Confucius, Virtue and Selecting a Place of Residence
 
Confucius said, “When you look for residence, a place where there are virtuous people is best. How can one be regarded as a wise man if he chooses a location where there are no virtuous people?”
 
What kind of a person is a virtuous one? A virtuous man is one with lofty ideals who treats others with leniency. If one could be promoted for doing unjust things, such as killing innocent people, a virtuous man would definitely not do so. A virtuous man cares for the people around him, as well as those far away, and what he does benefits everyone. If there were situations where one is powerless to affect the outcome, the virtuous man will sacrifice the less significant kindness to accomplish greater benevolence. People who have minor benevolence and righteousness are only kind to their spouse and children.
 
In history, people like Gong Gong, Huan Duo, Fu Li and Deng Zheng had intellect. However, they were killed by sagacious kings because they lacked virtue and coveted personal gain. People like Shu Diao, Yi Ya inflicted wounds on their own body and killed their own son to seek profit, leading to the downfall of the mighty State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. When government officials were virtuous, the nation was administered well and the ruler enjoyed honor and dignity. When the officials were not virtuous, the nation had social disorder with events such as people attempting to replace or kill the ruler. Wise lords who realized this principle selected virtuous people as top officials, and the country was in peace.
 
King Jie of the Xia dynasty and King Zhou of the Shang dynasty, neither of whom were virtuous, lost their power and country. King Tang of the Shang dynasty and King Wu of the Zhou dynasty were wise and accumulated much virtue, so the nation was in harmony and peaceful.
 
The above was presented in the Shuo Yuan (Garden of Stories), written by Liu Xiang (77 – 6 BC).
 
Living in modern day China, I heard of two stories that validate Confucius’ views on selecting a place of residence by observing people of virtue.
 
The first is that there was severe flooding in a region. There was a wave of water that seemed to have eyes. It “saw” a field of crops up ahead and took a sudden wide turn to avoid the crops. Vast amounts of farmland were submerged. Afterwards, neighbors discovered that the small piece of land belonged to a Falun Gong practitioner. Nearby, there was another small field of crops that was cultivated by neighbor Zhao. He treats Falun Gong practitioners very well so his field also did not flood. Zhao said, “My field shared in the blessing of Falun Gong practitioners!”
 
The second story is about an elderly woman who had stomach aches. Once, she went to her niece Chen’s home for a few days. Her stomach ache disappeared. When she returned home, the stomach ache reappeared. When she went to her niece’s home again, the stomach ache stopped, but when she returned home, it relapsed again. After experiencing this a few times, the elderly woman asked her niece but she was also dumbfounded. As this story spread to others, people started going to Chen’s home and their discomforts disappeared magically. Later, another Falun Gong practitioner explained, “Chen practiced Falun Gong so her home has a field that could heal illnesses and bring good luck.” People in her village said, “Her neighbors are also blessed!” A few of her neighbors began practicing Falun Gong in secret as well.
 
孔子论住处与仁人
 
孔子说：“居住的地方，有仁人为最好。选择的住处，如果没有仁人，那怎么能称得上是智者？”（原文是：“里仁为美。择不处仁，焉得智？”）
 
什么是仁人呢？仁人，必定是本著待人宽容的原则行事，做一件不义的事，杀一个无罪的人，虽然因此能得到高官显位，但仁人也不会去做。大仁大义的人，爱身边的人、并推及到远方的人。如遇有力不从心的事情时，就会牺牲小仁，来成全大仁。大仁大义的人，他的恩德遍及天下。小仁小义的人，他的恩惠只停留在妻子儿女身上。
 
所以共工、驩兜、符里、邓析这些人，他们的智能并不是什么事也不知道，但是被圣王所诛杀，原因就在于他们没有德行而又贪图私利。竖刁、易牙，毁坏身体，杀死儿子来谋求私利，最终对齐国造成危害。所以臣子不仁，篡位弑君的变乱就会发生；臣子是仁人，国家就会得到治理，君主也可安享尊荣；英明的君主察知这个道理，国家就很安宁。那做臣子的还注重仁爱，何况君主呢？所以桀、纣因为不仁而失去天下，商汤、周武王因为积累恩德，而享有天下。因此，圣明的帝王，注重恩德并极力推行它。
 
（以上事据汉代刘向《说苑》）
 
笔者附言：笔者生活在大陆，得知两件奇事，觉得他们也能证明孔老夫子讲的“居住的地方，有仁人为最好。选择的住处，如果没有仁人，那怎么能称得上是智者？”的道理。写下来，供诸位参阅：
 
一、某地洪水泛滥期间，有一股大水，好像长了眼睛，“它看到”前面有一块庄稼地，便突然转了一个大弯子，从别处流走。那里大片田地被淹，只保留下那块庄稼地，安然无恙。后来一打听：这块没被洪水淹没的庄稼地，原来是一位法轮功修炼人耕种的。而靠近这片地的、另一小块庄稼地，是邻居小赵种的，他家平时对法轮功学员们态度很好，所以他家的庄稼地，也没淹。小赵自己讲：“我那片地，是搭了法轮功人的福了！”
 
二、有一位老奶奶，得了胃疼的病，她偶而到姪女阿陈家，住了几天，胃疼立即停止；回到自己家中，胃疼立即复发；她又去阿陈姪女家中，胃疼又立即停止；回家后，又立即复发。这样反复了几次，她就问姪女，姪女开始也没想到是什么原因。但是，这事一经传开，别家的人，一有病疼，就往她家去，还都生奇效！后来，经另一位老法轮功学员说明：“是那位阿陈修炼法轮功，所以她家有了一个能祛病健身、吉祥如意的能量场。”她们村的人都讲：“住在她家附近的人，也很有福份呀！”后来她的邻居中，有几个人，也开始悄悄在家炼法轮功了！