(Minghui.org) Many stories of ancient wisdom have been preserved and passed down over the centuries. To those with an open mind, these stories may be more than simple myths and legends.

Zhang Daoling, a renowned Taoist during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 BC–220 AD), had tens of thousands of disciples. Like other Taoists, he focused on character improvement and spiritual enlightenment. One story well known in Chinese history was called the 7 tests, a series of trials that Zhang set up to test his disciple Zhao Sheng. These included the tests of patience, lust, greed, fear, anger, sympathy, and faith. Zhao passed them all and he also became a renowned Taoist. 

Besides teaching his disciples, Zhang also guided the public to strive for a higher moral standard and better conduct. One example was his unique way of dealing with plagues.

Treating Plagues with Repentance
Zhang asked those infected to write down all the wrongdoings they had ever done in their entire lives. Then they were to place the paper in water and vow to the divine not to do bad things again. They also had to promise that, were they to do wrong again, they would rather end their lives.

Many people followed this advice and recovered. More people heard about this, did as instructed, and were cured. As a result, Zhang and his disciples saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

Emperors Repent Their Mistakes
He Xiu, a famous Confucian scholar who lived at the time of Zhang Daoling, believed that plagues were caused by vicious thoughts and actions. “When people are ill or infected with plagues, it is because of the vicious qi (or vicious energy) in them,” he wrote.

Throughout Chinese history, from emperors to ordinary citizens, people tended to look within when disasters hit and reflected on what they had done wrong that might have invited plagues or other misfortune. They would then correct their mistakes and improve themselves. Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty (206-9 AD), for example, issued a decree reflecting on his political mistakes, known as the “Repenting Edict of Luntai:” 

“I received a proposal, suggesting that every person pay an extra tax of 30 coins to defend the border. This would be a burden, especially on the elderly, weak, or those with no one to look after them,” wrote Emperor Wu. “... The most important task at the moment is to prohibit officials at all levels from being harsh or cruel to the people and to prevent them from increasing taxes without authorization. By doing so, it will be possible to greatly enhance agricultural production.”

Several emperors in later dynasties issued similar edicts of repentance. They included Emperor Ming of the Han, Emperor Taizong of the Tang, Emperor Lizong of the Song, Emperor Xizong of the Ming, and Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty.

Consequences of Religious Persecution
Measures taken by Zhang Daoling have also been seen in the Western world. After the Roman Emperor Nero started the persecution of Christians in 64 AD, at least 10 emperors who ruled after him continued to persecute those of the Christian faith. The empire was hit by several major plagues. 

By 680, people had begun to reflect on the cruelty against Christians, as well as the general moral decay of society. In 680, Roman citizens carried the bones of Saint Sebastian (256 – 288, killed during the persecution by Diocletian) in a solemn procession through the streets. As people repented their wrongdoings, the plague miraculously vanished in Rome.

Hundreds, even thousands of years have passed, but might these ancient stories still hold value for us and for future generations?

张天师治瘟疫的妙法

文: 魏仁

《说文解字》对“疫”的解释是“民皆疾也”。秦汉及以前时期，人们认为“疫”是一种“邪乱之气”。东汉末年至晋初年，世道昏乱，全国性大瘟疫有20多次。

东汉著名经学家何休曰：“民疾疫也，邪乱之气所生。”所以，古代一旦发生大瘟疫，君王、各级官员大多会反省自己的施政：是否不敬神明大逆不道？是否亲小人而远贤臣？是否暴戾杀戮、横征暴敛而让苍生受苦？

古人说：“人心生一念，天地尽相知”、“举头三尺有神灵”。当人真心忏悔的时候，神灵是能够看得见的，就会把人身上的邪气和背后的厉鬼赶走，在人类可探测的这个空间表现，就是瘟疫突然不见了，病好了。

古代的很多大医学家其实都是修道人，道行很深。

张天师原名张陵，后改名张道陵，东汉天师道（正一道）创始人，沛国丰人（今徐州）。相传他在汉顺帝汉安元年（142年），遇老子降临，传授其《太平洞极经》，命为天师。后人称他为道教三祖之一，寿达123岁，在四川渠亭山升仙而去。

张道陵学道之后，能给人祛病。他在蜀地收了好几万户的弟子，因为蜀地人单纯朴实，与道相合，易于引导。张道陵带著众人开路架桥，修木锄草，清理垃圾，义务的去承担方圆几十里的公共事务。

张道陵从来都不用强制的手段对待学徒者，而是用道德礼仪去引导和规范人们的行为，提升他们的思想境界。当时也正是瘟疫横行的时候，张道陵就帮他们治瘟疫，方法很有效。

张道陵让有病染疫的人，把自己一生所犯的错误一条条的都回忆清楚，记下来，亲笔写好扔到水中，同时向神明发誓，不再做那些错事和不好的事，如果再犯错就让自己的生命终结。人们纷纷按照此法去做，果然瘟疫不见了，百姓们一传十，十传百，很快，病都好了，瘟疫不见了。

张道陵和他的后代及弟子，一共治好了几十万人的疫病。

这一做法不仅祛除了瘟疫，而且人们更加敬重神明，更加重德向善，社会的犯罪率明显减低。事实上，张道陵用这种方式留下了他那一法门的道，济世的方式。

现代观念否定神的存在，把人类的精神与物质层面人为的割裂开，强调物质，贬低精神（道德），特别是中国人在中共党文化无神论的灌输下，更是没有任何信仰，道德败坏，甚至诽谤佛法，配合中共残酷迫害正信信仰者，犯下了罪业。

希望正处在劫难中的人们，不要消极，不要恐慌，最重要的是：不要再听信中共的谎言。当今乱世上，依然有真正的修道者在济世救人。法轮功修炼者们正是这样的群体。曾经轻信中共，诽谤过法轮佛法，参与过迫害法轮功学员的人，请你真心向天忏悔。也希望还没有退出中共党、团、队组织的人，赶紧退出来。

请记住：“法轮大法好，真善忍好。”这九字真言能让您祛恶向善，摆脱厄运。

愿可贵的中国人都能得救！

文章来源：明慧网。