弘明集 1.70

1.70

I rectify this by saying: Looking at these words, they seem to take joy in another's misfortune; this is not the speech of an understanding person. Although Zhongzhi had the intention of loving the Dao, he had not yet received the precepts to become a disciple. In terms of following his feelings with forthright honesty and showing outstanding talent, he certainly was capable, but he had the flaw of being overbearing, which did not accord with the Daoist principle of the infant. Meeting with a rival who was jealous of his superiority, his ruin was entirely natural. Even if, as the challenger says, there are those who make vigorous progress yet meet with harm, how does this differ from Yan Hui and Xiang Tuo dying young, or Boyi and Shuqi starving to death? Bi Gan was completely loyal yet suffered the disaster of having his heart cut out; Shen Sheng was thoroughly filial yet suffered the agony of hanging himself. Cases like this cannot be fully recounted. Confucius said: 'The benevolent live long, and the righteous prosper.' Yet some still cannot avoid calamity. Thus we truly know that the proof of past karma is profound and trustworthy.