[Liao-Fan]: These different types of goodness each have their own reason, which should be carefully learned and understood. If we practice kind deeds but do not learn the way to differentiate between right and wrong, we may end up doing harm instead of good. Now I will explain the different types of goodness one by one.
[Liao-Fan]: What is real goodness and false goodness? Once upon a time in the Yuan Dynasty, a group of scholars went to pay homage to Master Jung Feng on Tian-mu Mountain. They asked: [Scholar 1]: Buddhist teachings often speak of the retributions for good and evil; they say it's like the shadow, following the body wherever it goes. This is saying that doing good will always have its reward, and doing evil will always have its punishments. Then why is it, that there are people who practice kind deeds, but their family and descendants are not prosperous and successful? On the other hand, there are evil and wicked people who do bad things, but their family and descendants do quite well. Where has the law of cause and effect gone to? Is there no standard in the Buddha's teaching? [Liao-Fan]: Master Jung Feng answered him, saying: [Master J.F. ]: Common people are blinded by worldly views, they have not cleansed their minds of impurities, and cannot see with true perception. Therefore, they look upon true goodness as evil and mistaken true evil as goodness. This is very common nowadays! Furthermore, these people do not blame themselves for bad perception on their part, but instead blame the heavens for their misfortunes!
[Scholar 2]: Goodness is goodness, and evil is evil; how can they be mistaken for each other?
[Liao-Fan]: Hearing this, Master Jung Feng asked each of them to express their thoughts on what was good and what was evil. One of them said: [Scholar 3]: To yell at and beat others is evil, to respect and treat others in a mannerly way is good. [Liao-Fan]: Master Jung Feng answered: [Master J.F. ]: Not necessarily.
[Liao-Fan]: Another scholar said: [Scholar 4]: Being greedy for wealth and taking another's money is evil, not being greedy and abiding by proper ways is good. [Liao-Fan]: Master Jung Feng said: [Master J.F. ]: Not necessarily.
[Liao-Fan]: The remaining scholars all expressed their own views on what was good and what was evil, but Master Jung Feng still replied: [Master J.F. ]: Not necessarily.
