How a modern kajillionaire like Pierre Omidyar heals the world
February 26th, 2010
Those who
have not been successful
at learning the Way have failed to stop
errant thoughts, which somehow obstruct them.
Those who have failed to stop errant thoughts have been unable
to forget fame and profit, which somehow control them.
If you want to stop errant thoughts, it is first
necessary to see through fame
and profit.
Fame is hated
by Creation, profit is an object of
emotional contention. Therefore fame and profit are more
fatal than weapons. Why? With the way weapons can kill, people know to
avoid them; but with the way fame and profit kill,
people will go to their deaths
unrepentant.
In ancient times,
people imbued with the Way often
feigned madness, because they did not want people
to know them. Nowadays if people have the slightest strength
they want to announce it to the
whole world — how
base!
Profit is something
that has no virtue yet attracts people.
It makes people hot without fire. It has no authority
yet gets people to labor willingly. It has no affections yet makes people
never forget it for a moment. It causes students of the Way to ruin their character
once they have seen it; it causes administrators to twist the law
once they have seen it. Since ancient times human
hearts and laws of nations have
often been spoiled
by profit.
There is
great harm for the world
concealed within great profit, but people
do not know it. Not that they do not know, but they are
blinded by profit. Pelf obtained by breaking the law is like food that
causes illness — when you take them, your only concern is that it is not
enough; but when exposed, your only concern is that it was too much.
Why is the same thing different according to the time? Because
profit and harm follow each other. If when you see profit
you think there is harm there, thoughts
of grabbing it will inevitably
stop.
Cultured people
accumulate virtue. Virtue can enhance
health and can also make one successful. Therefore,
rank and emolument, good repute and long life, come naturally
to people of great virtue, without
being sought.
Small people
accumulate wealth. Wealth can support
the body, but it can also damage the body. Therefore people
with a lot of wealth may want to leave worry
and apprehension behind but
cannot.
