Having a dream is often merely a manifestation of intellect; realizing a dream truly embodies capability. There is only one path that cannot be chosen—that of giving up—and only one path that cannot be refused—that of growth.
The world's vanity and brilliance are fleeting. Some roads are destined to be walked alone. Promises once made have shattered into dust, and companions who swore to stay by your side have parted ways at the crossing of time. Amidst the red dust, you ride alone, solitary and independent. Raindrops soak your bewildered eyes, thin mists obscure past promises, and the long wind scatters scattered thoughts.
Rather than chasing fame, power, or wealth, it is better to live an authentic life and seek a good mood. Only by being light as smoke and firm as a rock can one distance oneself from inner turmoil. Life involves advances and retreats, but one must never lose their composure. In this life, however you live, it is better to find joy than to frown. Suffering more than joy is inevitable, accepting both is calmness, and transforming suffering into joy is the transcendence of the wise. Lean on the railing, listen to the rain and wind, and watch the path of the world with detachment.
Reading and emotion are equivalent to talent. Perception is the counterpart of understanding, just as action is the counterbalance to thought. A talented friend can keep pace with you through friendship and comprehension; an ordinary person, grounded in emotion, can rival the greatest artists. This explains why some may fall in love with seemingly ordinary individuals.
In life, there are inevitable partings. Before you notice, they have already said goodbye. It is not the scenery that grows old in haste, but the people who leave. Buddhism teaches that in meditation, one can forget even oneself; how then can one force others to remember one? When you complain that others are not as they were, you have likely already lost the person you used to be. Be a grateful person; every day, you can encounter the beauty of a first meeting.
