Once upon a time, there was a young scholar named Nghiêm Đắc Lộc. Though he had reached the age of independence, he still lived alone in a humble cottage. He believed that he was kind-hearted and always did the right thing, so he should have been blessed with fortune. Yet, fate seemed to keep him in poverty, leaving him perplexed.
One day, a Feng Shui master named Mạnh passed through the village. Having heard of his reputation, Nghiêm Đắc Lộc immediately invited him in, hoping the master could explain his misfortunes. After surveying the house, Master Mạnh said, “Your destiny is not bad, but merely waiting will not make you wealthy.” Observing the back of the house, he added, “The Feng Shui is fine, but your fortune is blocked, which is why you remain poor.”
Hearing this, Nghiêm Đắc Lộc anxiously asked, “Is there a way to change my fate, master?”
Master Mạnh stroked his beard thoughtfully and advised, “There is a method, but you must persist for three years without wavering. Carve a window into the back wall of your house and wake up every day at the fourth watch to light a lamp. When villagers pass by and ask, ‘Nghiêm Đắc Lộc, are you awake?’ you must reply, ‘I am awake!’ Since your name contains ‘Đắc Lộc’ (which means ‘gaining fortune’), repeating it daily will summon prosperity. But remember, if you give up, you will lose this one and only chance.”
Nghiêm Đắc Lộc took these words to heart and followed them faithfully. Every day, he woke up before dawn, lit his lamp, and waited for villagers to call his name. Over time, he realized that simply waiting was meaningless, so he began seeking work. At first, he wove ropes, then he ground soybeans to sell, and later, he raised chickens and ducks. His efforts flourished—he not only had enough to eat but even built savings. Eventually, he married and had children. After three years, his once shabby cottage had transformed into a sturdy tile-roofed house, and his life had completely changed.
At this moment, Master Mạnh returned for a visit. Seeing the prosperous scene, he smiled and asked, “Tell me, what have you done these past three years?”
Nghiêm Đắc Lộc happily recounted, “At first, I simply did as you instructed—waking early and lighting the lamp so villagers would call my name. But after a while, I realized I needed to do something more. I started working, little by little, and gradually expanded my efforts. Now, my family lacks nothing. I am truly grateful to you, master!”
Master Mạnh laughed heartily and shook his head. “You still don’t understand, do you? If you had only lit the lamp without taking action, would wealth have come to you? It was your diligence, determination, and self-reliance that led to your success. It wasn’t Feng Shui—it was the law of cause and effect that changed your fate!”
Upon hearing this, Nghiêm Đắc Lộc suddenly awakened to the truth. All this time, he had believed that Feng Shui had brought him wealth, but in reality, it was the result of his own tireless efforts.
In truth, a person’s destiny does not lie in the land they inhabit, nor in luck, but in their own hands. If one only waits for fate and does not cultivate virtue, work diligently, and act with kindness, even living in a so-called auspicious land will not bring lasting prosperity. Those who are virtuous will thrive anywhere, while those who neglect to accumulate good deeds will struggle even in places of great fortune.
Many believe in Feng Shui, but few understand that one’s character, perseverance, and heart are the true foundations of fortune. Master Mạnh did not state this outright because people often resist harsh truths. Had he bluntly said, “You are poor because you are lazy,” Nghiêm Đắc Lộc might have rejected his words. Lao Tzu once said, “Beautiful words are not true, and true words are not beautiful.” Sometimes, people must experience something themselves before they can truly grasp its wisdom.
And that wisdom is this: There is no predetermined fate—only cause and effect.
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