he purchased supplies for the military.

Hua was a physician, but he was also a sage. He not only cured Yang’s physical illness, but also reminded him to be good and thus avoid disaster.

The Story of the Three Red Guards

After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took power in 1949, it denounced traditional values, especially during the Cultural Revolution.

Yonge Temple in Beijing features a massive statue of Buddha Maitreya. During the Cultural Revolution, three Red Guards attempted to demolish it. When the statue was erected, corridors were built on both sides and behind it to support it. The corridors are wide enough to allow only one person to pass through. The statue is connected to the corridors with iron chains.

After the first Red Guard entered the corridor, he raised an axe and struck at the iron chains. The axe missed the chain and struck the Red Guard’s leg instead. When the second Red Guard tried to cut the chain, he missed, fell off the platform and lost consciousness. The third Red Guard was so frightened that he left.

According to a monk who was in charge of the temple, these three Red Guards died soon thereafter. After this, no one dared to touch the statue, and it survived the Cultural Revolution.

Virtue in Modern Times

Falun Gong is a meditation system, and its guiding principles are Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. About 100 million people inside and outside of China practiced and benefited from good health, improved morals, and better lives.

Former CCP leader Jiang Zemin became jealous of Falun Gong’s popularity and ordered a nationwide suppression in July 1999, which continues today.

Liu Shen, a resident of Renqiu City in Hebei Province, was paid 20 yuan per day to tear up or deface posters put up by Falun Gong practitioners that explain what Falun Gong is. Liu acted erratically when he was drunk and his wife left him. He was diagnosed with cancer and died in January 2011.

Xiao Jinzhao, a political officer of the Baoding Police Department in Hebei Province, also actively participated in the persecution. After he was appointed deputy director of an office responsible for suppressing practitioners in 2008, he became even more aggressive. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in 2023.

Wang Jiuliang, a security officer in Langfang City in Hebei Province, not only tore up the posters, he told his family to destroy them. His daughter committed suicide in 2003. His wife became ill. Wang had a stroke and was hospitalized. After he was released from the hospital, Wang did not stop and continued to deface Falun Gong posters.

Wang’s son’s family was involved in a major accident while they were on a trip. Wang’s grandson died and his daughter-in-law’s collarbone was broken.

When people abandon virtue, are driven by greed or self-interest and act recklessly, the consequences of their actions harm both themselves and their families.