However, many people still feel various pains or dissatisfaction towards others or things outside themselves when facing their life's path, and often find fault with them. Since people live in this world, these are all inevitable. As long as there is a place for people, there is a (gāng hú – informal network of relationships), and where there is a (gāng hú – informal network of relationships), there are human relationships and customs. With these relationships and customs, love, hate, and revenge naturally arise.

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01 Looking down on others is due to small perspective

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Things have their inherent existence, and things have their purpose. Nothing is acceptable if it doesn't exist, and nothing is unacceptable if it does. Don't condemn right and wrong; get along with the mundane. – Zhuangzi

This means that everything in the world has its inherent value and necessity. There is nothing that exists without a reason, so we shouldn't always criticize the world and its affairs. Instead, we should get along with them and live a normal life.

This seemingly simple and unremarkable sentence reveals a profound truth. Since everything in the world exists for a reason, why do we always criticize or disapprove of things? The main reason is that our perspective is too narrow.

Perspective, in this context, refers to the range of things a person can accept and understand. The more things a person can accept and understand, the larger their perspective. Consequently, their understanding of the world will be greater. Therefore, they are less likely to be critical of others or things.

We can look at an example from Zhuangzi's life to understand the meaning of perspective. I know a lot about Zeng Guofan. Let me tell you a story about him. At that time, Zeng Guofan was an official in Beijing, a second-rank official. According to the Qing Dynasty's requirements, a second-rank official was supposed to be carried by eight people in a blue silk sedan chair. If he encountered a lower-ranked official in a blue silk sedan chair, he could drag the official out and beat him. But Zeng Guofan always used a four-person blue silk sedan chair.

One day, Zeng Guofan was traveling to the capital in his four-person blue silk sedan chair, as usual. Suddenly, he encountered a group of people in an eight-person green silk sedan chair behind him. Zeng Guofan's sedan chairmen gave way to let the green silk sedan chair pass. However, the green silk sedan chair still couldn't pass. The sedan chairmen of the green silk sedan chair got angry and rushed forward to drag Zeng Guofan out and beat him. Fortunately, an official in a second-rank sedan chair saw Zeng Guofan, a first-rank official, so they stopped. Otherwise, Zeng Guofan would have been beaten severely.

The official in the second-rank sedan chair was a first-rank official, so when he saw Zeng Guofan, a first-rank official, he quickly knelt down and apologized. If it weren't for the official in the second-rank sedan chair seeing Zeng Guofan, a first-rank official, this second-rank official would have been beaten severely. But Zeng Guofan didn't get angry. He helped the official up and said that his sedan chair had blocked the way. Then he ordered his sedan chairmen to give way to green silk sedan chairs in the future.

You can see that even a prominent figure like Zeng Guofan remained calm and rational when faced with such an extreme situation. He didn't let his status and identity influence his behavior, nor did he become critical of others. Instead, he maintained his composure and handled the situation with grace. This is the embodiment of a truly broad-minded person.

In our daily lives, we may encounter similar situations. Most people are selfish and self-centered, always thinking about their own interests. This can lead to various unpleasant experiences and behaviors. If we are critical of everything and everyone, our lives will be even more miserable. It's better to avoid excessive entanglement and worry.

Instead, try to accept things more readily and understand people's behavior. As long as it doesn't seriously harm your interests and is not driven by greed, don't overthink it. You have so much time to waste on worrying about trivial matters. The gap between people is often created by these minor details. We shouldn't let our obsession with others' mistakes harm ourselves.

02 Excessive pain is due to excessive desire

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This means that people always admire and pursue wealth, nobility, longevity, and goodness. They also enjoy peace of mind, delicious food, beautiful clothes, lust, and beautiful sounds. Conversely, they despise poverty, sickness, and misfortune. And their suffering comes from not being able to enjoy a comfortable life, not having delicious food, and not having beautiful clothes. If any of these things are not obtained, they will be full of anxiety and fear, and their physical appearance will also be considered foolish.

It's easy to understand that when people live in this world, their desires are always unfulfilled. As soon as they get one hundred thousand yuan, their desires become one million yuan. As soon as they get one million yuan, their desires become ten million yuan. This process continues endlessly. When any of these desires are not fulfilled, they will feel pain and sadness. For example, loving someone but not being able to have them, wanting something but never getting it, or desiring a high position but never achieving it. Many desires, while appearing to be a pursuit of life, can actually lead to pain and suffering if the mindset behind them is wrong.

In life, our desires are endless and will never be satisfied. When we have one million, we always want more. When we have one million, we always want ten million. This cycle will never end. When any of these desires are not fulfilled, we will feel pain and sadness. It's better to have less desire and less disappointment.

Let's analyze the situation calmly. In our lives, things like wealth and status are not the key to happiness. The more you have, the more you want. It's better to be content with what you have and not be constantly dissatisfied.

Zhuangzi said, not criticizing others is due to small perspective, and excessive pain is due to excessive desire. Then how can we truly be happy and fulfilled? The answer is simple: have less criticism of others, less complaints, and less desires. Life will naturally become easier.Note: Images are from the internet, copyright infringement will be deleted. Welcome to leave interesting thoughts in the comments.”

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