Before reading, I would like to remind you that this article is for reference and entertainment only, and it is a fun conversation after dinner. Our yearning for a better life and its meaning come from inner strength, not superstitious dependence.
There was once a traveling monk who was passing through a small town when he was surrounded by villagers, who told him about their suffering and confusion.
The monk smiled slightly, folded his hands, and uttered four proverbs.
He said that no matter what kind of predicament you encounter, as long as you recite these four words silently in your heart, it will be as if you have been blessed by God to help you overcome the calamity. What are the four sentences? Listen to me one by one.
First, there is no way out of the mountains and rivers, and the willows and flowers are bright and another village.
The sentence of the Song Dynasty poet Lu You, "The mountains and rivers are full of doubts, and the willows and flowers are bright and another village" is not only a description of the natural landscape, but also a profound understanding of the philosophy of life.
It teaches us that we should not give up hope easily in times of setbacks and difficulties, because the turning point is often at the next corner.
There is no shortage of such words of wisdom in ancient Chinese culture, and they have been passed down in various forms to this day, becoming the spiritual pillar of people in the face of adversity.
For example, in "Zhuangzi", there are: "The great knowledge is leisurely, and the small knowledge is leisurely; Big words, small words Zhan Zhan. This sentence reminds us that a truly wise person is able to face life's challenges without being bothered by trivial things.
For another example, there is such a story in ancient times: according to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong, a famous minister of Qi State, was demoted to a concubine and once fell into poverty. But he did not get depressed because of this, but continued to study diligently, and finally was able to make a comeback and become an important auxiliary minister of Duke Qi Huan. Guan Zhong's story tells us that even if we are at a low point, as long as we stick to our beliefs and continue to work hard, we will eventually usher in a turnaround.
The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote in his "Memories of Shandong Brothers on September 9th": "Being alone in a foreign land as a stranger, thinking of relatives every festival. Although this sentence expresses the poet's longing for his hometown relatives, it also indirectly reflects that no matter where he is, there is always a persistence and hope in his heart.
Folklore is also rich in wisdom. For example, "if you lose your horse, you won't know if you're blessed," meaning that seemingly unfortunate things may end up bringing unexpected benefits; There is also "how to get the fragrance of plum blossoms without going through a cold bone", which means that only through hardships can we achieve extraordinary.
Second, the heavens will descend on the people, and they must first suffer their minds.
This quote comes from the ancient Chinese Confucian classic "Mencius", and it profoundly reveals a truth: people often need to go through a spiritual grind before taking on great responsibilities.
There is no shortage of such examples in Chinese history. For example, Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period, after Liu Bei visited the thatched house, he went out of the mountain to assist Liu Bei to achieve a career. The reason why Zhuge Liang was able to become a famous generation is not only because of his intelligence, but more importantly, because of his indomitable spiritual quality. In the face of Cao Cao's million-strong army, he was still able to remain calm and composed, and the cultivation of this mentality was the embodiment of "suffering his will".
The Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu wrote in his "Spring Hope": "The country is broken by mountains and rivers, and the city is deep in spring. "Even in times of national turmoil, the poet was able to maintain a calm heart and find solace in nature. What a mind and bearing!
There is a folk proverb: "How can you get the fragrance of plum blossoms without a cold bone?" This phrase vividly expresses that plum blossoms can only bloom with a charming fragrance after the test of harsh winter. This is not only a description of natural phenomena, but also a revelation of our life experiences.
In modern society, this idea still applies. Whether we are facing challenges in the workplace or in our personal lives, we should learn to draw strength from them rather than be overwhelmed by them. As the modern writer Yu Hua expressed in his novel "Alive": "Man lives for the sake of life itself, not for anything other than living." "Under the pressure of life, keep a normal heart and face all difficulties with a positive attitude, so that you can grow in adversity and grow in challenges.
"I don't know the true face of Lushan, only because I am in this mountain." When we look at problems from a higher perspective, we will find that those obstacles that once seemed insurmountable are actually the ladder to success.
Third, the ship must be self-horizontal to the middle stream, and the people are self-exalted.
This ancient precept contains a profound philosophy that guides us in how to deal with ourselves in the river of life. When the ship of life sails to the center of the river and encounters the wind and waves of adversity, we need the wisdom and courage of the boat to be self-defeating in the river.
Looking back on the long history, we can see that countless heroes and heroes have shown this spirit of "the boat must be self-reliant when the boat reaches the middle" in the face of adversity.
For example, Zhuge Liang in the Three Kingdoms period, in the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains and six expeditions out of Qishan, even in the face of many difficulties, he always maintained a firm belief and determination, and was not shaken by the wind and waves.
And "people are self-exalted when they have nothing to seek" is a profound revelation of the relationship between material pursuit and spiritual cultivation. Reducing the excessive pursuit of material things and pursuing spiritual prosperity and improvement is the key to the improvement of a person's character. This can't help but remind people of Tao Yuanming's transcendent object of "picking chrysanthemums under the east fence and leisurely seeing Nanshan", his yearning for pastoral life and indifference to fame and fortune have made his poems pass down through the ages, and his character is also praised.
Looking at the world, the ancient Greece philosopher Diogenes lived a simple life, but was known for his wisdom and philosophical thinking, and his attitude towards life also reflected the philosophy of "people are self-exalted without seeking quality". He pursued truth and wisdom, not material abundance.
Whether in ancient or modern times, whether in the East or the West, this ancient premony has guided people's attitude towards life with its profound connotation.
It admonishes us to have the courage and wisdom to be self-respecting in the rivers of life; In the choice between material and spiritual, there must be the pursuit of improving one's own character. In this way, we can become the real helmsman of life, control the wind and waves of life, and reach the other side of the ideal.
Fourth, Seon lost his horse, and he didn't know if it was a blessing.
This idiom, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is like the advice of a wise man, passing through the dust of history and telling us those philosophies about gains and losses, as well as blessings and misfortunes.
It reminds us that sometimes in life, those seemingly frustrating losses may be quietly carrying the seeds of good fortune in the future.
Just like the loss of the horse, the neighbors are sorry for it, who would have thought that the horse not only returned by itself, but also brought back another horse, isn't this exactly "lost east, harvested mulberry"?
Gu Shiyun: "There is no way out of the mountains and rivers, and the willows and flowers are bright and another village." This is an allusion to Seon's lost horse, and it is also in line with some of the circumstances in our life's journey. Whenever we feel that the road ahead is blank, lost and helpless, do we know that fate is not preparing another surprise for us?
In ancient legends, there is no shortage of stories of blessings in disguise and bad fortunes. These stories are not only legends, but also vivid interpretations of the philosophy that "if you lose your horse, you will not know what you are blessed". They tell us that the relationship between gains and losses is often not a simple opposition, but a relationship of interdependence and mutual transformation.
As the saying goes, "The old doesn't go, the new doesn't come." This echoes the philosophy of "Seon lost his horse". When we lose something, it may be painful and reluctant, but it can also be an opportunity for a fresh start. As long as we maintain a positive attitude and believe that every loss is for a better encounter in the future, we can bravely face every challenge and change in life.
Just like the thousand-year-old tree, it stands tall in the wind and rain, not because it has never lost its branches and leaves, but because it knows how to absorb nutrients from loss and accumulate strength for new growth.
Although these four sentences of the monk are simple, they contain a profound philosophy of life. Not only do they help us find a way out of difficult situations, but they also improve our state of mind and character.
Of course, these words are not omnipotent magic, they are more of a psychological suggestion and spiritual sustenance. By meditating on these words, we can adjust our mindset to become stronger and more optimistic, so that we can better face life's challenges.