Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Trust is the last of Confucius’ Five Permanent Virtues (Ngũ Thường) – Benevolence, Propriety, Loyalty, Wisdom, Trust (Nhân, Lễ, Nghĩa, Trí, Tín).

Trust is the last of the five, meaning if you don’t have trust, you fall below the standards to be human.

Trust usually involves at least 2 persons. So, trust has 2 directions to be considered. First, you trust people. Second, you live in a way that people trust you – meaning, you are trustworthy to others.

1. Trusting others: If you don’t trust others, chances are few people trust you. You have to trust people, for the people to trust you.

Of course, you can’t trust all the people. Sometimes you know some particular persons are not trustworthy. But if a person hasn’t done anything for you to distrust, you need to go with the principle: If he hasn’t lied to me, then he is trustworthy. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

2. Trustworthy to others: You need to be honest to be trusted by others. What you can’t say, then don’t say. But if you say a word, it has to be the truth. Truthful words are clear, easy to understand, no smoke, no obfuscation, no misleading (half-truth).

“When I have time, I will come to visit with you” and you never come for years, that is lying.

“This machine cuts very well,” but you don’t disclose that this machine breaks down very often – that is misleading and is a lie.

When you promise something, keep your promise. If you say, “Next Monday I will come,” then next Monday you will come, rain or shine or earthquake. If some emergency happens and you cannot come, call to explain and apologize.

That is the word “Trust” in the Five Permanent Virtues.

Today, people lie constantly all day, to the degree they don’t even know they are lying. But that is the reason that we need to be honest, to save the world.

With compassion,

Hoành

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Trần Đình Hoành
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