The sorrow of parting, upon closer analysis, encompasses three layers of meaning. First, life is characterized by constant flux; after a parting, one never knows when, or if, the next reunion will occur. It is possible that a single farewell becomes a permanent goodbye. Second, fate is unpredictable. After parting, one inevitably worries about the other, harboring endless concerns. Third, life is brief. When we part in youth, by the time we meet again, we may both be white-haired. We become mirrors for one another, instantly reflecting the ruthlessness of time. In essence, the reason parting is the bitterest experience in life is that it most profoundly reveals the impermanence of existence.
When a person is young, external factors—including the people they meet, the events they encounter, and the opportunities they receive—exert a significant influence on their life beliefs and path. However, after reaching a certain age, the impact of these external factors diminishes greatly. By then, if one has already formed their own life convictions, external forces find it difficult to change them. Conversely, if such convictions have not yet formed, external forces also struggle to instill them.
On the other hand, For a mind capable of receptivity, nothing is ever truly lost.
The reason I prefer to rely on my own abilities to make a living is partly to save mental energy and effort, avoiding the need to cultivate interpersonal relationships in which I am not adept.
In matters of things, there are too many rational accumulations: words, concepts, opinions, evaluations, and so on. In matters of life, there are too many social accumulations: wealth, power, status, fame, and so on. Over time, these accumulations replace the essence, forming a false world that is impregnable.
Knowledge concerns itself with matters within human limits; wisdom concerns itself with matters beyond human limits.