Cultivation is a gradual process that requires patience and a constant heart of kindness. It is not just for monks, but a way of life for everyone: 'Cultivation' is refining one's character, and 'Action' is rectifying one's behavior.
The Buddha said, 'One thought is heaven, one thought is hell.' Master Xuanhua said, 'One thought of light is Buddha, one thought of darkness is a ghost. If you dwell in light, you are always Buddha; if you dwell in darkness, you are always a ghost. A single thought of goodness creates the cause for heaven, and a single thought of evil brings the result of hell.'
Sometimes, silence is the best way to speak.
If you have nothing else to offer, offer your flaws.
Perhaps I have grown old and weary, but I also feel a sense of ease and optimism. If I were to compete and compare with everyone, I would only be torturing myself. Learning to bring happiness to oneself allows others to find peace as well.
I know well that behind every reunion lies the hidden sign of departure. I do not know which shore the farewell at the ferry will land upon. In the end, I am merely the one holding the umbrella to see others off, while time has unwittingly paved the way for the youth of others. I am left to reminisce alone in the twists of time, as memories fade and the dust of the past blurs with passing years.
How can life be complete without joy? Yet, life is also inseparable from sorrow. I do not believe one can be happy every moment, nor do I think a life filled only with sorrow is meaningful. However, if one can slowly absorb and deeply experience both joy and sorrow, then both become worth savoring, and life becomes truly interesting.
