From the moment you are born, you begin to write the character 'Ren' (Person) on the blank canvas of life. Every stroke, every movement, determines the shape of your existence. The 'Piě' (left-falling stroke) and 'Nà' (right-falling stroke) may seem like simple marks, yet they constitute the very structure of a human being.
In this vast world, temptations are everywhere. How many can resist the 'Piě' of temptation and master the 'Nà' of solitude, staying true to their inner convictions to express the beauty of being human?
"In a world of corruption, I alone am pure; when all are drunk, I alone am sober." To preserve his integrity and cast aside the filth of a corrupt era, Qu Yuan resolutely cast himself into the Miluo River, hoping the surging waters would wash away the dust of the world and leave behind his patriotic passion.
In contrast to Qu Yuan's decisive act, Sima Qian's endurance is equally profound. He cast aside the insults and misunderstandings of the world to master the 'Nà'—the deep desire to leave a literary legacy for future generations. "Thus, he drifted with the currents of custom, bowing and looking with the times, to navigate through their madness." Although he chose to float with the tides of society, his ambitions were never drowned by the clamor. This perseverance, though painful, is deeply admirable.
The 'Piě' and 'Nà' are complementary. When Qu Yuan cast aside the secular world, he lost his life but mastered the eternal fame of 'Li Sao.' When Sima Qian cast aside his dignity and the guilt he felt toward his ancestors and descendants, he lost social understanding but mastered the timeless legacy of the 'Records of the Grand Historian.' No one truly knows the logic of gain and loss, nor can anyone calculate the profit. If one cannot cast aside life's temptations, one naturally cannot master the composure of being detached and serene. The true meaning of these gains and losses can only be felt by those who experience them.
Luxury homes, designer bags, high positions, high salaries... these are the synonyms of power and wealth that many find impossible to cast aside. Some may call you vulgar or frivolous, but you might reply: "In the face of reality, if you do not resist the current, you will be swept away by the waves." Ultimately, whether one can cast things aside depends entirely on personal will. Lin Qingxuan dared to cast aside fame and fortune, seeking only a moment of pure joy, and managed to maintain his inner softness amidst the changing tides of reality. Having too much can often become a burden on the path to success; why not cast it aside and savor the fragrance of a simple meal?
Since we live in this world, we must hold onto something to make our journey worthwhile. As children, we dream of being scientists, artists, or pilots. As adults, we realize these ideals may be impractical and simply wish to be ordinary teachers. While our surface dreams change with time, the core remains a longing for the future and a desire for a simple, fulfilling life. Some hold onto their dreams and succeed; others hold on until death without achieving them... regardless of success or failure, as long as you persist, you are on the path of pursuing your dreams.
However, it is unwise to cast aside family and career solely to pursue a dream. You may satisfy your inner calling, but at what cost? Family, career, or even youth? If one casts aside everything just to 'hold firm' to a dream, the character 'Ren' will naturally deviate from its true form.
Life cannot be repeated. From the moment you begin to write, you must realize that whether the character 'Ren' reaches perfection or not, you must keep your head up and look around. As an allegory goes: a tiger was pacing nearby, refusing to leave. The young man’s heart raced with anxiety. He looked up, only to be startled by a squirrel with sharp teeth constantly gnawing at a tree vine. Although the vine was thick, how long could it withstand the squirrel's gnawing? He looked down into the hollow of the tree and was horrified to see four snakes coiled at the bottom, staring at him with eyes wide open, flickering their long tongues.
Fear surged from all directions. To climb out meant facing the tiger; to jump down meant facing the snakes. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place, while the vine groaned under the squirrel's teeth, sounding as if it were about to snap.
This story is not an isolated incident, but an allegory of human existence. Buddhist scriptures explain: the tiger represents 'impermanence'; the squirrel represents 'time'; the four snakes represent the unavoidable fates of 'birth, old age, sickness, and death'; and the vine is our 'lifeline.'
The existence of the tiger is undeniable, much like disasters and troubles that arrive unexpectedly. And the fates of birth, aging, sickness, and death are destinies no one can escape, from emperors to commoners. Time, which seems like a free carriage for life, is actually the silent predator gnawing at our lifeline every moment.
Life is often a bitter hollow. Beyond the hardships of aging and sickness, there are unexpected setbacks. So, what will you do?
The young man realized that hanging on was no longer an option, and jumping down was certain death. Yet, outside, despite the tiger, there were bird songs and the scent of flowers. A voice whispered in his mind: "Don't be afraid, run!"
Without further hesitation, he climbed upward with all his might. Finally, he reached the ground. Seeing the tiger resting beneath the tree, he seized the opportunity and sprinted away, finally escaping the danger and returning home.
Our abilities may be limited, and we may not escape the fates of aging or the passage of time, but we can escape the 'tiger'—the sudden calamities of life. In the face of misfortune and setbacks, we can run; we can fight. The way an antelope escapes a lion is by running faster than the lion. This is the path of life.
This story is simple yet profound. It grants us a spirit of fearlessness and deep insight. We must learn to master our own lives, rather than shrinking back in fear of the various threats that may come. The way to truly live is to use our wisdom to navigate through crises and carve out new paths for ourselves in this unpredictable world.
