Doing good deeds that come from a sincere heart is the natural way for a human being to behave. Good deeds known by others are known as Yang Virtues. Good deeds which no one knows about are called Yin Virtues. Yang Virtues are rewarded with recognition and fame. Yin Virtues are rewarded by Heaven. Do not expect a return when you practise good deeds. Do not let others know when you build up your virtues. Good deeds and virtues like these are Yin Virtues. The reward for these Yin Virtues is many times greater than the reward for Yang Virtues.

The eyes of Heaven are clear and sharp as lightning. Regardless of whether good deeds are noticed or rewarded on earth, we can be assured that they are witnessed in Heaven. By understanding this, we can easily let go of our attachment to worldly praise and recognition and act naturally from the sincere heart. Thus we should keep a pure and sincere heart in dealing with all aspects of life. This is the true act of good deed but be on guard at all times.

This is an example of a good and kind hearted act that can turn bad:

"An old woman lived in a hut in an isolated part of the town and nearby was a pond. Somehow for some reason, the pond seemed to attract a lot of people to come and commit suicide by drowning themselves there. Knowing this, the old woman took great care to observe anyone who came near it, and she was often able to convince and save the one to give up the idea of suicide.

Her good deeds became widely known and to acknowledge her good heart and kindness, the government promised to reward her by paying her a good sum of money each time she saved someone from drowning. She was reluctant initially to accept such a windfall, but the public servants eventually convinced her to accept and she did. These rewards slowly became part of her regular income.

Then came a time when people stopped coming to the pond to commit suicide. The old woman was frustrated and wonder how strange and unusual that there was no more 'business.' What has happened to all those people who want to kill themselves?"

The thought itself had changed her goodness from Yin Virtue to Yang Virtue. A good deed is the most appreciated act and a kind heart is most precious. Whenever we hear or see a righteous deed, we feel good inside. Alternatively, when we come across unrighteous deeds such as murder, robbery, rape, tragic and negative acts etc naturally we feel sorrowful and anxious about our own safety. We often respond to negative acts with a feeling of frustration and this is common in everyone. This explains that all human beings share the same essence in their hearts. We all long for a pure and kind heart.

Cultivator emphasizes on nurturing acts of goodness and righteousness. The world will be in harmony if there are a lot of good deeds done and there is joy and happiness in life by doing good deed. An ancient scholar said:

"Being outstanding in ones ability is not truly unusual or precious. Being outstanding in eloquence is not something truly precious. Being courageous and resolute is not something truly precious. A cultured person is more concerned with his limitation in the pursuit of goodness, and the inadequacy of his effects to change."

The original heart of a human being is a kind heart and act of goodness is a natural act. Unfortunately after through many kalpas (billions of years) and uncountable reincarnations, our original nature is covered with boundless desires and the temptations of fame and gain. Our pure nature cannot maintain control of our minds and bodies. Nowadays, a persons kind heartedness and acts only manifest when the right conditions are met. The old woman in the story is a good example where in the beginning her good deeds came from a heart that was unconditionally sympathetic but soon was replaced with a desire for money and fame. Her good deeds turned into business transactions and many inappropriate thoughts began to arise.

Why isnt anyone coming to commit suicide any more? Saving someone with such negative intention and for the sake of money turns good deeds into false good deeds and a good person into a hypocrite. A wish for others to kill themselves is obviously an ugly thought. Similarly, a doctor cannot pray for good business. Why do we save people? Why do we heal people when they are sick? The answer is obvious.

My Heavenly teacher JiGong advised us not to allow good intentions to turn into bad intentions and this is his saying:

"If one does not take in the 'Xie' (unhealthy, evil, abnormal, off-centered, irregular etc), the negative airs or energy (Xie-Qi) will leave by itself. Things such as audio and visual pleasures, goods and gain, supernatural skills, obscene and immoral expertise, or any external objects that can damage your spiritual energy and harm your mind and nature are all termed as 'Xie.' If you dont pay attention to them, the 'Xie-Qi' will subside and withdraw itself. There is no way they can attack and harm you. Yet if there is a 'silky thread' of thought to invite them, then the most perfectly clear and calm self-nature (spiritual body) would be damaged. It would lose its clarity and whiteness immediately. Then, even if you have a great and sound aspiration, and there is broad way before you, they will all be shaded by the 'Xie-Qi.' What a waste!"

Author: T.A Chew