However, no one noticed that a huge block of Yuan Zhi Mountain was missing. It turned out that the old man appeared in front of the mountain late at night and blew lightly toward the mountain. Within a minute, a huge piece of rock fell down and turned into numerous tang yuan.

Yang Fu, also known as Yang Hongji, was an accomplished scholar from Hubei Province in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 A.D.) of ancient China. During his life he advanced to the high positions of Hanlin academician and prime minister. He was known as a moral, honest, and righteous man who was also very modest and reverent. He was revered as one of the most virtuous prime ministers in Chinese history.

In the Temple Regulations - Buddhist Instrument, it is said, "Bells play the role of verbal commands in temples. When it strikes at dawn it breaks the endless night, and wakes one from sleep. When it strikes in the evening, it alters the dusk, to banish the bad elements." No matter if a bell was used to call people to the main building, to read study the scriptures, to announce morning's arrival, to mark the time for sleep, for meals and so on, all these activities were done according to the command of the bell.

"When the timing is not right for heaven, the sun and the moon will lose their radiance. When the timing is not right for the earth, the plants will not grow. When the timing is not right for the ocean, the water will be stormy. When the timing is not right for a person, he will have bad luck. People's luck and fortunes are all predetermined by their fate. Everyone wants to be rich and noble. But how will you get it if that is not your fate?"

Yan Shu was well respected by everyone for his honesty in asking to take the test and asking for reassignment of the topic. This story was passed on not only among the fellow test takers but also to Emperor Zheng Zong. Emperor Zhen Zong immediately asked to see Yan Zhu and commended him, "You not only have genuine talent and knowledge, but more importantly, you have the good character of honesty!"

The day after, he went to the temple to worship the Buddha as usual and was shocked to see a big scar on the forehead of the Buddha Statue, as if the forehead had been hit by an object. This was in the same position of the forehead where Zhang Liang had been hit by the timber. Zhang Liang realized that it was Buddha who had saved him from the danger fro his past good deeds. All those who heard of this sighed in astonishment.

Several days later, the Buddha statue was completed. When people looked closely, they found that the dime from the old woman was right on the chest of the Buddha statue. After a rich person saw the dime, he felt uncomfortable, and suggested that the dime be removed and so someone cut the dime from the statue.

Confucius said, "Gentlemen are easy to serve, but hard to please. In order to please a gentleman, you must act according to the principles, or he will be unhappy. A gentleman will think highly of your talents and give you an opportunity to use them. Villains are difficult to serve and easy to please. You do not need to behave according to the principles as long as you do exactly what you are told.

Others said, "That is not the right thing to do. Su Jian fought a vigorous battle and he led only one thousand soldiers to fight with tens of thousands of enemy soldiers. If you kill him, you are also telling others that, from now on, if you lose a battle you should never return."

Ziwei was moved by Jinggong's s thought. He backed up several steps, led all the officials to bow at Jinggong and said, "The virtue that you are willing to suffer by yourself, instead of letting your people and officials suffer for you, must be heard from heaven. God will not only eliminate your disaster, but will also extend your life."

During the earlier Jiajing reign of the Ming dynasty in ancient China, a merchant by the name of Jin in Yizheng County of Jiangsu Province, opened a pawnshop. He was honest and treated people coming to pawn their goods with fairness. He also gave generous appraisals and allowed a longer redeeming time compared to other pawnshops and when a poor elder came to pawn their goods, he often made an exception to charging any interest.

It is said that traditional Chinese medicine was passed down by the gods. In the first chapter of the The Yellow Emperor, a classic of Chinese medicine, it discusses on how one should follow and obey the heavenly principles instead of how to cure illnesses via certain methods. In addition, it discusses true selves, virtuous men, sages, and wise men. Here the true selves are really enlightened beings, namely gods. Why, in the first chapter of a Chinese medicine classic, does it talk about gods and Taos?

Zhang Cuiying has travelled to over 40 countries and 100 cities to exhibit her paintings and tell her story. Ms. Zhang hopes, "I will continue these worldwide art exhibitions. I hope people can clearly understand Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance in Falun Dafa through my experiences of being persecuted, as well as the inner beauty revealed from my art works."

Upon hearing this, Genghis Khan was so greatly shocked that he immediately sought the advice of Yelu Chucai who commented: "It is a good omen animal and is called the Good Omen Horn. It can speak many local languages. It is a being whom greatly cares for lives and detests killing indiscriminatingly. His appearance is a warning to the Great Khan from Heaven. I hope that you will follow Heaven's will." Genghis Khan therefore withdrew his troops and returned home.

This is a story stated in the Zhan Guo Ce (Intrigues of the Warring States). The idiom that the fox profits from the tiger's might evolved from this story. It is an analogy referring to people who like to bully or suppress others when they are associated with someone in a powerful position.

His whole life Tao Hongjing searched for the truth--the ultimate truth of life. And with compassion he always cared about sentient beings. He was modest, understanding, sharp-eyed, and always conformed to etiquette regardless of his reclusive life or being a high-level official. He was honest, calm, and unperturbed regardless of what was happening. The stories of his cultivation and great deeds will forever be remembered.

In short, Zhang Fangping ended the chaos in Sichuan that began one autumn by calming and trusting the people. He did not treat people in Sichuan like bandits or thieves. Instead, he treated them with respect and trust. As a result, peace and order was restored by January of the following year.

Tiandan ordered his army to have one thousand oxen covered with bright red satin sheets painted with dragons, tied a dagger on each bull horn, and tied a burning rope on the oxen's tails. He then ordered the oxen to be released and had his soldiers follow them. The city dwellers beat their drums and shouted together as they marched forward. Yan's army woke up in panic from their dreams and saw many sharp horns with strange fiery bodies rushing towards them and so they panicked and fled. Tiandan

When Renzong heard about Guan's resignation from his noble office and that he simply handed it over to his brother, he told his officials: "It is hard to find the descendants of generals with such meritorious records. Guan Yunshi presented the Explanation of Classic of Filial Piety, which was highly praised by Renzong. Renzong appointed him as a scholar of his residence before ascending the throne.

Since ancient times, from Emperors to common folks, people have always wished to obtain immortality. Therefore, many legends have been passed down among people about obtaining elixirs and heavenly grass. People have been wondering for thousands of years, "Is there really a grass that will enable one to gain immortality in this world? Has anyone actually seen it?" In the book Jin Lou Zi written by Xiao Yi from the time of Emperor Xiaoyuan in the Liang Dynasty, the mysterious "grass" was recorded in great detail:

All the income that Yuan Dexiu earned during his service as government official was used to help orphans. After he finished his term, his only asset was a roll of silk. Yuan rode a crudely-made cart and settled down in the mountains. Fang Guan, the Minister of Punishment at the time, said of meeting Yuan, "When I see Yuan Dexiu's face, all my thoughts of pursuing fame and profit are gone." After Yuan Dexiu passed away, all he left behind was a pillow, shoes and cookware, without any other valuables.

In the Qing Dynasty, Ji Xiaolan wrote Yuweicaotang Notes, in which he talked about a mysterious Taoist's talk on destiny. It was very enlightening, and is beneficial to read even today. The following is the main part of the story.

"Often, close friends, beloved relatives, and old acquaintances become estranged, not because of what they say, but rather because of how they say it, such as when they have a rude attitude or tone. If we can keep our attitudes gentle and polite, when we point out others' shortcomings with direct and straight words, they will not be offended even if they do not heed our advice. On the other hand, when we speak tersely, then even if we do not mean to alienate others, they will often feel offended, if not outright angry."

Lao Zi was from Chu and was in charge of the Print and Drawing Collection for a while during the Zhou Dynasty. Confucius came to visit him there. After he had a talk with Lao Zi, Confucius told his disciples: "Lao Zi's ideology is like a dragon, capable of flying in the wind and clouds."

Shanfu County was in order when Mr. Mi played the lute within the hall. When Mi Zijian was acting as the magistrate in Danfu County (what is now Dan County in Shandong Province), he was never extremely busy, like his predecessor. Instead, he seldom went out of the hall, preferring to play his lute. Consequently, the county was administered with great order, and he was praised by the common people. People said, "This magistrate can play the lute and is not meddlesome. He is a good official."

When the army arrived at the border of the Zheng, they met a Zheng businessman, Xian Gao, who was about to go to Zhou to sell his twelve cows. When Xian Gao saw the Qin army, he sent a person back to his country to deliver the urgent message. In the meantime, he walked towards the troop and said: "The Zheng emperor sent me here to offer a dozen cows to cheer up your soldiers from the honorable Qin country."

During the period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, residing in the Louyang District of Henan Province was a celebrated man named Le Yangzi. He was well respected for his moral integrity and scholarship. His achievement, however, was said to be attributed to his wife's exhortation and help.

One day Le Yangzi found a piece of a gold ingot on the road. (Translator's note: People used silver and gold ingots for trade in the early days.) Elated, he brought it home to his wife, fully expecting her to stare at it, wide-eyed and with enthusiasm. But his wife frowned as if deep in thought, and without even glancing at the gold ingot, said in a serious tone, "I have heard that an incorruptible man does not drink water from the Stolen Spring(1) and an honourable man does not eat the food handed out with spite in the name of charity. Yet, you have found a lost gold ingot, decided to keep it, and have no intention of returning it. Aren't you blemishing your character?"

Meng Ke (also known as "Mencius) who lived between 372 - 289 B.C. was a native of the Zou Kingdom, the modern day Zou County of China. He was a great ancient thinker and educator in China whose memorable quotes include, "A gentleman should be righteous and have dignity;" "Rule with virtue" and "A person with great love has no enemies in the world." The following is a story about him.

A friend of Bing Ji was worried about him for speaking his mind and repeatedly told him to stay clear of the storm. "His Majesty himself ruled on the witchcraft plot. Everyone is trying to draw the line with those who are involved in it. Why do you risk your own safety to seek justice for Prince Ju or look after his grandson Bingyi? Did it ever occur to you that you might be accused of being an accomplice to the witchcraft? Is it wise for you to take the risk?"

In China today, people have become indifferent to moral integrity due to the Chinese Communist Party's devastation. A famous poem, "Song of Righteousness," by Mr. Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283, a prime minister of the Song Dynasty and one of the most famous patriotic heroes in Chinese history) mentions a story about a historiographer's family. I'd like to share this story here.

Shu Gu told the alleged culprits: "There is a bell in a certain temple, which can identify thieves very effectively." The bell was transported to the rear of the courtroom and the suspects were put in front of the bell. Shu Gu said: "When the bell is touched, the people who did not steal will not make the bell ring, however the people who did steal will."

A Falun Gong practitioner sits with her legs crossed, holding a lotus flower, in rememberance of her fellow practitioners who have been tortured to death in China since the persecution against the practice illegally started in China in 1999. Scenes of the horrific persecution can be seen at the bottom of the painting.

Liu Tingshi replied, "When I proposed to her, I had already given her my heart. She may be blind, but her heart is intact. If I could break my promise, then my heart must be warped. Besides, everyone will become old one day. When a man's wife becomes old, he shouldn't replace her with a younger one, should he? A man must be true to his word. I must not have a change of heart."

After a few days there, Jiang Heng observed general Nian being extremely arrogant and extravagant. He said to a friend: "General Nian's virtue cannot match his power. I am afraid calamity will soon fall upon him. Let us immediately leave." When his friend didn't want to follow his advice, Jiang Heng used the excuse of illness and left.