Why Does Virtue Unworthy of Position Inevitably Lead to Calamity?

Virtue (De) encompasses blessings and virtue (fude), moral character, personality, cultivation, talents, abilities, and other usable resources. Position (Wei) includes status, power, fame, reputation, family/dependents, benefits, and so on. Investing these resources to attain such a position, if the resources are insufficient, is like taking out a high-interest loan. In the end, when the assets cannot cover the debts, it leads to collapse, bankruptcy, indebtedness, and possibly even family ruined and lives lost to repay the debt. If even one's life is insufficient to repay the debt, indicating a severe deficiency in blessings and virtue, one will fall into the three lower realms (three evil paths). Sinking to the very bottom of these three lower realms makes it extremely difficult to rise again.

Worldly fame and power seem desirable to everyone, and all wish to possess them. However, if the blessings and virtue are insufficient and one resorts to deceit or force to seize them, then the high-interest loan will exact a heavy price. In the end, one may find that a life of obscurity is more stable and substantial. What is there to fight for in this life? Everything one acquires requires consuming a corresponding amount of blessings and virtue. Once blessings and virtue are exhausted, the qualification to be a human being is also lost. Therefore, do not pursue fame, profit, or admiration. Do not seek for others to look up to you or elevate you. Do not seek respect for the powerful and noble. Do not seek to be admired. Do not resort to unscrupulous means. Do not seek to be above others; greater benefit lies in being below others. Humility and yielding generate blessings immediately. Prudence generates blessings immediately.

Conversely, when one's various desires are fulfilled, blessings and virtue are consumed. When fame arises, blessings and virtue are consumed. When one becomes complacent and self-satisfied, blessings and virtue are consumed. The actions that consume blessings and virtue the most and the fastest are committing evil deeds and creating negative karma. Violating precepts and rules are the behaviors that consume the most blessings and virtue. Violating the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues, killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, greed, hatred, jealousy, divisive speech, harsh speech, acting as treacherous villains – all malicious thoughts and evil actions consume blessings and virtue immensely. Once blessings and virtue are utterly depleted, all undertakings in the human realm cease and fail, and there is no longer any need to be reborn as a human.

Gain consumes blessings; loss eliminates karmic obstacles. Receiving respect requires consuming blessings and virtue; enduring insults can eliminate karmic obstacles. Therefore, forbearance (enduring insults) is virtue. Forbearance generates blessings. Forbearance can accomplish great undertakings. Seeing the Path and attaining the Path constitute great undertakings. Ultimately, achieving Buddhahood is the supreme accomplishment; then there is no further need for cultivation – there is great bliss. Thus, forbearance can accomplish great undertakings and great bliss. Do not exhaust your blessings by enjoying them to the full; you can endure insults to the full. You may choose not to enjoy blessings even if you have them, but you must endure insults if they come. Those with great aspirations, remember this.