The Law of Cause and Effect: A Person of Good Character Will Never Suffer Loss

“British artist Fred Sanders once said, ‘Character determines one’s life, and it is more important than natural endowments.’ Natural endowments determine a person’s starting point, while moral conduct determines a person’s future. A person of good character naturally behaves in a reliable, honest, and kind manner. Such a person is more likely to consider others, and the more they alleviate the worries of others, the more they will receive help from others. This is also known as, ‘If one does good, heaven will surely bless them, and if one is honest and upright, they will surely have good fortune.’ Life is a cycle, and what you give will eventually come back to you, and what you receive is all your own choice. Therefore, in this lifetime, it is a matter of cause and effect; a person of good character will never suffer losses.

A person of good character will be rewarded for their kindness

Life is full of ups and downs, and everyone experiences their own struggles, moving forward in solitude. However, the beauty of this world is that there are always people who selflessly give without expecting anything in return, becoming a light that shines upon others. This light not only warms others but also accumulates blessings for oneself. During the Spring and Autumn period, Zhao Xuanzi came across a person lying under a mulberry tree, unable to stand up due to hunger. He gave the person some food, and although the person accepted it gratefully, he did not eat it, explaining that he wanted to save it for his elderly mother at home. Zhao Xuanzi praised the man’s filial piety and gave him a large piece of beef and some money. Two years later, Duke Ling of Jin sent a group of assassins to kill Zhao Xuanzi. When one of the assassins caught up to Zhao Xuanzi, upon seeing him, he exclaimed, ‘It’s you! Please let me die in your place.’ Zhao Xuanzi asked, ‘Who are you?’ The assassin replied, ‘I am the hungry man you saved under the mulberry tree.’ The Tao Te Ching states, ‘The way of heaven is impartial, yet it is always with the good.’ Heaven treats all living beings equally, without bias, but it often bestows blessings upon those who treat others well. Just like Zhao Xuanzi and the hungry man, neither of them could have foreseen the rescue that would come later. Love given returns, and blessings come to those who give blessings. If you help someone in need today, tomorrow, when you are in dire straits, someone will lend you a hand. Accumulate good deeds, maintain good thoughts, and you will reap good results. The kindness you give will eventually return to you.

A person of good character will be well-regarded

Li Ka-shing once said, ‘A person’s character is an indispensable prerequisite for success.’ Yu Minhong is such a person. In the past two years, the education and training industry faced a storm that almost destroyed the entire industry. A businessman who owned a shopping mall once said that before the education and training industry was reorganized, four education and training companies rented space in the mall for training. After the industry reorganization, these four companies all withdrew from the mall. Three of them breached their contracts, and two not only owed rent but also broke in at night, taking away air conditioners, computers, and tables and chairs. Only New Oriental Education & Technology Group fulfilled their commitments according to the agreement and paid all their employees’ salaries. New Oriental was the only one of the four education and training companies that acted with integrity. At the time, New Oriental not only ended various partnerships honorably but also donated a set of custom-made tables and chairs worth around 500,000 to a rural school, totaling more than 80,000 sets! Although Yu Minhong and New Oriental experienced an avalanche, ‘in times of adversity, a person’s character is crucial.’ A person or a company that consistently does good deeds will find that when they fall into an ice hole in freezing weather, someone will be willing to lend a hand. As we all know, just a few months later, New Oriental’s admissions skyrocketed. From not being able to sell 500,000 in a single event, to now being the top influencer in the industry, Yu Minhong’s second spring in his career opened from this point! Good character is the most effective endorsement for success in one’s career. A person of good character is always respected and admired. Behind this respect and admiration is their willingness to take responsibility, not to evade or shift blame. It is their refusal to indulge in wishful thinking and empty talk and their down-to-earth attitude that wins the trust and support of those around them. It is for this reason that when faced with difficulties, a person of good character is more likely to receive support from all sides!

A person of good character will surely have great blessings

In 1944, the Second World War entered a phase of full-scale counterattacks. One day, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe, was returning from France to headquarters to attend a very important military meeting. That day, the car was struggling on muddy and treacherous roads. Suddenly, Eisenhower noticed two people huddling by the roadside, shivering from the cold. He ordered the driver to stop and asked the interpreter to inquire about their situation. It turned out that they were an elderly French couple, on their way to Paris to seek refuge with their son, but their car had broken down midway. In the vast snow, with no one in sight, they were desperate and didn’t know what to do. Seeing the compassion in Eisenhower’s eyes, his chief of staff hurriedly reminded him, ‘Sir, we have important matters to attend to; let the local police handle this minor issue!’ Eisenhower solemnly replied, ‘By the time the police arrive, they may have frozen to death!’ He then immediately invited the elderly couple into the car, took a detour to drop them off at their son’s house in Paris, and then hurried back to headquarters. Afterwards, the news obtained by the Allied intelligence department astonished everyone. It turned out that on that day, Hitler had already obtained Eisenhower’s whereabouts and had deployed a meticulous assassination plan. Hitler believed that Eisenhower was as good as dead this time, but little did he know that everything had changed because Eisenhower had rescued a stranded elderly couple, altering his original travel route. You see, precious character and kind deeds can bring a lifetime of blessings in an instant. Therefore, do good deeds without asking about the future. Good character will surely bring good rewards, and it will bring you surprises and good luck when you least expect it!

The law of cause and effect, reaping what is sown

In his book ‘Moment in Peking’, Lin Yutang wrote, ‘In a person’s life, some seemingly insignificant matters, with no apparent significance, can have an enormous impact. After the passage of time, when looking back at the cause and effect, the tremendous influence is astonishing. Good character is a person’s most precious blessing, and possessing good character even receives divine protection. Only with integrity can one carry the weight of the world, and good character can establish a lifetime. By nurturing good thoughts and doing good deeds, only then can one win the trust and respect of others and harvest a bountiful garden within their heart.”