38. Often, our troubles stem not from the pursuit of beauty, but from the obsession with perfection. Because we strive too hard for perfection, we cannot tolerate flaws, thus missing out on many beautiful things.
39. Meeting someone is never a mere coincidence. We have all traveled through mountains and rivers, traversing long roads just to find one another. In the long river of life, this brief moment of destiny is not accidental. The sky is embedded with the eyes of generations past and present; a tear shed on the night sky, reflected by light, is like an eternal soul nailed to the distant void, watching over one's past and future self.
40. Buddha is not an idol, but the fruit of life's spiritual practice. It is not necessary to burn incense and bow; Buddha resides in the heart, not outside the body. The Buddha is one who has traveled the path, and humanity is the future Buddha. The reason one becomes a Buddha is that they see through the patterns that ordinary people cannot, and do what ordinary people cannot do. The reason one remains human is being entangled in emotions and desires, unable to see through or walk out of them. If the heart can achieve sudden enlightenment and learn contentment, you and I can all become Buddhas.
41. Memory tends to linger at the turns of life's journey, carefully editing the bits and pieces of life—joy and sorrow, happiness and bitterness. Perhaps picking up these fragmented pieces of memory and weaving them together will become an invaluable spiritual wealth. Opening the album of memory, warm scenes emerge; sipping tea, realizing the profound meaning, and ruminating on these beautiful times.
42. November 24th, Monday, the weather is cold. I walk along the street holding an umbrella; the wind and rain are heavy, and the surroundings are terribly noisy. Within the unfamiliar scenery lies the prosperity of the city; the streets are bustling with traffic, and people hurry along. Coming and going, rushing and exhausted, jostling one another—this is how everyone lives. In today's fast-paced pursuit of material life, who can stop to listen to the rain, look at the sky, and feel the changes of nature?
43. The wind of the approaching storm blows into the small building; the ancient zither of high mountains and flowing water is broken, its strings snapped and its sound silenced. The thousands of melodies that once echoed have vanished with the wind. The timeless verses as deep as a thousand feet of water now only exist within the beautiful settings of books; where can they be found again? As the red dust of the world rolls on and life turns, one suddenly feels that everything has become so strange.
44. Life is a blooming flower, blossoming beautifully, gracefully, and vibrantly; life is an exquisite poem, fresh, smooth, and profound; life is a beautiful piece of music, harmonious and lingering; life is a flowing river, surging endlessly forward.
45. Married couples living together inevitably quarrel, but there is a sense of responsibility and an inseparable bond of kinship that holds them together. If one loses the other, the heart will surely ache, for the partner has long since merged into their very life.
46. A smile can dissolve much of the haste and anxiety in life; a smile can melt the coldness and helplessness in the dust of memory; a smile can allow every heartbeat in life to bloom in full splendor. Smiling every day will bring joy to your body and mind, and will move others with a moment of warmth.
47. Cherish every piece of clothing, but do not hesitate when giving them away.
48. Be an individual and give yourself some space! The road to success must be forged by oneself; the future comes from self-reliance and strength. Do not submit to any authority; use your true self to find your own dignity.
49. Only when we are open and live without regrets can we experience true happiness.
50. When you are ill, it is not your tasks that will care for you, but your enemies and your parents! Keep in touch.
51. Character stems from habit, and habit stems from daily actions.
52. Do not facilitate evil, nor indulge in killing.
53. Do not make promises easily if you are unsure of your ability to fulfill them. Be trustworthy and act on your word. If you fail to do what you promised, you will be stuck in a dilemma where helping is no better than not helping, leaving you in an awkward position.
54. Traveling a thousand miles to burn incense is not as good as sitting at home chanting the Buddha's name. Serving false teachers is not as good as honoring your parents and chanting the Buddha's name. Befriending evil companions is not as good as remaining pure and solitary while chanting the Buddha's name. Seeking merit in the next life is not as good as creating blessings by chanting the Buddha's name now. Praying for protection is not as good as repenting and renewing oneself through chanting the Buddha's name. Studying the writings of heterodox paths is not as good as being illiterate and chanting the Buddha's name. Discussing Zen theories without wisdom is not as good as honestly observing precepts and chanting the Buddha's name. Seeking supernatural powers is not as good as believing in karma and chanting the Buddha's name!
55. Everything in the universe is in a constant state of change. To pin your life and happiness on the permanence of things will undoubtedly lead to disappointment every single day.
56. Every girl was once a tearless angel; when she meets a boy she loves, she weeps—and thus becomes a mortal. Therefore, boys must never let girls down, for a girl may give up an entire heaven for you!
57. The things we obtain and possess cause us to lose ourselves; we become identified with those things, and eventually, we no longer know who we are.
