: A Gathering by the Hearth by Night

Author: Wang Yongbin (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Accumulating Good Deeds and Accumulating Wealth
Original Text: "A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have lasting blessings; a family that accumulates evil deeds will surely have lasting calamities. It can be seen that accumulating good deeds to pass on to descendants is a very far-sighted plan. A wise person with great wealth will damage their ambition; a foolish person with great wealth will increase their faults. It can be seen that leaving wealth to descendants has countless harms.
Annotations:
① Lasting blessings: The blessings left behind, the benefits.
② Increase: Enhance.
A family that does many good deeds leaves behind blessings for their descendants, while a family that does many evil deeds leaves behind calamities for their descendants. It can be seen that accumulating good deeds and leaving behind blessings for descendants is a blessing for future generations, which is truly a long-term plan for them. A wise and wealthy person will damage their ambition; a foolish and wealthy person will increase their faults. It can be seen that leaving wealth to descendants has great harms.
Commentary: What is the best inheritance to leave for descendants? Is it money, fame, status, or a good reputation? Or is it fine moral character and excellent traditions? The author gives a clear answer. Accumulating good deeds and benefiting the community not only brings respect but also blessings to future generations. Although wealth may bring temporary happiness and joy, its negative impact cannot be underestimated. 'Wealthy families often have dissolute children; prosperous families often produce wasteful offspring.' Enjoying the fruits of others without working for them often leads to a loss of ambition, a loss of direction, and even becoming unkind and wicked, ultimately ending in a shameful fate. P001-002