From: the.wise.one@abel.co.uk   
      
   With Ivory Chopsticks   
      
   [during the Shang Dynasty, 1766 BC to 1122 BC]   
      
      
      
   When observing something unusual, you must be alert.  If, for example,   
   you noticed one of your poor friends suddenly becoming an extravagant   
   spender, you would be curious and try to discover the cause of that   
   change.  A cautious person could perceive and scrutinize any trivial   
   difference then make a projection and react accordingly.  This   
   interesting episode occurred during the eleventh century BC.   
      
        In ancient times, commerce and technology were at their primitive   
   stages.  People lived in an agrarian society.  Tools and utensils were   
   for practical use, and had no decoration.  Emperor Shang-Jow one day   
   began using a pair of ivory chopsticks to eat his meals.  Gee Tzy, his   
   brother, who was famous for his wisdom, saw this and sighed deeply.   
      
        "The dynasty is doomed." he whispered to himself.  "Our Majesty   
   won't match his ivory chopsticks with ordinary earthen dishes.  A costly   
   wine cup made of rhinoceros' horn will be considered only proper.   
   Nobody who dresses in simple clothes and lives in a shabby lodge uses   
   ivory chopsticks to eat grains and cereals.  Everything, from clothes to   
   house, has to be excessively luxurious to match them.  Unfortunately our   
   country is built on agriculture, a less than wealthy society.  We can't   
   afford any luxury at all.  If we waste too much money on personal   
   enjoyment, our neighboring countries will grow envious, invade and   
   conquer us.  Oh miserable people!  You will either be slaves of your own   
   avaricious emperor or of an ambitious enemy.  No matter who rules --   
   war, poverty, and chaos are just around the corner."   
      
        Less than a year later, the emperor ordered hundreds of thousands   
   of farmers to build several grandiose palaces and well-furbished gardens   
   for himself.  For years the citizens suffered miserably while the   
   emperor lived lavishly.  Then an ambitious lord from the western region   
   challenged the emperor and, after winning several important battles,   
   overthrew the dynasty.  The greedy ruler was forced to commit suicide by   
   burning himself alive, accompanied by some of his most favorite   
   concubines, on a high tower of his gilded mansion.   
      
        Mundane people love to entertain themselves with an extravagant   
   lifestyle.  As a person of responsibility, you must not live beyond your   
   means.  Then, you will never have any financial difficulty.  Besides   
   knowing and managing yourself, you must also be watchful of the outside   
   world.  As an old saying goes, "Always be aware of any sudden change."   
   Besides detecting a change, you must analyze the origin of its causes,   
   and estimate and theorize its consequences.  Then you can act   
   appropriately and not be surprised by a coming calamity.   
      
      
   from:   
   "Wisdom's Way: 101 Tales of Chinese Wit"   
   by Walton Lee   
   YMAA Publication Center, Massachusetts, 1997   
   Chapter 5: Keen Perception   
   pages 61-62   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)