Using ‘Trouble’ as a Friend

[Shi Da Dao]

Assembly Master Yin said ‘The Sages of ancient times were wary when they had no troubles, saying “Could the divine sky have abandoned deficient and those of little ability?” This is why a thinker said “Only a Saint is beyond trouble inside and out. Unless one is a Saint – when the outer world is at peace – a sense of wariness must be maintained within.” People with wisdom understand that trouble cannot be escaped, so they are careful in the beginning to guard themselves against it. When human life has some worry and toil involved, it may turn into happiness for a whole lifetime. After all, calamity and trouble, slander and disgrace, could not be avoided even by ancient Sage-like Kings, much less by others.

Assembly Master Yin – Letter to Miaoxi

(Ancient China possessed a very efficient postal-service)