Song Jinggong’s Compassion Thwarts Disaster
 
Around 480 BC, Jinggong was the king of the Song State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC). King Hui of the Chu State defeated and took over Chen State, which was neighboring Song State. At that time, the Yinghuo Star (a Fire Star that implied military action) in the sky entered the region of the Xinsu star. According to the theory of astrology at that time, the area of the Xinsu star indicated Song County. Therefore, King Jinggong was very worried that the heavens indicated pending disaster to Song State.
 
The next day, an official in charge of history and astrology reported, "Last evening, I found that Yinghuo Star was wandering in the region of Xinsu Star. This is a very bad sign. Please call all the officials together to discuss a solution."
 
Jinggong asked all the officials if they had any solutions. They were all silent except Xin Ziwei. He said, "It is most ominous that the Yinghuo Star moved into the region of the Xinsu Star. It reflects pending disaster upon the Song State, the royal court, and the king directly. However, Your Majesty, you could transfer the disaster to the prime minister by praying and conducting a transferral ceremony."
 
Jinggong said, "How can I do that? The prime minister is the first official, and he assists me in taking care of the State. He is my right arm and directs the movement of the entire body. How can I bring disaster upon him?"
 
Ziwei said, "I have another solution. Your Majesty, you could hold a ceremony at noon today and pray for heaven to transfer the disaster to ordinary people."
 
Jinggong said, "What are these words you speak? As a king, I should comfort my people with compassion. How can I let them suffer from disaster? The citizens are similar to the children of a king. How can I transfer the disaster to them?"
 
After thinking for a while, Ziwei said, "Then, don't transfer it to other people. The disaster could be solved by having a bad harvest this year."
 
Jinggong said angrily, "Stop this talk. If a bad harvest occurs, the result will be a shortage of food. People will suffer from hunger. As a king, if I jeopardize my people to gain my survival, how can I be a king any longer? Lao Zi said, 'A king should suffer all the unfortunate things of the State.' I will be responsible for the disaster in its entirety! If only the people can live well, I am not afraid of death. I refuse to accept these bad ideas."
 
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 in heaven. God will not only eliminate your disaster, but will also extend your life."
 
Jinggong asked, "How do you know that?"
 
Ziwei answered, "Even though heaven is very high, a small sound on the earth can still be heard there. Your Majesty, you are compassionate to your Prime Minister, the people, and the harvest. God will give your three awards. Tonight, the Yinghuo Star must leave the region of Xinsu Star by a distance of three "She" ["She" was a unit to measure the distance between stars at that time.]. Seven stars could exist in one "She." One star means one year on earth. Seven times three equals twenty-one. Your Majesty, your life will be extended by twenty-one years. You could assign someone to observe it." King JInggong agreed.
 
In the evening, Jinggong, the official in charge of history and astrology, and Ziwei monitored the Fire Star together. They noticed that the Fire Star indeed had moved three She and left the region of the Xinsu Star. As mentioned by Ziwei, because Jinggong considered the lives of his people, his virtue moved the heavens, and the Song State avoided disaster.
 
Jinggong was the king of Song State for 64 years. He was very kind and generous to his people. He respected Lao Zi and Confucius very much. He personally visited them to consult on the methods to govern the State, and he respected politeness and virtuousness. His people lived prosperously and happily. His State was very peaceful, and no major events occurred while he was alive.
 
Actually, people are faced with choices all the time. If their thoughts turn, their lives could be different and the whole world could be altered. Every event has the ability to change things. It all depends on how we think and how we change. The compassionate nature is our true self. No matter what we do, we do it for ourselves. Choosing to be compassionate is actually following the rules of heaven and returning to our true self. It is the wisest route and never a regrettable choice.
 

天道佑善
 
宋景公的时候，楚惠王灭掉了宋国的近邻陈国。而此时天上荧惑星（火星，主刀兵的凶星）侵入了心宿星的范围，依当时星像的分野理论，心宿区对应的是宋国地区，因此宋景公非常忧虑，生怕上天会给宋国带来灾祸。
 
第二天上朝时，太史官禀报：「昨天晚上，下官发现火星停留在心宿不去（荧惑守心），这是严重的凶兆，请大王召集百官商议对策。」
 
宋景公便问百官有甚么办法，文武官员面面相觑，大臣司星子韦说：「荧惑守心是最不祥的星像，对应宋国和朝廷，由国君对应此祸。但是，大王可以通过祷告驱禳的办法，把这个灾祸转移到宰相的身上，大王即可幸免。」
 
景公说：「这怎么行。宰相是辅佐国家的大臣，好比我的股肱，支持整个身体的行动一样，怎么可以使他遭受祸患呢？」
 
子韦说：「还有个办法，大王可于今日午时三刻登上灵台祭天，将灾祸转移给百姓。」
 
景公说：「这是甚么话？作为人君，应该以仁爱来安抚百姓，怎可反而让百姓承受灾患呢？百姓就像是国君的生身父母，我能把灾难转移给他们吗？」
 
子韦又想了想，说：「那就别转给人了，转成今年年成不好，也能过这一关。」
 
景公生气的说：「不用再说了。年成不好，必有饥荒，人民会挨饿。做人家的君主却欲坑害其民以求自活，我怎么还配做君主呢？老子说：受国不祥，方为天下王。一切都由我自己来承担！只要百姓活的好，寡人不惜一死，不用你们这些馊主意。」
 
子韦被景公的想法感动了，他退了几步，率众大臣一齐向景公礼拜，说：「您这种情愿自己受难，也不嫁祸给臣民的德行，一定会上达天庭，天帝不但能使您免祸，而且您一定还会延寿。」
 
景公说：「你怎么知道会这样？」
 
子韦回答说：「天虽然至高在上，却能听到下界细微的声音，国君有三善，就是为人君的三种仁爱、宽厚的言论，天必三赏国君。今天晚上荧惑星必离开心宿三舍的距离，一舍可以行七星，一星对应一年，三七二十一，国君将会延寿二十一年。晚上可派人伺察天象。」
 
景公说：「嗯，晚上观察观察！」
 
这天晚上，太史官陪着景公和子韦仔细观测火星，发现火星果然移动了三度，离开了心星的范围，正如子韦所说。人们都说景公以苍生为念，德行感动了上天，宋国也得以躲避了灾难。
 
宋景公在位六十四年，施行仁政。他非常敬重老子和孔子，亲自去向他们请教治国的方略，遵礼重德，百姓安居乐业，天下太平。
 
其实人无时无处不处于选择之中，心念一转，生命可能从此不同，世界可能从此不同。每一件事情，都有转向的能力，就看我们怎么想，怎么转。人善良的先天本性，那才是真正的自己，人无论做甚么都是给自己做的。选择为善，符合天理大道，是人本性的回归，是人最明智的、永远不悔的选择。