Yeo Khoon Leong - Founder, Life Coach, Yijing Trainer & Author
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The Wisdom of the Three Filters
How Yijing Teach Us To Avoid Harmful Gossip.
In Ancient China, there was a great Yijing teacher who was renowned for his wisdom. One day, a student approached him and said, "Master, have you heard what others are saying about our fellow student?"
The teacher replied, "Before you speak, let us apply the Yijing principle of the threefold test.
TRUTH
The first test is that of TRUTH.
Is what you are going to tell me true?
The student replied, "I do not know if it is true, Master."
KINDNESS
"Very well," said the teacher. "The second test is that of KINDNESS.
Is what you are going to say about our fellow student kind?
The student hesitated and said, "No, Master. It is not kind."
UTILITY
The teacher then said, "The third test is that of UTILITY.
Is it useful for me to know what you are going to say about our fellow student?"
The student shook his head and said, "No, Master. It is not useful."
YIJNG WISDOM
The teacher then said,
"If what you are going to say is not true, kind, nor useful, why, then, did you want to tell me this?
Gossip can strip a person of their dignity and leave them vulnerable to shame and ridicule.
We must be mindful of the harm our words can cause and use them wisely."
The student was grateful for the Yijing Teacher's guidance and learned to apply the Yijing principle of the threefold test in their daily interactions with others. They found that by speaking truthfully, kindly, and usefully, they were able to build stronger relationships and bring harmony to their communities.
