AWAITING THE TURTLE Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

The opportunity for Human Life is rare,’ began the Patriarch, Yen Tzu. ‘So rare that it can be likened to that magical event which occurs just once every four hundred years. The moment when the great mythical sea turtle rises for air. Imagine, that while breaking the surface, the creature places its head through a bamboo ring. A hoop that happens to be floating randomly alone in the vast ocean. What perfect timing that would take! Imagine too that this solitary wooden necklace fitted exactly. What precision that would be! Now imagine that the human physical body is the bamboo circle, and the turtle is the immortal spirit entering it. Then you can imagine the perfect coming together of forces that must happen for our own birth.’
‘It is indeed hard to consider that our life is such a rarity,’ replied his pupil, Lu Chou. ‘Just look at the countless people going about their business in the Imperial city each day!’
‘Just so,’ answered Yen Tzu, ‘and each one of them is just where they should be. For in truth our lives are the result of a synchronicity between the physical and spiritual. As such, each one of us began our lives at the rightly appointed time, and in the correct place intended.’
‘That must be why one person’s timing in life seems infinitely better than another’s,’ commented Lu Chou. ‘Where one man seems to make his fortune, another does not; where one struggles to no avail, another seems to attain easily.’
‘That is not the reason,’ said the Patriarch, ‘for the time and place has nothing to do with a man’s success. The rightness and timing in awaiting the turtle is merely to illustrate that such synchronicity is our birthright. But Man, instead of resolving to
continue to use this natural serendipitous power, has become conditioned do the opposite.
‘In doing so he unconsciously acts against himself, seeking to manipulate and control outcomes according to his own rules. He has forgotten that everything that is to happen for his benefit does so at the right time; and everything that is forced beyond
a natural course of events is either lost or distorted.
‘Even if the outcome is seemingly right it does not carry the power it would have had, or bring the benefit it was intended to bring. The result is that the harder he seems to push towards that which he wants, the further it moves away from him. Such is the plight of all who take the heritage of how they came to be for granted. Yet, in truth, knowing how to harness our natural synchronicity with Life’s opportunities creates the
paradox of the less we do, the more we achieve.’
‘So what can we do to regain this power, this heritage,’ asked the pupil.
‘We must steadfastly resolve to live, trust, accept and have
purpose in whatever we do, at the moment we are doing it. For the nature of being always in the right place at the right time is ours to command.’

This story comes from The Teachings of Billionaire Yen Tzu Volume II Lesson 12.

This is the final lesson of the two volumes and I believe its substance is rather relative to this time of year when Christmas is just about here and we are all very involved in trying to please our family and friends - with unnecessary gifts. According to Yen Tzu 'everything that is forced beyond a natural course of events is either lost or distorted'. We do not need to impress or convince those close to us of our love for them by buying expensive gifts to prove their worth to us. The spirit of giving is within us all and sharing time together in kindness of spirit to each other is far more worthy.

KISSING THE SCORPION Following Your True Nature

You must ask yourself why you behave as you do in order to stop wasting your natural forces,’ said Yen Tzu to Merchant Wong.
‘But I do get nervous over forthcoming events. How should I act when attending them?’ continued to ask the pupil.
‘There was once a scorpion,’ began the Patriarch in answer, ‘who, in desiring to cross a river, asked a duck to ferry him over on her back. The duck replied that if it were to do such a foolish thing, the scorpion would undoubtedly kill her with a lethal sting.
‘That’s nonsense,’ the scorpion argued, ‘for if I did, what would save me from drowning? You have my most solemn word and sincere promise that I will not repay your kindness with such an act.’
Allowing herself to be persuaded by the scorpion’s entreaties, the duck permitted the scorpion to climb on her back. But they were only halfway across the river when she felt the cruel sting of the scorpion’s tail...

to read the rest of this story see The Teachings of Billionaire Yen Tzu - Vol II Lesson II

Yen Tzu later goes on to comment that ...
The way we presently behave is the only way we can, because our behaviour is determined by our psychic level. We cannot act above that level, for we are that level. But it is possible to raise our level, indeed it is our nature to do so.
In understanding that all things behave according to their nature we can learn to see things as they should be. It requires clearing our minds of whatever has no right to be there, in order to have a clear path home. But it is here we hit a fundamental difficulty. For it is often the weight of our responsibilities that block our way.

Who we are and how we behave not only affects us but also our friends and family. Following your true nature means thinking in a different way to normal and seeing a different view of ourselves.

HOLDING THE CARP Cultivating Your Superconscious

To be out of Trader’s City and fishing feels good,’ exclaimed Su-Lei, ‘it was a fine idea of yours. Let us hope the carp are as big here as you say.’
‘Of course they are,’ said Wing, ‘for carp are like ideas. They expand in relation to their limitations. They grow twice as big in a large lake such as this one, as they do when they are contained.’
‘But we have some enormous carp that swim in a tank at our House of Trade,’ protested Su-Lei.
‘Ah, but they are imported from the lakes,’ answered his friend, ‘like imported ideas to have around us. Their spawn stay small because of their contained environment, like so many conditioned ideas.’
Su-Lei cast his line across the lake as he considered his friend’s words. ‘Though we are good at getting on with things, it is true we lack some bright ideas. Sometimes we get one but...look! I have hooked a big one.’ Su-Lei excitedly pulled in his line,which was taut as the large fish strained to free itself.
Holding it still in his hands a few minutes later to remove his hook, the captive suddenly jumped, slipping out of his hands and back in the water before he could stop it. ‘It’s gone, I had it and lost it and it was a good one too,’ said Su-Lei with
frustration.
‘Were you still talking about your ideas, or your fish,’ offered a bemused Wing.

You can read the rest of this story in Volume II of The Teachings of Billionaire Yen Tzu Lesson 10.

In the words of Yen Tzu... "Genius is considered rare, simply because Man is not
consciously aware that he has the capacity for it. Yet everyone without exception has had an idea come to them and done nothing about it, only to see its physical reality months, or years, later. That experience alone signifies that each of us has a connection to a wider world than just our conscious mind.
There is an inexhaustible wealth of potential within us, just waiting to be tapped into."

SEEING THE SNAKE Raising Awareness and Concentration

Several people were walking along the north road to Han Tan early one morning when they each came in turn upon a man lying in the roadside. The first person, pausing in his
journey, said out loud, ‘That man must be drunk and sleeping it off, probably after gambling all night at the Mah Jong House I’ll wager. The scoundrel ought to know when he’s had enough and go home, rather than sleeping where it suits him!’ Continuing on his way he shouted, ‘The gutter is the best place for you.’
A second passer-by said worriedly to himself, ‘He could be dead having been bitten by a poisonous snake. There are some venomous ones in these parts I hear.’ Hurrying ahead he soon overtook the first man.
‘Poor unfortunate,’ thought a third person, a little later, ‘He
must be very ill and looks as though he doesn’t want to be
disturbed. I better let him rest where he is.’

To read the rest of this story go to The Teachings of Billionaire Yen Tzu Volume II lesson 9. The outcome is fascinating.

As wise Yen Tzu reflects on his story he suggests that...
'The scoundrel, therefore, sees a scoundrel; the drinker sees a drunk; the worrier sees problems; the saint bows to a saint. Yet all are mistaken. Where one sees what his frame of reference perceives to be a snake, another sees something dumped by a scoundrel, yet both are unaware that it is really the tail of a dangerous animal. If heaven and hell are states of consciousness we allow ourselves to occupy, then if there is hell in your mind, you won’t see heaven anywhere. If there is heaven in your mind, you can’t see hell.'

Once again yen Tzu show us how unaware and prejudiced we are and our small-minded judgment reflects back on us.

FIGHTING THE RAT - Harnessing Conscience Power

What a terrible dream I experienced last night!’howled Gate-Keeper Yin to his wife. ‘A giant rat would not desist from chasing after me until, finally, with no place to turn, it had me cornered.’
‘Heaven protect us against such things! What did you do?’his spouse enquired earnestly.
‘What could I do but attack it,’ Yin continued. ‘And I fought hard let me tell you, but in the end I was sorely wounded. But then a very strange thing happened. Just as I lay in a defeated crumpled heap of humiliation, expecting the final mortal blow,the rat spoke to me. It said: “You win,” and immediately helped me up, which is when I awoke. What awful misfortune can it possibly foretell?’
‘My old mother was wise,’ answered his wife seemingly calmer in her remembrance of something. ‘She would say: 'When you have a fight with your conscience and get beaten, you win! Maybe that rat was your conscience and you’ve gone and
cornered yourself.’

This was taken from Lesson 8 in Volume II of The Teachings of Billionaire yen Tzu - if you want to read the rest of the story.

Yen Tzu goes on to say ...Conscience is that part of our consciousness that is vital to our development and growth. However, there is conscience and true-conscience. The former is subjective, the latter objective. We often think the function of our subjective, or conditioned, conscience, is to spoil life for those of us who are unlucky enough to be pricked by it. It could be said that, ‘your conscience doesn’t keep you from doing anything; it merely keeps you from enjoying it.’ In this guise it can be likened to an irritating acquaintance that you have periodically to tolerate. All too often we construct an entire framework of intelligent rationa-lies-ations in our attempts to justify actions that contradict our deepest sense of right and wrong.


I love this esoteric thought-provoking material. It sets me up for the day. Yen Tzu's book is timeless and wherever you open it I find words of wisdom to inspire me for that day. Has anyone else read any of his teachings?

KNOWING THE EAGLE - Realising Desires; Needing Nothing

Hermit Wei glimpsed three eagles soaring above him. Calling them down to him he requested of the first: ‘How much to carry me across the plains to the neighbouring state, please?’
‘It’s a two day flight at least and you are a heavy load,’ replied the first eagle, ‘I would like ten fish, a goat and a flagon of soya milk.’
‘So much,’ said Hermit Wei, and turning to the second eagle
asked, ‘What will you do it for?’
‘It is right you are a heavy load,’ answered the second eagle, ‘yet as I am due to go in that direction in any case, I would want five fish, a kid-goat and a flagon of rice-water. It is along trip that will require sustenance.’
Asking the third eagle what the charge would be, the hermit was surprised to hear: ‘Five fish and a litre of water.’
‘What kind of fool answer is that?’ Wei shouted. ‘Why do you possibly ask for an amount that will not even sustain you for the trip?’
‘I needed the order,’ said the crestfallen eagle.
‘Needed the order!’ the hermit returned angrily. ‘Well my desire to go will not be at the mercy of your need. In compromising your worth you compromise my life!
Come,’ speaking to the second eagle, ‘let us plan our trip. With your desire to go my way and your considered charge, I know my journey is assured.’

There are more parables like this in The Teachings of Billionaire Yen Tzu Volume II Lesson One.

In the words of Yen Tzu - 'Healthy desire is the starting point of all achievement. The desire to live, for instance, is the unconscious motivation to take our first breath of life. There are,
however, polarities to our desires, so that, depending on how much we want something, we can unwittingly bring about adverse conditions. A simple illustration of this can be seen by an
ambitious individual, who desiring to impress others, brings about the opposite effect.'

This makes so much sense to me - sometimes we want something so much that we overlook the obvious. We make compromises just to get what we want and then end up begrudging the people that take us up on our promises.

RIDING THE TIGER - Channelling Your Energy

Today my elder son, Ni, joins us,’ said Merchant Hui Neng proudly, to all the agents and workers gathered together. ‘Ni has studied under many teachers who assure me that he will prove to be our most valuable asset.’
Having built up his business from nothing, Hui Neng had been determined that his eldest son would not be deprived of a good all-round education. For Ni’s part there had been many lessons. He had excelled at rhetoric and debate, which he’d really enjoyed, and was able to express himself eloquently. But he had done so badly at his figure work that his tutors had decided to replace debating studies with twice the amount of figure work.
‘You will not be able to join your father in business without figure work,’ advised his tutors. ‘Just because you dislike it is no excuse to shirk.’
‘But why must I study what is of no interest to me at the
expense of what does interest me?’ argued Ni.
‘Because that is the way you will become stronger,’ they had answered stubbornly. ‘Redoubling your efforts on your lesser skills is the only way to remove your weaknesses.’

For More of this fascinating tale you need to read The Teachings of Billionaire Yen Tzu - Volum I Lesson 6

I agree with Yen Tzu that "All of us are mediocre at many things, are good at some, excel at fewer and have the ability to become world-class at something. This is because for every natural
strength we are born with, we have countless weaknesses. Having a strength is not the opposite of having a weakness, however. Like success and failure, or health and illness, each follows a particular pattern."

This is so true. Human beings are complicated but generally we are good at the things we enjoy doing and always thinking that we need to push ourselves to improve the things we are weak at. I think that putting our energy into positive things is by far the best way to get on in life.