You are not a continuation of your parents, not a preface to your children, and not an appendix in your friends’ stories.
If thoughts of life and death are always kept in mind, one’s mentality naturally becomes correct. Once the mind is correct, there is no need to forcefully suppress emotions in daily interactions. Without forced suppression, there will be no deviation or impurity. Without impurity, right thoughts emerge naturally. With right thoughts, principles adapt to changing circumstances. When principles adapt to situations, matters and principles merge. When they are integrated, actions become effortless. The moment you feel effortlessness is where the real strength of this practice lies. This strength saves immense effort and generates even greater power.
Jealousy wastes time. You already have what you need.
Mr. Gengyun said: “Once a person loses calmness, the brilliance of life fades. A girl will no longer appear radiant, and a boy will become unpleasant in appearance.”
A piece of wood a foot long will always have knots; a piece of jade an inch thick will have flaws.
In front of nature and history, human beings are extremely small.
Life itself is a profound experience that must be felt with the heart. Some things cause confusion when unclear, and pain once understood. Life is like dust—on the surface it seems self-directed, but in reality it is often guided by the forces of nature and society. Many changes are beyond control and can only be accepted with acceptance of fate. Perhaps one day, when you learn to cherish, some things will already be gone.
