Why is it said that when virtue does not match one's position, disaster is bound to follow?

Virtue (dé) includes merit, moral character, personality, cultivation, talent, ability, and other usable resources; position (wèi) includes status, power, fame, titles, retinue, benefits, and so on. Using these resources to invest in obtaining that position, if the resources are insufficient, it becomes a high-interest loan; in the end, assets fall short of debts, leading to collapse, bankruptcy, and indebtedness. It may even result in the destruction of one's family and the loss of one's life, paying the debt with one's life. If even one's life is not enough to pay the debt—when merit is too greatly lacking—one will fall into the three evil destinies, and may even sink to the very bottom of the three evil destinies, from which it becomes very difficult to rise again.

Worldly fame and power are things everyone considers good and desires. Yet when one's merit is insufficient, if one resorts to schemes and forcibly seizes them by plunder, the high-interest loan will make one pay an enormous price, and in the end one will discover that it would have been better to live in obscurity, in a steady and grounded manner. In this life, what is there to fight for? Whatever one obtains requires the consumption of corresponding merit. When merit is exhausted, one's qualification to be a human being is also gone. Therefore, do not pursue fame, recognition, and gain; do not seek to have others think highly of you or exalt you; do not seek respect from the powerful and noble; do not seek to be admired by others; do not act by any means necessary; do not seek to be above others—being below others brings greater benefit. Humility and yielding give rise to merit; prudence and caution give rise to merit.

Conversely, when all of one's various desires are fulfilled, merit is consumed; when fame rises, merit is consumed; when one is proud and self-satisfied, merit is consumed. What consumes merit the most and fastest is doing evil deeds and creating evil karma. Violating precepts and breaking rules are the behaviors that consume merit the most. Transgressing the five precepts and ten wholesome deeds—killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech; greed, anger, and jealousy; divisive speech and harsh speech; acting as a treacherous, villainous person—all evil thoughts and evil deeds consume merit enormously. When merit is completely exhausted, all endeavors in the human world come to an end, and there is no longer any need to be a human being.

Gaining consumes merit; losing dissolves karma. Being respected by others requires the consumption of merit; being insulted by others can dissolve karma. Therefore, forbearance is a virtue: forbearance gives rise to merit, and forbearance can enable the accomplishment of a great enterprise. Seeing the Way and realizing the Way is the great enterprise; ultimately becoming a Buddha, with the topmost karma accomplished, one no longer needs to cultivate—great bliss. Thus forbearance can accomplish both the great enterprise and great bliss. Do not enjoy your merit to the fullest, but you may endure insult to the fullest. Merit may be left unenjoyed, but insult must be endured. Those with great aspirations should remember this well.