In Chapter One of the Dhammapada, it is said:
All that we are, is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
[F. Max Müller –Sacred-Texts.com]
Therefore right thoughts lead to right actions.
Perhaps in line with what Buddha said in the Dhammapada and through his own intensive Daoist neidan practice, Liu I Ming, a real Daoist Confucian and Buddhist master, came to this clear understanding that:
Truthfulness (or Sincerity - Zheng) has the meaning of true belief. Truly believe in kindness (Ren), and you can be kind. Truly believe in justice (Yi), and you can be just. Truly believe in courtesy (Li), and you can be courteous. Truly believe in wisdom (Zhi), and you can be wise. Truthfulness alone can be kindness, justice, courtesy, and wisdom, all according to the changes that take place in the mind.
[I Ching Mandalas – Thomas Cleary]
Since right thoughts lead to right actions, no wonder, the ancients namely Laozi, Confucius and Buddha placed much importance on the original virtue - truth or sincerity (Zheng) - in their respective texts or books.
The five virtues transcend religions and everyone can possess of them, if only they care to find and/or cultivate them again as part of their learning and cultivation of life.
If only some world leaders (rulers) of today have cultivated, they could have possessed the right thoughts and therefore taken the right actions, instead of prompting needless strife thereby increasing human sufferings. If only they truly believe a peaceful world is good for their own people and mankind. Then these leaders may not have to continue to live their lives in pain?
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