Wealth and honor, as well as official rank and reputation, are all determined by one's previous karmic connections; therefore, people should never deceive their own hearts. Uprightness and brightness, sincerity and goodness will yield ever deeper virtuous results. A little arrogance will bring heavenly punishment; if one does not meet with success at present, one must wait for the right time to come. Asking Lord Dongjun: Why has misfortune and harm now begun to invade? It is because one's ambition is too high, seeking without limit, and failing to distinguish between superiors and inferiors, thus violating rules and admonitions. The story tells of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, who was taken by heavenly troops to the Execution Platform for Demons and bound to a Demon-Suppressing Pillar. Axes chopped, swords cut, spears pierced, and blades carved, yet none could harm his body. The Southern Dipper Star ordered the gods of fire to set a blaze and burn him, but still could not ignite him. They then ordered the gods in charge of thunder to strike with fragments of lightning, yet could not even slightly injure him. The Great Ghost King and the others presented a report, saying: "Your Majesty, this Great Sage must have learned some method of body protection from somewhere unknown. We have used axes to chop, swords to cut, thunderbolts to strike, and fire to burn, yet not even the slightest injury has been done to him. What should we do now?" The Jade Emperor, upon hearing this, said: "This wretch is so, so—how shall he be dealt with?" The Venerable Lord Lao Tzu immediately presented a report, saying: "That monkey ate the peaches of immortality, drank the imperial wine, and also stole elixirs of immortality. He has eaten all five pots of my pills, both raw and cooked, into his belly. Therefore, I suggest using the Threefold Pure Fire to forge him into one piece; thus, his body has become as hard as steel and cannot be harmed immediately. It would be better for me, the old
