Nine trials

Taoist parable

Confucius is wise to sayings,
He learned a lot of secret
And, to get rid of doubt
People, he once said:

"To penetrate the heart of man
Harder than in the gorge of mountains
Harder than living two centuries
It is known for a long time.

And even the sky will be easier
To know at all times
Replace the autumn - cold, blizzards,
Then the beautiful spring,

And summer comes its time,
And clearly visible night and day ...
But man hides everything,
His face is like a mask of shadow,

And the feelings are hidden in secret ...
It happens if it looks good
Inside he is greedy and resentment
It is fraught with far away.

By the kind of seemingly capable
In fact, it is worthless,
The bearing is externally noble,
But the honor since childhood deprived.

Outside can business
Seeming to everyone else around
In the soul always lives angry
And idle. If the heart is rude,

That is outwardly soft and calm.
People in a hurry to look,
But the word hard, unworthy
Inside boils for evil insults.

This is why it happens often
What is incomprehensible man -
That to the virtue of the beautiful
Striving forever

That then suddenly turn around
And from her runs headlong,
As the fire rushes away,
In my heart, experiencing fear!

That is why a wise ruler
He will send with the assignment on a long journey,
To test the most difficult
Check loyalty and essence

His hearty decision.
And maybe close suddenly send,
So as not to have doubts,
And about the respect to know everything.

Ask questions frankly
And all of a sudden,
And who will answer the first right -
Tom succeeds!

Will order to act faster -
Verify the correctness of the lesson
And the heart of good trust
It will help to do everything in time.

He will entrust his wealth
That conscience with honor to test.
Find out how much you can believe?
What if the temptation to "steal" is strong?

Will tell you that there is a danger
Check for a cold temper,
Will the fighter chicken out in vain,
Suddenly will hide in the bushes.

To reveal the addiction to drinks,
Drink generously drank!
Vices can hide inclination
Lover of strong wine.

Will land with frivolous women,
Suddenly he is arrogant and lustful,
And become stupid and weak-willed,
From the beauty and the look of them ...

And these nine tests
Allow in soul to glance,
Learn under the masks of silence
Human hearts are straightforward ... "

Alena Martel