Whether right or wrong, there is no need to distinguish; whether honor or disgrace, do not dwell upon; whether love or hate, why seek clarity; whether success or failure, why care? Even the vast history is swept away by wind and rain, let alone the trivial grievances and gains of an individual. Why not sit lightly on the shoulders of drifting clouds and smile at the thousand-year stories of the world? Gather a wisp of morning fragrance to give yourself a season of scent. Let go of all the past and welcome the rising sun with a heart as pure as new.
Life is merely a hurried journey through this world. We are like specks of dust falling into the human realm, nothing more than a drop in the ocean. Life may seem long, but when merged with history, it is but a fleeting moment. Perhaps you have realized that life is just a game; when the game ends, you and I will be as clean as when we arrived, leaving nothing behind.
I deeply believe that everything has its cause and effect—good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil. If I encounter evil people who hate, envy, slander, or even harm me, I have no desire to return tooth for tooth. I know that "one reaps what one sows," and natural karma will take its course. Why should I harm them? I only feel pity for their heavy karmic burdens and shallow roots of goodness, and I feel ashamed that my own lack of virtue prevents me from saving them.
Do what you want to do, not what others want to see. Many are unhappy because they feel the past was too beautiful, the present too terrible, and the future too nebulous. Through stumbling, we have grown up; even if some things seem like looking back, they were completed by facing them. We can turn around, but we need not look back. You should stride boldly toward the right direction instead of looking back to blame yourself for your mistakes.
When a cup is full, even the best tea must be finished before it can be refilled. When the heart is full, one becomes arrogant, conceited, and stubborn. One must constantly remind oneself whether it is time to clear out the "inventory." Only with an empty cup can a new beginning occur. What Buddhists call "letting go" and what economists call "forgetting sunk costs" are both contained within this empty cup.
