We must learn two things: how to see through things and how to let things go.
Things are often "cunning." They hide their essence deep within and present only the non-essential—the phenomena—to the world. The essence of a thing determines its phenomena; it is the fundamental nature and inherent attribute, remaining relatively stable. Phenomena, on the other hand, are specific manifestations of the essence—they are mutable, fleeting, individual, one-sided, superficial, and sometimes even deceptive. Our senses can only perceive phenomena; the essence can only be grasped through abstract thinking. Consequently, essence is difficult to recognize. Furthermore, intelligent individuals may disguise themselves to achieve their goals, making their true nature even harder to discern. However, whether dealing with people or things, we must look through the phenomena to grasp the essence. Otherwise, we will be deceived by appearances and fail to truly understand the world. This is what it means to "see through."
A failure to see through is a lack of insight, reflecting a limitation in intelligence; a failure to let go is a lack of resilience, reflecting a limitation in emotional intelligence. We must both see through the essence and remain open-minded. This is crucial for social practice, character building, and even physical health. Only in this way can our intelligence truly serve us; otherwise, it is better to be "clueless." For example, once we understand that the essence of cancer is largely linked to low immunity, we must learn to "let go"—to despise it strategically but respect it tactically. The key is not to fear it. The immense psychological stress caused by fear can lower immunity, making the cancer even worse. Some say that many cancer patients are essentially "scared to death."
I find this quite true. A journalist friend of mine was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000, which had already metastasized. After his surgery, I jokingly told him, "Don't be afraid; the more you fear, the faster you die. If you aren't afraid, there is still hope to overcome it." He replied with a smile, "I'm not afraid at all." And he truly wasn't. He continued to work, live, and learn just as he had before the illness. He played basketball with young people every day and stayed busy with interviews and writing, as if he had never been ill or undergone major surgery. Twelve years have passed, and he is still healthy and living well. There are many such examples; the "cancer fighting stars" often reported in the media are people like him—those who possess a profound ability to let things go.
"Looking only at your feet leads to big pits; looking far ahead leads to small ones."
Whether walking, cycling, or driving, if you only look at the ground immediately in front of you, you might avoid small bumps but are highly likely to hit a major obstacle or fall into a much larger trap because you cannot see the danger ahead until it is too late. Those who look far ahead might occasionally trip over small stones, but they can spot and avoid major catastrophes and collisions early. This teaches us a vital lesson: whether in life or work, we must maintain a high perspective and look far ahead. Do not focus solely on immediate interests, or you will eventually face great setbacks or even find yourself in a dead end.
