There is a famous saying in Hong Kong Man Fengyun (Collection of World Paintings):

"The power cannot be exhausted, the words cannot be exhausted, the blessings cannot be enjoyed exhaustively, and the rules cannot be exhausted. Everything is too exhaustive. , fate will inevitably end early."

The original source of this sentence is from the story of Zen Master Fayan in the Song Dynasty

The original work is: Monk Fojian. He was first invited by Shuzhou Taiping. Rites of the Five Ancestors. Zu said. Usually hospitalized. There are four kinds of people who take precepts for themselves. The first momentum is inexhaustible. The second blessing cannot be endured. The third rule cannot be fulfilled. Fourth, I can’t say enough good things. Why. Good words are easy to say to everyone. If the rules are enforced, people will inevitably follow them. If you suffer all the blessings, you will be lonely. If the power is used to the fullest, disaster will ensue. Jian bowed again and retreated.

Translated into vernacular:

Fojian Zen Master was invited to be the abbot of Taiping Temple in Shuzhou. Before leaving, the Fifth Patriarch taught him: "Being an abbot has four things. We must pay special attention to: first, do not use all the power; second, do not enjoy all the blessings; third, do not run out of rules; fourth, do not say all the good words. Why? Changes will occur; strict enforcement of rules forces people to find other ways; if they enjoy all the benefits, they are bound to be isolated; if power is expanded infinitely, disasters are bound to happen."

Later it evolved into "Law." "Performing the Four Precepts":

You cannot use your strength to the fullest, otherwise misfortune will surely come

You cannot endure all your blessings, and if you endure them to the fullest, your destiny will be lonely

Words If you can't tell them all, it will make things easy for people

If you can't tell all the rules, if you practice them all, things will be complicated

The vernacular meaning is almost the same, with an extended explanation:

When a person has authority, he should not use all his power to coerce others to do things. He should not use any means to achieve his goals, otherwise he will surely suffer consequences.

When a person is blessed and happy, he should share it with others. He should not enjoy all the benefits by himself, otherwise he will be jealous of others. isolated.

When speaking to others, speak kindly. criticize. Suggestions must be reserved, leave steps for others, and maintain their face, so that the relationship between them will not become boring or change.

You must have rules, but you must understand them well. Be tolerant, be strict with yourself, be lenient with others, and don't care about everything, otherwise you will be considered a tedious person. People who are difficult to get along with.

The so-called "Fifth Patriarch Fayan" here is not the Fifth Patriarch of Zen. Everyone knows that the Fifth Patriarch of Zen is Master Hongren.

It is because Zen Master Fayan later became the Fifth Patriarch of Dongshan Zen. The fifteenth generation abbot of the temple,

At that time, he managed the Fifth Patriarch Zen Temple in an impressive manner, so it was known as the "Five Patriarch Dharma Performance" in the world.