Heed your words, and they will meet with harmonious response; heed your actions, and they will find agreeable accord.

Excerpt

Kuan Yin spoke to the Master Lieh Tzŭ, saying: 'If speech is sweet, the echo will be sweet; if speech is harsh, the echo will be harsh. If the body is long, the shadow will be long; if the body is short, the shadow will be short. Reputation is like an echo, personal experiences like a shadow. 'Hence the saying: "Heed your words, and they will meet with harmonious response; heed your actions, and they will find agreeable accord."

Source Lieh Tzu, book 8, §1 · 📖 Read the full passage

✨ To meditate on today

According to Lieh Tzu, Kuan Yin (the keeper of the pass who, according to tradition, received the teaching of Lao Tzu) taught him that reputation is a person’s echo and conduct their shadow: a gentle sound comes back as a gentle echo. Today, before speaking or acting, ask yourself what echo you would like to hear coming back to you, and choose the word that will give rise to it.

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