Life has no winners or losers, only value. We live between gain and loss; gaining is also losing, and losing is also gaining. When you gain, do not be overly proud; when you fail to gain, do not be discouraged. In this life, avoid excessive worry, learn to choose and let go, release grudges and conflicts, and with peace and composure, gently listen to the sound of flowers blooming and falling.
Stillness is a form of wisdom. In life, it is not about what we acquire, but what we learn. Keep your mind clear and your actions upright; never touch what does not belong to you; shed sincere tears and wear sincere smiles. By doing so, you will live without guilt or regret, handling matters with composure and allowing life to be filled with sunshine!
Hide your own merits somewhat and cover the shortcomings of others; forget old grudges and remember past kindnesses; do not show others' falseness on your face, and do not speak of being wronged; do not boast of your kindness, and never forget the favors you receive; if you wish to be understood, seek to understand others first; if you wish to be respected, respect others first.
As the ancients said: "If one does not read for a day, dust grows within; for two days, speech becomes dull; for three days, one's countenance becomes repulsive." Yang Jiang once said: "Reading is not for obtaining degrees or making a fortune, but to become a person with warmth, taste, and thought." Every idea harvested from books is timeless and practical. Those who truly read never lack free souls; their hearts require no defense, yet can never be conquered.
Controlling desires and anger is the way to preserve oneself; exercise and diet are the ways to strengthen the body; being natural and spontaneous is the way to ease the mind; cultivating character is the way to navigate life; maintaining stillness is the way to manage a household; and hard work is the way to establish a career!
An old man fortune-telling on a bridge can easily pose as a master with just a bit of facial hair to fool those who seem shrewd. Why does he succeed? It is because of the human instinct to seek luck and avoid misfortune. This innate nature cannot be completely erased simply by reading the Three Character Classic for a few days.
