New Thinking: Mutation – When You Sow Melons but Reap Beans

Xuefeng

April 20, 2010

“Sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans” is a foundational principle in both Buddhist philosophy and ethical jurisprudence.

The Way of the Greatest Creator is the Way of Nature. From the perspective of the Way of Nature, it is undoubtedly true that “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans.” I do not deny this fact or its logic.

However, when people deviate from the Way of the Greatest Creator, they may find themselves sowing melons but reaping beans, or sowing beans yet harvesting something else entirely.

Consider this: at times, when you give your genuine feelings, do you receive insincerity in return? When you give your wholehearted love, do you encounter deceit instead? Is your goodwill sometimes misconstrued as “ulterior motives” by others? “Loving parents have always been many throughout history, but where are the truly filial children?” If spouses truly love one another, why can’t their love endure forever? Why do they sometimes turn cold and indifferent to each other? When calamity strikes, why do they scatter and flee in different directions? Do these scenarios align with the principle of “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans”?

On the Way of the Greatest Creator, it is undoubtedly true: “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans.” But on paths that deviate from the Way of the Greatest Creator, it often turns into: “sow melons, reap beans; sow beans, reap melons.”

In the natural world, it is undoubtedly true: “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans.” However, in human society, in many cases, it becomes: “sow melons, reap beans; sow beans, reap melons.”

To elaborate further: in the soil of selfishness, greed, jealousy, resentment, ignorance, deceit, and cunning, no matter what seeds are sown, they will mutate. In such soil, the result is invariably “sow melons, reap beans; sow beans, reap melons.” Only in the soil of kindness, honesty, trustworthiness, and selflessness can the principle of “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans” hold true.

If you wish for “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans,” you must walk on the Way of the Greatest Creator. On any other path, whatever you sow will not yield what you expect.

If you ever find yourself sowing melons but reaping something entirely different, understand this: the soil you are using is problematic. That soil does not belong to the Way of the Greatest Creator. In such a case, either improve the soil or stop sowing anything in it altogether.

People! If you wish for “sow melons, reap melons; sow beans, reap beans,” if you wish for your dreams to come true and your aspirations to be fulfilled, you must walk on the Way of the Greatest Creator. Any deviation from this Way will inevitably lead to hope turning into despair and comedy transforming into tragedy.