Indifference to Gains, Losses and the Past is the Path to Inner Peace

After traversing mountains and rivers, there will eventually be brightness at the end.

When you gain perspective on many superfluous things, you will find that better things await you henceforth.

Tribulations abound everywhere in life, and living is a kind of exercise.

Except for life and death itself, all else is trivial, but if you perform good deeds, ask not about your future, simply remain indifferent to gains and losses.

There are ups and downs in life, and there are vicissitudes in life.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed ashore a deserted isle. He hoped for rescue each day, yet a miracle came not to pass.

In order to survive, he built a hut from boughs, yet misfortune struck again, a fire destroyed the cabin, and he felt profound despair amidst the billowing smoke.

When he was on the verge of forfeiting his life, a large ship sailed towards him and he was rescued.

“How came you to know I was here?” he inquired.

“We saw thick smoke rising hence and thought mayhap someone was here,” replied the crew.

Whose life is not fraught with gains and losses in equal measure? Losing something is not necessarily detrimental. What you lose here, you are certain to find elsewhere.

Only by gaining perspective on gains and losses can you encounter the most splendid scene in the deep vale of despair.

Knowing the world yet not the world, the calendar is smooth yet naive.

The great talent Nalan Xingde said long ago: Waiting in leisure to alter the aged man’s heart, yet the aged man’s heart is changeable.

There has never been a constant thing in this world, nor a consistent human heart.

If you swear to be friends for life today, you may part ways tomorrow; if you swear to each other today to safeguard your love for life, it may become dispensable tomorrow.

Hence, for those who have parted, be not humble to keep them, be not entangled if you have lost your love, and force not yourself if your heart is far away.

Only by gaining perspective on people’s hearts can you be one who knows the world yet not the world. Even if you fall or are hurt, you still possess love in your heart and light in your eyes.

With a wave of your sleeve, leave the past behind.

There was an old man in England, George, who had a habit — every time he passed a door, George always turned around and closed the door gently.

His friend inquired wonderingly: “Must you close all these doors?”

“Oh, of course ’tis necessary,” said George with a smile. “I’ve been closing the door behind me all my life, and when you close the door, you leave the past behind.”

The greatest pain of a person is to cling to the past; the greatest happiness is to gain perspective on the past.

If you err, correct it, if you lose, you admit it, if you fail, you begin anew.

Traversing mountains and rivers, you will ultimately behold the willows and blossoms; only when you gain perspective on the past, can you proceed lightly.