Live with a Calm Mind, Embrace Serenity!
Everything in life will be alright. If you feel it's not good now, that's because you haven't reached the end. Good fortune has yet to arrive.
A person's good fortune depends on their blessings, which are difficult to measure.
Everything depends on one's own mind, and everything depends on one's wishes.People's hearts are like magnets; whatever they contain within will attract similar things, leading to different lives.
Your life is defined by these three sentences.
First: Accept losses and gains with grace.
In one lifetime, all methods and all methods are empty. Accept gains and losses, and don't cling to your heart.
When you are engrossed in appreciating flowers, don't get lost in the beauty; when you part with flowers, don't be saddened. This will allow you to be free and liberated.
A Zen master was carrying a basket of orchids as he strolled through the streets.
When he came to a crowded place, he deliberately dropped the basket, smashing the flowers to pieces, and then didn't look back, continuing to walk forward.
Along the way, people didn't understand and asked the Zen master, 'Master, you dropped your flowers, why didn't you even glance back?'
The Zen master stopped and said calmly, 'It's already broken. What good would looking back do?'
It's already broken, and looking back would be futile.
Life is inherently impermanent; things that seem to change or remain the same are ultimately decaying and disappearing. Everything is transient.
In a lifetime, no matter how much you obtain, it will eventually be lost; don't hold onto it with attachment, giving yourself unnecessary pressure.
Gain and loss, acceptance and surrender. Lose what you can't hold, and embrace what you can.Make an effort, and you won't regret it; put your heart into it, and you won't regret it!
Second: Be content and happy.A contented person, even if lying on the ground, would be at ease; an uncontent person, even if in paradise, wouldn't be satisfied.
A young man came to the Zen master to seek guidance: 'Master, what is human desire?'The Zen master glanced at the young man and said, 'Come back tomorrow at noon. Remember, don't eat or drink.'
The young man followed his instructions and came back the next day, already incredibly hungry and thirsty: 'Master, I can eat a whole cow and drink a whole pool of water!'
The Zen master smiled and said, 'Then let me take you.'
They walked for a long time and came to a grove of fruit trees. The Zen master gave the young man a large bag of fresh, tempting fruit, saying, 'You can take as much as you want and bring it back to the temple to eat.' He turned and walked away.
As the sun set, the young man carried a heavy bag of fruit, exhausted and sweaty, returning to the temple.
'Now you can enjoy these delicious fruits.' the Zen master said.
The young man eagerly took out two of the largest fruits and devoured them greedily, emptying the bag in a blink. The young man patted his swollen belly, puzzled, and looked at the Zen master.
'Are you still hungry? Are you still thirsty?'
'No, I can't eat or drink anymore.'
'Then what good was all that effort?' the Zen master asked, gesturing to the still-full bag.
The young man suddenly realized.
Actually...
We truly need only two things to fill our stomachs – food and water.
The rest is just unnecessary desire.
Knowing that everything in the world is illusory, formed by our thoughts and fantasies, allows us to let go of joy and sorrow, and to be content and happy.
In a lifetime, all we need is one day's worth of food and a simple dwelling.When we look at the present, what we truly need is already within our grasp; the difference lies in our perception. All we obtain is a matter of degree.A person with endless desires, even if wealthy and powerful, is always dissatisfied and filled with resentment.
Such a person, even with vast wealth, would be like a beggar in his heart.
A person who knows when to be satisfied, even if living a simple life, can be happy and grateful every day.
Such a person, though not wealthy, would have a contented heart.
When we are content, we are at peace; when we are not, we are restless. We strive and work, seeking contentment and happiness. When we are content, we can truly see contentment and happiness.Third: Diligence and thrift can create wealth.
'It is better to be quiet and still than to be noisy and restless; diligence and thrift are the key to success.'Even clumsy birds will fly if they try hard enough; diligent effort leads to progress.
Young Plum and Lan Feng were students of a master who said, 'Your eyes lack focus; your eyes are dead, hindering your path in the art of opera.'
Despite lacking talent, Plum Feng persisted, diligently practicing day after day.
He raised pigeons, watching them soar in the sky, his eyes following their movements; he raised goldfish, observing the bottom of the tank, searching for their traces.
Day after day, through tireless practice, Plum Feng's eyes finally regained their clarity and brilliance.
'It is better to be diligent than to be idle; effort creates talent.'
Young Plum Feng was a student when his master said, 'You are clumsy, your hand and eye coordination is poor, so you should not be a painter.'
Young Plum Feng heard the master's words, not discouraged, but increased his efforts. He made a simple easel, and began to draw. The first few paintings were quite crude, but he didn't give up, continued to paint day after day, he didn't care about others' opinions, he always focused on the painting.
Every day he practiced, and slowly, steadily, his brushwork became more elegant, his compositions more balanced.Many years passed, and Plum Feng's eyes became as clear as a tranquil autumn lake, shining with emotion.
'Diligence and thrift can create wealth.'
A little effort goes a long way; repeated efforts lead to success.It takes consistent effort to achieve something; repeated effort produces results.
The more effort you put in, the greater the reward.
If you give up easily, you will never succeed; if you persevere, you will eventually achieve your goal.
Self-discipline brings success; the more disciplined you are, the more successful you will be.
A long, quiet night brings many benefits.
When you are at peace, you can achieve great things.
When we are content, we can see the world with clarity; when we are not, we are blinded by our desires. We seek and strive, but ultimately we only seek contentment and happiness. When we are content, we truly appreciate contentment and happiness.
