There are three essential stages on the path to wisdom: first, the period of conformity, where one respects, obeys, and imitates those stronger than oneself; second, the period of the desert, when constraints are strongest, respect breaks, the spirit of freedom flourishes, and all values are re-evaluated; third, the period of creation, where affirmation is rebuilt upon negation, not based on authority, but solely on oneself—"I am destiny."
Use your heart, but do not let your heart be troubled or anxious. When the mind is lost, there is suffering; when the mind awakens, there is freedom. A kind heart is heaven, while an evil heart is hell. If one's concepts are improper, their work cannot be righteous; if concepts are biased, actions will be erroneous. One should learn to remain unshakable despite the trials of people and circumstances, and learn to maintain inner peace amidst movement.
The direction of your tears determines the course of your life: if tears flow inward, they accumulate strength for the soul, giving you a more profound belief; if they flow toward begging, the return will eventually be a hollow void; if they flow toward compassion, the left bank of life will be destined for warmth and kindness. Those with self-control possess tears with the power to travel thousands of miles; following the channels carved by tears, one day, you will reach the ocean.
King Edward of England visited the slums of London and came to the door of a dilapidated house inhabited by a destitute old woman. The King asked, "May I come in?" This simple inquiry reveals the true essence of nobility: it is easy to become rich, but difficult to become noble. Wealth makes one rich, but without strong spiritual power and a noble concept of respecting others, wealth is merely vulgarity.
Living in a humble room, accompanied by objects, enjoying solitude, especially when no one visits in the early morning. To illustrate my life: I am no more lonely than a duck splashing in a lake or Walden Pond itself—and what would a lake be a companion to? I am like a dandelion on the vast prairie, a bean leaf, a fly, or a bumblebee; none of us feel lonely.
A perfect long-term plan is impossible in life, so the key is to create a plan that can be acted upon immediately and then take action. Test, improve, and reflect during the process; continue with plans that work, discard those that don't, devise new methods, and act again.
If you cannot listen, you cannot communicate.
The starting point is this life, and the destination is the next; to board the journey, one must abide by the eternal rules of heaven and earth.
