Small indulgences toward desires and small good deeds unfold through steady repetition a power that can transform an entire life.
The text tells the story of King Zhou, who through a single ivory chopstick falls into a chain of escalating demands that ultimately empties the treasuries of the provinces. From this is derived the lesson that small indulgences toward desires and carelessness can, like a domino, lead to great harm. As a counterexample, a man is presented who, through daily, initially brief meditation, gradually changes his habits and eventually gives up idle chatter in favor of practice. The text emphasizes that even doing good, if it is small and regular, can over the long term transform one's life. Concrete everyday examples such as drinking beer, online games, and small frauds are mentioned, which expand into addiction and theft. The central message is that one should not underestimate either small evils or small deeds, because both grow through repetition.
Analysed with qwen3.8-27b, version v3.
The same standards apply to every tradition, see Values.
Full text in English
In the reign of King Zhou, two thousand years ago, there was a minister named Zhi Fu. One day, while the king was dining, he noticed that the food was served on ivory chopsticks. He remarked, "If we use such fine ivory chopsticks, ordinary dishes will no longer be fitting. We must serve exquisite delicacies, such as dragon liver and phoenix hearts, to match the elegance of the ivory chopsticks."
Furthermore, he reasoned, "If we have such fine chopsticks, the tableware should also be upgraded. We should use jade bowls and precious vessels, adorned with rare and expensive materials, to be worthy of the royal dining hall."
He continued, "If we have such exquisite tableware, the dining hall itself must be magnificent, decorated with fine wood and precious ornaments, to be commensurate with the royal status."
Next, he suggested, "If we have such a splendid dining hall, the king's chariot should also be grand and luxurious, adorned with precious materials, to be worthy of the royal dignity."
This chain of reasoning led to excessive spending. The funds required came from the people's taxes. When the treasury was insufficient, the king had to impose heavier taxes on the populace. This caused widespread discontent and suffering among the people.
Eventually, this extravagance led to the downfall of the Zhou dynasty. The king lost his throne, and the dynasty perished.
This story is often compared to another tale about a monk named Jitak. Jitak was a diligent student of the Dharma, seeking deep understanding and proper practice. One day, he went to study under a teacher named Dandak, who was known for his strict adherence to the precepts.
After studying, Jitak realized that true practice required simplicity and mindfulness. He decided to live in seclusion in a small cave. He had only two robes: one he wore, and one he hung out to dry.
One day, while his robe was drying, mice came and chewed holes in it. He had to spend time mending the robe. This repeated incident caused him distress.
He thought, "I need a solution to protect my robe from the mice." He considered keeping a cat to catch the mice. However, to keep a cat, he would need to provide it with milk. To get milk, he would need to visit a nearby village.
This simple need led to a chain of consequences. He had to go to the village, interact with the villagers, and eventually, he found himself involved in more complex social interactions. He had to hire a child to help with tasks, which further complicated his life.
The story illustrates how a small, seemingly insignificant issue can lead to a cascade of problems if not addressed with wisdom and simplicity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of mindfulness and the potential consequences of allowing small issues to escalate.
But in the end, it changed the life of being a monk. The mind is always restless. There are many things. The life of the monk is just thrown away. If all of this started from the desire to find a way to get rid of the rats, because one does not want to sleep in a place where rats bite, then these two things are similar. Keeping ivory and protecting the wood from being eaten by rats. That is, it started from a small point and then it impacts, like a domino effect. One person thinks, it is just a few trivial things, but in the end, it causes great loss, as if it will be completely ruined. Another person thinks, it is just finding a way to protect the wood from being eaten by rats, so that there is time to practice the Dhamma. This is the time to run to the end. The way of helping a practitioner is just like that. The body is always restless. If all of this started from a small point, these two things will be about indulging in small pleasures, comfort, or lack of mindfulness, love of comfort. But it can also be related to indulging in small pleasures, from other things, like this. Following sights, following along with everything. People know that it is not good, to fit in with people, talking and gossiping a little. But in the end, it gradually spreads. From talking, in social gatherings it is talking to fit into society. And then, without being mindful of the body, saying that it will start from drinking beer. This is weak, so it is small. But after drinking beer a little, after a while, it is said, this is expensive. Small is good. A stick of turret, buying beer, or whiskey. But before drinking just whiskey, it is still a war. There is a misin whiskey, not enough. Talking alone, discard. Stop it. Afraid of going to the DC, it is still coming to be or. And from orp alone, there are many. In the end, it is the people, talking about... The people, Peak, is it the same? This is where the others, Golden, got 10 baht. We call it Punkt 20 baht. But at the time of ranking, it is a store. The original items that were exchanged, it is an online game. At the beginning, you have to go to the casino, go to the gambling house. It started like an online game. Buying items, all 10 baht, baht. Later, it increased from a hundred to a thousand. And then there is no money. The items that used to work, do not work because they are stuck. Or you have to go to the casino, or sell drugs to get money quickly to play the game. I accept the class, it is not the same. It started from small amounts, 10 baht, baht. Sometimes, depositing to buy something, and the returned money is taken a little, 5 baht, 10 baht. But gradually, it will spread slowly, spreading to everything. Later, it is not just taking a little, it is cheating. It is a crime. Or if not, it is stealing. Giving help that it brings life in the wind. It started from a small point. It is a spark. That it is not a spark of 1000, like a line. It started from a small spark. And then no one pays attention. Let it spread. That small thing cannot be estimated. But if you keep the ivory, it can make this kingdom sink. Or not just the protection, buying not to let the rats bite, it makes you have to abandon the life of a practitioner, or the life of a monk, or the life of a family. With many children, in the end, you cannot protect the family. You can see this. It started from a small point. But thinking that it is not a problem, not a problem. And then, if we do not pay attention to this small thing, it will not be indulging in small pleasures, or doing a small wrong. Even if it is small, if we do not pay attention, we can protect our goal or our path. Or the valuable things for the family. It may be the work. It will be a way of life that we have value, help, or the power of small pleasures. It started from a small point. Small, and then it spreads, becoming big. In any case, doing good is the same. Doing good, even if it is small. But if we do it often, why stop here? It will lead to results that may change our life. There is a story that a young man came to pay respects to a temple, another place. He brought his friend with him. A friend who does not care about doing anything. A friend who is addicted to saying that he will buy the right to practice. I am still addicted, how can I do it? That is, a special merit. Everyone who watches, will sit in meditation for 5 minutes and then go to eat. But some days, after sitting, the friend came to help go to eat. He did not go. Sit first, till, and then 5 minutes. When he sat, he noticed. Because the meditation was not calm. Almost sat in a bad smell. Just 10 minutes. The girl went to eat torto. Later, she went for a long time. Sitting every day, every day. Sitting longer, and then the mind is calm. There is happiness. Later, she thought, eating torto, it is... not good. It is not delicious. Sitting in models, prod. Even if it is a lot, it becomes choosing to eat. Also choosing to eat. Private. That is why it becomes FFF, plans. Eating a lot, without the passengers. It can change feelings and thoughts. The good, even if done small, has an effect. Just ask to do it every day. Our mind is not fixed. We should focus on quantity first. Do not focus on quality. Please do, wir, wei, eat, and do. However it grows, do it. If you do it for a long time, it will have an effect. And many people, even if they do not do it, diffuse our mind, and do a little, like running every day. Even if it is not fixed, do not look for a reason. But in the morning, you have to get up. Look at the whole thing, going to run, can endure. But it is not just that.
Because the person has changed. The person is easy to live with and easy to eat with. The person is cold-hearted. The person has no direction. And then they eat food they used to crave, they eat sweets, following the mouth. 5. It is not just at the beginning. Islam can eat food that is haram. Perhaps one can eat meals using a diet. Because one wants to mock health. Eat together, love each other, love Islam. It is said that it is a matter of intention. If you can see the feeling it has, hold it carefully. We are the ones who have been thinking about other things. The signal requires religious devotion, which is very important. Because if done continuously, even if it is small, every day, 90 days, or 3 months, it is a transformation. It is still not even thought of. It is in this country. The haram is like a balloon.