Zhuangzi (an ancient Chinese philosophic classic) tells a fable: There was a person who was afraid of his own shadow and disliked his own footprints. However, the more he walked, the more footprints he made; no matter how fast he walked, his shadow never left him. He though perhaps he walked too slowly; therefore he walked as fast as he could until he died in exhaustion. What he didn’t know was that if he had rested in the shade of sun, he would have been able to escape his own shadow, and if he had stayed still, he would have been able to make no footprints. How stupid he was!
    Shadow and footprints are both natural phenomenon. If one is greedy and has ill intentions, and does evil, then the evil shall control his soul; when he sees shadow and footprints he thinks retribution is coming. Never again would this man have peace in mind.
    A government official does not have to worry about retribution all day long if he/she follows laws and regulations. Serve the public with honesty and integrity, and the life will be easy and peaceful; there is no need living a life in fear.