A Life, Two Fate, Three Feng Shui, Four Yin Virtue, Five Study

The ancients said, "First comes destiny, second luck, third feng shui, fourth accumulating hidden virtue, fifth reading, sixth one's name, seventh one's appearance, eighth reverence for the gods, ninth befriending benefactors, and tenth health." These ten stages are actually a path of self-cultivation. Follow them in order, and they are simply the workings of fate; follow them in reverse, and they become the true way to change your destiny.

True "defiance of heaven to change one's fate" begins with the final step:

Step one, [Tenth: Health]. The body is the vessel that carries the Way. Only by caring for it first will you have the energy to encounter better possibilities.

Step two, [Ninth: Befriending Benefactors]. Once you're in good shape and your energy is right, benefactors will naturally appear.

Step three, [Eighth: Reverence for the Gods]. Benefactors show you the way and teach you to respect Heaven and cherish others. Only with a reverent heart can you receive greater blessings.

Step four, [Seventh: Appearance]. When your thoughts change, so does your appearance. This is what it means when they say, "Appearance springs from the heart, and circumstances change with the mind."

Step five, [Sixth: One's Name]. Once your appearance changes and your presence is steady, a good reputation will naturally follow.

Step six, [Fifth: Reading]. With a reputation comes an even greater need to read and cultivate virtue, so your talent can live up to your position. Only great virtue can bear great responsibility.

Step seven, [Fourth: Accumulating Hidden Virtue]. Begin quietly doing good deeds, building unseen blessings for yourself and your descendants.

Step eight, [Third: Feng Shui]. When you are kind and do good, your energy field naturally adjusts, and feng shui shifts with it.

Step nine, [Second: Luck]. When your energy is right, good luck will quietly arrive.

Step ten, [First: Destiny]. When your luck changes, your destiny truly changes too.

This is the law of reversal: follow the way and become human; go against it and become an immortal. The mystery lies in turning things upside down. Only when you learn to look at the world in reverse can you see the truth.