There was a teacher named Yu Du, courtesy name Liangchen, from Jiangxi Province who lived during the Jiajing era (1522 – 1566 AD), under the rule of Emperor Shizong (1507 – 1567 AD) during the Ming Dynasty. At the age of eighteen, Yu Du passed the county-level imperial examination and became a xiucai ("licentiate," someone who passed the annual county-level exams). Because of his poor background, he established a learning center with several friends. During this period, he participated in the provincial-level imperial examination seven times but failed to become a juren ("recommended man," someone who passed the once every three years provincial-level exams).
 
Yu Du had five sons and four daughters. Four of the five sons became ill and died. The third son was a healthy and intelligent boy. Unfortunately, he disappeared at the age of eight when he was playing outside. Of the four daughters, only one survived. Mrs. Yu went blind from crying so much. The learning center had to be closed because it was not generating enough income. As Yu Du became more impoverished, he thought, "I have not made great mistakes in my life, why is heaven punishing me?"
 
Every day, Yu Du wrote letters and prayed to the kitchen god to send his message to heaven. After many years, there was no response. During the eve of Chinese New Year, the 47-year-old Yu Du borrowed some grain and sat down dejectedly in the middle of the empty house with his blind wife and daughter. As they sat together in sorrow, someone knocked on the door. Yu Du opened the door and saw an old man wearing a turban and black clothing. The old man said, "My surname is Zhang, and I came from far away. I heard that your family is going through hardship, so I came to console you." Yu Du replied respectfully, "I've studied my whole life but have not achieved any success. My family repeatedly suffered from mishaps, and I can hardly support them."
 
Mr. Zhang replied, "I've known about your situation for a long time. You only care about achieving fame and you have ill intentions. Your letters are full of resentment. I'm afraid your punishments are not over." Yu Du was taken by surprise and said, "I made a vow a long time ago to do good deeds, why were my efforts futile?" Mr. Zhang said, "For example, in your letter you mentioned that you wanted to save paper. However, when your students and friends used papers from old books to wrap goods and to wipe the table, you never advised them to seek an alternative. You merely picked up a few sheets of paper from the street, and burned them to show others. What good does that do?
 
You said you wanted to mind your speech. Instead, you are argumentative, use unkind words, and even ridicule others. All your words and mistakes have been recorded by the gods, and you claim that you live a simple and upright life. Aren't you deceiving yourself and others?
 
Although you have not done anything licentious, every time you see a beautiful woman, you look at her from head to toe, your heart is moved, and you would not rid yourself of your ill thoughts. Nevertheless, you claim that you never have lustful thoughts. How can you face heaven and earth like this? And this is what you've done to fulfill the vows you've made. I cannot imagine how poorly you've done in other areas of your life.
 
I have submitted your daily prayers to the gods in heaven, and the gods have sent a messenger to watch what you've done. They discovered that you did not carry out any good deeds in the last few years, and when you were alone, they saw that your heart was full of jealousy, resentment, desire for success, profit, reward, greed, disregard for others, and lack of self-control. All your bad thoughts have been recorded, and the punishment from heaven will become worse and worse. You won't even be able to avoid these hardships, so how can you ask for good fortune and rewards?"
 
Upon hearing that, Yu Du was very frightened. He cried and asked, "Since you know everything I've done, you must be the kitchen god that I prayed to. Please help me!" Zhang replied, "You've studied the books and know some principles, thus, you should understand the principle of 'good deeds are met with rewards.' However, because you cannot persevere, therefore, everything you did was superficial and you drifted along with the current of the society. So, why don't you do something for real? From now on, you should rid yourself of all ill thoughts and cultivate a kind heart. Do not seek rewards and do not pursue fame and profit. No matter how big or small the task, or how difficult things are, you must do good deeds in earnest. Eventually, you will gain unexpected results. I'm telling you this because your family truly believes in the gods. As long as you do good deeds, then you can change heaven's will." After that, Zhang walked toward the stove and disappeared. Yu Du realized that Zhang was indeed the kitchen god.
 
Ever since then, Yu Du changed his previous behaviors and continued to rid himself of ill intentions. Everything he did and said was done as if the gods were watching, and he did not deceive himself or lose self-control. Eventually, he was able to act with compassion and to maintain a mind free of ill intention. He tried his best to perform good deeds and to help others regardless of the tasks, whether he was busy or not, or whether others knew about it or not. Whenever he met people, he tirelessly advised them to do good deeds, to sincerely believe in gods, and the principle of "good deeds are met with rewards, and bad deeds are met with retribution."
 
Three years later, several people recommended Yu Du to teach at the capital. While teaching at the capital, Yu Du received high regards from the prime minister, Zhang Jiangling, and was recommended to enter taixue ("Great Study," the highest rank of educational establishment in ancient China). The following year, Yu Du passed the highest-level examination and became a jinshi ("presented scholar," someone who passed the once every three years examination held at the capital and proctored by the emperor). One day by pure chance, he found his long-lost son. Later on, Mrs. Yu suddenly regained her sight. People admired Yu Du's noble character and sent their children to study with him. Everyone thought that this was Yu Du's reward for doing good deeds.
 
The heavenly law is absolutely fair. Although one's destiny is determined by heaven, the result depends on one's own efforts. The prerequisite is for one to become enlightened and to earnestly believe in heaven. One should cherish blessings from heaven and continue to perform good deeds to extend the good fortune into the future.
 
改过向善　境随心转
 
明世宗嘉靖年间，江西有一位教书先生，姓俞，名都，字良臣。他博学多才，十八岁时便考取了秀才。因家境贫穷与几位朋友一起开馆教书。几年间他参加了七次科考，都没有考上举人。
 
俞都有五个儿子，四个女儿。四个儿子生病夭折，第三儿子健康聪明，没想到八岁那年在外边玩时失踪了。四个女儿只剩下一个。俞妻因伤心过度哭瞎了双眼。学馆因没有生源也不得不关闭，俞都生活愈来愈贫困，他心里想：“我平生并无大过失，为甚么却惨遭上天惩罚呢？”
 
俞都每日写疏文向灶神祈祷，请求代向天庭转达。这样经过了数年，也没有反应。到了四十七岁那一年的除夕夜，俞都借了些粮食，跟哭瞎眼睛的妻子和女儿，围坐在凄凉的房屋中，愁容相对。这时忽然有人叩门，俞都开门见是一位头裹角巾、身穿皂衣的老者，他说：“敝姓张，从远路而来，听说你家愁苦感叹，特来安慰你！”俞都恭敬的对张公说：“我平生读书积行，可是至今功名未取，家庭屡遭不测，生活无以维持。”
 
张公说：“我知道你家的事已经很久了！你专务虚名，恶意太重，疏文中充满著怨恨，恐怕所受的罪罚不止这样！”俞都大吃一惊，说：“我发誓行善很长时间了，怎么全都属于虚名呢？”张公回答：“例如敬惜字纸这一项，你的朋友和学生经常用旧的书册字纸包裹物品和擦桌子，你看到却从不劝导他们。只是在路上捡几张字纸回来焚化做给别人看，有甚么益处呢？
 
谈到言语的过失，你习惯强词夺理，说话刻薄甚至讥讽别人。你的话被神灵记录了多少过失，而你还以简朴忠厚自居，这不是自欺欺人吗？
 
你虽然没有做出邪淫的事情，但是你遇到漂亮的女子一定仔细瞧看，心立即动摇，而不驱除邪念，你却说终身无邪色，又怎样面对天地鬼神呢！这些你发誓做到的戒条，尚且如此，何况其它呢？
 
你每日的祈祷，我都转呈天庭。上帝派遣日游使者考察你的善恶，发现你数年内没有一件可记录的善行，只是在你独居时，看见你的心中充满著嫉妒、不平、急功近利、希求回报、贪爱、轻视他人而不自制。这些不好的念头都已被记录了，上天的责罚越来越严重，你逃避灾祸都来不及，还祈求福报吗？”
 
俞都听了十分惶恐，他哭著说：“您既然知道我暗中所做那些事情，您一定是灶神，请您救救我吧！”张公回答：“你读书明理，也应知道慕善为乐的道理。由于你没有恒心，所以平生的善言善行都是敷衍而随俗浮沉，何尝脚踏实地去做一件事情呢？从今以后，你应摒除各种杂念，时时存著善念。不图回报，不求名利，不论大小和难易，切切实实的做善事。这样日子久了，自然有意想不到的效果。你们家虔诚信神，所以我才特别告诉你这些事。只要你赶快行善，便可能挽回天意！”张公说完告辞，走到灶旁就不见了，俞都明白他就是司命的灶神。
 
此后，俞都痛改前非，不断净化自己的心念，一言一行都觉的好像有神明在旁，不敢欺心放肆。做到动则万善相随，静则杂念不起。力行善事，凡是对别人有帮助，不论事的大小、自己的忙闲、别人的知不知，都尽力做好。他还逢人就劝善，以诚心敬神与因果报应的道理化导他们，不厌不倦。
 
三年后，俞都被许多人推荐京师任教，在京师受到宰相张江陵的敬重，被荐入太学。次年，俞都又高中进士。一个偶然的机会使他找到了失散多年的儿子。俞夫人的双目后来也突然恢复了光明。人们钦佩俞都品德高尚，纷纷让子弟随他读书。大家都认为这是俞都行善挽回定数的果报。
 
“天道无亲，常与善人”，要知道天理是绝对公正的，善恶有报是天理。命由天定，事在人为，这需要人的悟性和对上天的至诚。一个人应该珍惜天赐福荫，多做善事，他的福份才会往更长来延续。