Be Free in Life, Pragmatic in Work: Wang Zhenhui's Works Collection

Author: Wang Zhenhui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Dealing with scoundrels with the ways of scoundrels may require shedding the mindset of "fearing gain and loss" and bravely going all out, perhaps giving you a chance to turn the tables. Scoundrels often succeed because they exploit the psychological barriers of ordinary people, who fear conflict or have reservations, to extort or even push their luck further. No one can always be on the defensive, and even when defending oneself, it's usually difficult to shake off a scoundrel's, especially those who are simple-minded and kind. This is because scoundrels are shameless by nature, while ordinary people are ordinary due to their fear of trouble. Scoundrels are often sharp-eyed, identifying their prey and taking what they want without restraint. The following is a vivid example. Since ancient times, religious extortion has not been uncommon, and threats of extortion against religious institutions have also occurred from time to time. The Taiping Guangji records such an incident. It is said that in the Tang Dynasty, there was a temple in Luoyang City that housed several relics, which were worshipped by believers for blessings and used to attract donations. Due to its popularity, the temple received a significant amount of (oil money from incense). Like flowers attracting bees, the wealth naturally became a target for unscrupulous individuals, making trouble inevitable. One day, a scholar visited the temple, claiming to witness the sacred relics. Impressed by his refined appearance, polite demeanor, and eloquence, the monks did not suspect him. They poured the relics from a glass bottle for the scholar to see and exchanged stories about their sanctity and miraculous deeds. As the monks admired the scholar's erudition and deep understanding of Buddhism, the scholar suddenly grabbed the relics in front of him and swallowed them whole. This shocking move left the monks speechless, and the air grew heavy. At this moment, the scholar turned and said, "If you give me money, I will naturally vomit out the relics and return them to everyone." The monks, helpless, gave the scholar a substantial sum and promised not to reveal the incident. Under the monks' watch, the scholar took a laxative, which caused him to expel the relics. The monks immediately cleaned the "damaged" relics and placed them back in the glass bottle. After the scholar left, the relics continued to attract numerous worshippers. The way to deal with scoundrels is simple: "Dealing with scoundrels with the ways of scoundrels." However, ordinary people, not being scoundrels, even if they try to act like one, often fail because they cannot sustain the act, are too thin-skinned, too soft-hearted, or too cautious, losing before they even start. This is why scoundrels often succeed. Imagine if the monks had faced the scholar's extortion with indifference after learning of his intentions; the scoundrel scholar would not have been so easily successful. Unfortunately, maintaining the "sacredness" of the relics was the monks' weak point, preventing them from fighting back fiercely. It seems that dealing with scoundrels may require shedding the mindset of "fearing gain and loss" and bravely going all out, perhaps giving you a chance to turn the tables.