Intolerance of Minor Injustices Could Lead to the Undoing of One's Great Destiny

(Clearwisdom.net) There is an ancient saying, "Intolerance of minor injustices could lead to the undoing of one's great destiny." Tolerance is a type of humbleness, maturity, generosity and long-term vision. King Gou Jian (circa 496 BC – 465 BC), forbore the humiliation of defeat and eventually restored the State of Yue. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), Han Xin avoided disaster because he did not follow an impulse and endured humiliation.

Zhang Er and Chen Yu were celebrities in the State of Wei, which was taken over by Qin in the Warring States Period (circa 500 BC – 221 BC). Zhang and Chen traveled incognito and arrived in Chen County, where they worked as doorkeepers. One day, a petty official scolded and beat Chen Yu. He thought about fighting back, but Zhang Er privately rebuked him. When the petty official left, Zhang Er pulled Chen Yu aside and said, "Remember what I told you before? Have you thought about the consequences if you don't put up with this minor humiliation?" Chen Yu agreed. Soon afterward, both Zhang Er and Chen Yu became ministers. If they had quarreled with the petty official, they might never have had the chance to be promoted.

In Changzhou, there was an elderly man named Mr. You who operated a pawn shop. Toward the end of one year, a person who had pawned some clothes and other items showed up empty-handed. He demanded that he be given back his things. Since the employee did not oblige, the man started yelling and cursing. Mr. You said slowly, "You're simply worried about the coming holiday season. Why argue over such trifles?" He then ordered his employee to bring out half a dozen articles of clothing the man had pawned. He pointed to the cotton coat and said, "This one you need to keep yourself warm, and you must have it." Then, he pointed to another garment, "You will need this one when you visit your family during the New Year's Holiday. These others are not needed immediately. Why don't you leave them here?" That man took the clothes and left quietly. That same night, he died in someone else's home. His family went through a lengthy legal battle with the family in who's home he died, and eventually caused the other family to exhaust their wealth.

As it turned out, the man owed a lot of money. He had already taken poison and intended to frame Mr. You for his death. Mr. You's forbearance and generosity thwarted his plan. So he went to another family and dragged them into his troubles. When others told Mr. You the truth, he said, "When someone shows up at your door with unreasonable demands, he must have ulterior motives. If you don't forbear it, disaster may ensue."