The heights achieved and maintained by great people are not reached in a single leap, but through arduous climbing while their companions are asleep. Perhaps the easiest thing in the world is procrastination.
When troubled, reflecting on the source of your worries reveals they are often trivial; much of our distress comes from overthinking. Everything happens according to its own cause and condition. Be grateful for the smooth times and reflect upon the difficult ones, then learn to let go. Life is short, so there is no need for regret. If it is beautiful, it is brilliance; if it is difficult, it is experience. Let go of all worries and live each day happily.
If you observe the people and events in this world closely, you will realize that those who suddenly receive great rewards must have once given selflessly without calculating the cost. There is no such thing as unprovoked love or unexpected gifts; everything is rooted in the sincere giving and sacrifice you once offered.
Life is never perfect; it is filled with bitter tears, regrets, grievances, and sorrows. Yet, life is also perfect, offering smiles amidst tears, enlightenment amidst regret, joy amidst grievance, and love amidst sorrow. To see the perfection in life, one must overlook the imperfections and amplify the possibilities of perfection. If your heart is perfect, the world is perfect. What we must cultivate is a heart that loves this world.
A true friend is better than a relative, offering silent support and helping to resolve difficulties. If you are fortunate enough to have such a friend, cherish them deeply. Life cannot always be smooth, and wealth is not guaranteed; even when there are obstacles and fleeting connections, one should cherish the moments.
Give yourself some leisure and avoid stretching the strings of life too tight. Leisure is not laziness or idle waste of time, nor is it extravagant indulgence. As Zhou Guoping said, "Leisure is returning to oneself, wandering freely in one's own world, composed and serene, with a heart that is calm and clear."
"When the wind blows through the sparse bamboo, the bamboo leaves no sound; when the wild geese fly over the cold pool, the pool leaves no shadow. Therefore, a gentleman's heart appears when events arise and follows the void when events depart." When the wind blows, the wind and bamboo meet through karma; when the wind passes, the connection ends and all returns to emptiness, leaving the bamboo grove in silence. All things, whether long or short, bitter or sweet, are inherently empty. Do your best when things come, and remain steady when they depart. A calm mind is the Way.
