Through the boiling heat and the chaotic floating and sinking, a sip of tea tastes bitter and astringent, much like the hardships of entrepreneurship; yet, having offered the beauty of youth and the essence of life, one finds the tea truly fragrant and mellow.
Where there is hope, even pain is sweet; where there are ideals, even hell can become heaven. Hope is the greatest driving force in life. With hope for tomorrow, today's suffering becomes the greatest joy.
Life is actually quite simple; it only requires being down-to-earth. Hard work will bring everything you desire. As the saying goes, "Learn from others' knowledge to build your own wealth; learn from others' strengths to supplement your own deficiencies!"
Common troubles in life stem from dissatisfaction with what we lack and the fear of losing what we have. Life finds its brilliance in splendor and its truth in the mundane. What belongs to you will come; what you possess is already the best. Therefore, cherish the present deeply. Do not dwell on past mistakes, nor worry about the distant future; only through effort in the present can we sense the essence of life.
The Zen method of calming turbulent thoughts to remain in a state of tranquility is called "Stopping"; "Viewing" is the process of realizing the true nature of the mind. Whether practicing "Stopping" or "Viewing," the most important thing is knowing how to settle the mind—to be relaxed, open, and natural. The goal of Zen meditation is not to achieve a state of no-thought, but to no longer be disturbed by thoughts.
Heaven determines fate, but man determines his own destiny. By performing good deeds and accumulating virtue, what blessings could one not seek? Goodness and hidden merits are created by the mind; maintain this mind, and your merit will be boundless. For instance, practicing humility costs nothing. Those who are overly arrogant are seldom great; even if they gain much, they cannot sustain it. A person of insight will not limit their own capacity or reject their blessings. Humility allows one to receive teachings and continuously acquire goodness, which is essential for any practitioner.
