52. Character is like a tree, while reputation is like its shadow.
53. Do not always buy discounted goods, as it can lead to potential feelings of inferiority.
54. To attain a pure land, one must purify the mind; when the mind is pure, the Buddha land is pure. When all beings are purified, the Buddha land is pure.
55. Many people long to amass wealth but disdain small earnings, desiring only great fortunes. They wait for substantial capital before starting a business, only to end up with neither. It is best to start from "small money."
56. Those prone to suspicion often nitpick and fabricate, even distorting normal situations. Suspicion can disturb the human nature.
57. Life is like a boat, unable to carry excessive material desires and vanity. To prevent it from running aground or sinking upon reaching the other shore, one must travel light, taking only what is necessary and decisively letting go of what should be left behind.
58. There are two ways of living in this world: living happily, or living painfully. Which one would you choose?
59. You are a treasure in one person's heart, yet may be seen as mere grass in another's. You know best who treats you well; you can feel whether you matter to someone. You might be insignificant to one person, but a priceless treasure to another. No matter how much one clings, if the heart is not captured, it is in vain. Cherish the inconspicuous affection that treats you as a treasure; never let it go.
60. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear. If you wish to master eternity, you must control the present.
61. Not every result signifies success, nor does the absence of a result mean failure. My lifelong experience is that success lies in the process. Looking back, the joy is not in the final moment of crossing the line; the result is merely a gift from the purchase—if it's good, it's a bonus; if not, it doesn't matter.
62. Life is full of humiliation and pain. The threads that link life to happiness are being broken one by one, especially the thread of money.
63. Regarding others, view them as a blank sheet or as a partner, but never as an enemy, regardless of the negative things you may hear about them.
64. On a midsummer night, the full moon remains, yet carries a hint of chill. Before one can hesitate, the scent of harvest ripples through the air. Stepping through past sorrows and joys, one seeks solace for the soul.
65. If you can treat loss as a form of gain, you will find eternal peace.
66. Burning incense for a thousand miles is not as good as sitting at home chanting Buddha's name. Serving evil masters is not as good as honoring parents through chanting. Making many demonic friends is not as good as remaining pure and solitary in chanting. Relying on future lives is not as good as performing meritorious deeds now. Praying for protection is not as good as repenting and renewing oneself. Studying external scriptures is not as good as being illiterate and chanting. Discussing Zen without wisdom is not as good as strictly observing precepts. Seeking spiritual connections with spirits is not as good as believing in karma and chanting.
67. Without hope and expectation, life feels dull; with hope and expectation, life is filled with anxiety and pain.
68. In infancy, we do not know how to disguise ourselves, but as we approach death, we must shed all pretenses because we no longer have the strength to maintain them. The time we truly live authentically in our lifetime is remarkably short.
