Editing Lü Dongbin (section)

==Story of Lü and the Alchemist==

===Version 1===

One of the most popular stories about Lü Dongbin is the tale of his encounter with an alchemist who claimed he could teach Lü Dongbin the secret of turning stone into gold. This story is often used to illustrate Taoist values such as contentment, the rejection of greed, and the understanding of true wealth.

In the story, Lü Dongbin meets an alchemist who boasts that he possesses the secret of transmutation of base metal into gold and offers to teach Lü this art. Interested in the implications of such a skill, Lü agrees to become the alchemist's student. He learns the process and is soon able to turn stone into gold. However, the story takes a twist when Lü Dongbin uses this power.

Instead of using the gold for personal gain, Lü Dongbin starts distributing it among the poor. The tale takes another turn when the gold reverts back to stone after a predetermined period. The people who had received the gold from Lü Dongbin and had not spent it found themselves with worthless stones again. Those who had already used the gold to improve their lives or help others, however, had invested it in a way that brought them lasting benefits beyond the temporary wealth.

This outcome reveals Lü Dongbin's true intention: to teach a lesson about greed and the impermanent nature of material wealth. He wanted to show that real value comes not from gold but from how we use the resources we have to enrich our lives and the lives of others. Lü Dongbin's act of turning stone into gold was a test of character and a demonstration of the Taoist principle that true wealth lies in virtue, not in material possessions.

Through this parable, Lü Dongbin conveys the Taoist wisdom that the pursuit of wealth for its own sake is folly, and that true alchemy is the transformation of the human soul from ignorance to enlightenment.

===Version 2===

There is another version of the story where Lü Dongbin initially learns the secret of turning stone into gold from an alchemist, but there is a caveat—the gold would revert back to stone after a certain period. Upon learning of this condition, Lü Dongbin reflects on the implications and consequences of this temporary wealth.

In this version of the story, Lü Dongbin decides that teaching others to rely on such an uncertain source of wealth would ultimately lead to more harm than good. He understands that those who received the gold would become attached to their newfound wealth, only to be devastated when it disappeared. Realizing the potential for causing great distress and encouraging greed, Lü Dongbin refuses to use the alchemical secret.

This narrative emphasizes Lü Dongbin's wisdom and his understanding of the transient nature of physical riches. It also underlines a core Taoist belief that true wealth and happiness come from spiritual development and virtuous living rather than material possessions.

The moral of this story is about the importance of integrity and foresight. Lü Dongbin's choice to reject the alchemist's teaching is a lesson in recognizing the difference between what is truly valuable and what is illusory. It teaches that wisdom lies in seeking and valuing that which is everlasting and beneficial for one's spiritual growth, rather than temporary and potentially harmful material gains.