Before reading, I would like to remind you that this article is for reference and entertainment only, and it is intended to be a fun conversation after tea and dinner, aiming at the meaning of a better life, not superstitious!
"Life and death are fateful, wealth is in the sky." Throughout the ages, people have never stopped thinking about the end of life, and in the wisdom of Buddhism, there is a saying that makes people think deeply - "The high monk said: In this world, there are six kinds of people who do not get sick and suffer before they die, and leave the great fortune safely." This is not only a philosophical reflection on the ultimate state of life, but also a revelation on how to cultivate while alive.
Next, let's explore these six philosophies of life with a relaxed and happy heart, and perhaps find some art and wisdom of life from them.
1. Those who have compassion in their hearts and sow blessings extensively
In ancient India, Buddha Shakyamuni once told a story called "The Garden of Sudatta". Sudatta was a wealthy merchant known as "for the lonely" for his generosity. He spared no expense to purchase a beautiful garden for the Buddha to teach the Dharma and purify all sentient beings, and this garden later became the famous Gion Monastery.
Sudatta's good deeds not only accumulated immeasurable merit for him, but also blessed the descendants of his family, and became a good story widely praised by later generations. This is a vivid example of "having compassion and planting a wide range of blessings".
"Plant melons and get melons, plant beans and get beans." This ancient Chinese proverb reveals the law of cause and effect simply and profoundly.
In real life, people with compassion are like sowing the seeds of love in the field of the heart, whether it is in material assistance, spiritual comfort, or knowledge dissemination, every act of kindness is watering and fertilizing their tree of life, so that it can grow vigorously and flourish.
"Good is like water, and water is good for all things without fighting." This sentence in the Tao Te Ching is the best portrayal of a compassionate person. They are like water, quietly penetrating into every corner of life, nourishing all things, but not competing with all things.
"Benevolent longevity." This sentence of Confucius in the Analects is not only a praise for the benevolent, but also an affirmation of the longevity of the compassionate one.
In modern society, scientific research has also found that people who are helpful and have a peaceful mind tend to have better physical and mental health and live longer.
This is a fulfillment of the wisdom of the ancients – to have compassion is not only to bring happiness to others, but also to treat oneself with the greatest kindness.
"Life is like a lotus, compassion is water." Although this sentence is not from ancient books, it expresses a profound philosophy.
Just as the lotus flower emerges from the mud and is not stained, a compassionate person can maintain the purity and nobility of his heart even in the hot and cold world.
With a soft and tenacious heart, they dissolve the indifference of the world, and use their own light and heat to illuminate others and warm themselves.
They interpreted the true meaning of "giving is more blessed than receiving" with practical actions, and their life journey was full of light and hope, and finally they were able to pass away peacefully without any obstacles, just as Bai Juyi's poem said: "The heart is quiet, and there is no ancient or modern." ”
2. Those who are indifferent to fame and fortune and whose heart is like stopping water
"Picking chrysanthemums under the east fence, leisurely see Nanshan." Tao Yuanming used a poem "Drinking" to depict his transcendent life of indifference to fame and fortune and retreat to the countryside. In modern society, this kind of indifference and tranquility are also pursued.
In ancient times, after Fan Li assisted King Goujian of Yue to achieve hegemony, he knew that "all the birds are flying, and the good bow is hidden; The cunning rabbit dies, and the lackeys cook", he chose to retire after success, boated on the five lakes, and became Tao Zhugong of the rich party.
His wisdom and indifference have made another legend, and it has also inspired future generations: fame and fortune are like floating clouds to me, and my true self is at ease in my heart.
In the Buddhist classic "Diamond Sutra", there is a cloud: "All things have a way, like a dream bubble, like dew and electricity, and should be viewed as such." This is not only a deep insight into the rapid changes of everything in the world, but also a high praise for the attitude of life that is indifferent to fame and fortune and has a heart like water.
It tells us that the pursuit of inner peace and wisdom is far more important than outer glory and wealth.
Modern life is fast-paced and materialistic, but as Thoreau showed in Walden, the values of simple living and deep thinking can still touch the heartstrings of modern people.
In his lakeside cabin, he experienced the tranquility and contentment of living in harmony with nature through a self-sufficient life, and his philosophy of life has influenced generations of people who seek spiritual freedom.
In the long river of history, there is no shortage of wise men who are indifferent to fame and fortune. Su Shi, a writer in the Song Dynasty, had a bumpy career in his life, but he was able to find the joy of life in the debasement, and wrote "Bamboo canes and shoes are lighter than horses, who is afraid?" A cloud of smoke and rain is the life of Ping's life", showing his transcendent and peaceful attitude towards life.
3. Those who practice diligently and have a pure heart like a mirror
"If you learn without thinking, you will be reckless, and if you think without learning, you will die." This sentence of Confucius in the Analects emphasizes the importance of paying equal attention to learning and thinking, and also indirectly points out the necessity of spiritual improvement. Cultivation is not only the pursuit of external knowledge, but also the purification and improvement of the inner world.
The modern poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote in his book The Birds: "It is not the blow of the hammer, but the song and dance of the water that makes the pebbles perfect." This poem is an apt metaphor for the process of spiritual practice, gentle and firm, slow but profound.
As the folk proverb goes: "Sharpen the knife and don't mistake the woodcutter." The implication is that before anything, you must prepare and improve yourself in order to get twice the result with half the effort. A person who is diligent in cultivation is like a sharpened blade, and in the face of life's challenges, he can always respond with the sharpest state.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "You have to be the change you want to see in this world." This sentence inspires people to start from self-cultivation and lead positive changes in society with their own purity and progress.
This kind of change from the inside out is the silent contribution of the practitioner to the world.
In the classical Chinese novel "Journey to the West", the four Tang monks and apprentices went through 9981 difficulties and finally obtained the true scriptures, symbolizing the difficulties and perseverance on the road of cultivation. Every obstacle is a test of the mind, and every time it is overcome, it makes the soul more tenacious and pure.
According to modern psychologist Carl Rogers, the core of "individual-centered therapy" is to promote the self-realization of the individual, and this concept coincides with spiritual improvement.
Through continuous self-exploration and growth, we can achieve spiritual harmony and self-realization, just like a mirror, reflecting the truest and purest self.
The ancient literati Su Shi mentioned in "On Staying in the Marquis": "There are brave people in the world, who are not surprised when they come, and they are not angry for no reason." This is not only a definition of bravery, but also a reflection of the state of mind of the practitioner.
If your heart is as pure as a mirror, you can remain calm and rational in the face of distractions, showing extraordinary courage and determination.
As the saying goes: "One minute on stage, ten years off the stage." Although this phrase is often used to describe the cultivation of skills, it also applies to spiritual practice.
The process of spiritual improvement is often obscure and accumulated over time, just to show that calmness and thoroughness at the critical moment of life.
IV. Wisdom and Wisdom and Wisdom
"Those who know are happy with water, and those who are benevolent are happy with mountains." This sentence not only reflects the reverence of the ancients for nature, but also contains profound philosophy. Water, with its uninhabitable flow and changing shape, symbolizes the flexibility and adaptability of the wise.
The concept of "flexible leadership" in modern management emphasizes that leaders need to be as agile as water, flexibly respond to various complex situations, and continue to learn and innovate, so as to seek opportunities and growth in the midst of change.
The mountain, with its stable, heavy, quiet and far-reaching image, represents the perseverance and indifference of the benevolent.
In the modern world, this quality is embodied in those who stick to their principles and are not moved by the glitz, who are as steadfast as a mountain, who provide support and shelter for others, and who show a deep and lasting strength. Just as modern psychology advocates emotional stability, benevolent people are able to maintain inner peace in the face of pressure and challenges, so as to cope with all changes.
As the old saying goes: "Good is like water, and water is good for all things without fighting." "The wise man, like flowing water, not only nourishes all things, but also purifies himself in the flow, embodying the virtues of selflessness and humility.
In the folk, there is also a saying that "the mountain is not high, there are immortals, then the spirit", emphasizing that the wealth of the inner spirit is better than the magnificence of the external form, and the virtue of the benevolent is just like the hermit in the mountain, although it is in a quiet place, its influence can spread far and wide.
The modern writer Yu Qiuyu once wrote in his works: "Cultural journey, the heart is far away. This is not only a description of travel, but also an artistic conception of life practice. The wise and the benevolent are all exploring the meaning and value of life with the wisdom of water and the benevolence of mountains in their respective spiritual journeys.
As the saying goes: "A drop of water pierces a stone, not by force, but also by time." "It's both a celebration of perseverance and a recognition of time and perseverance.
Through unremitting efforts and long-term perseverance, the wise and the benevolent can finally achieve inner harmony and external balance, and realize personal sublimation and transcendence of life.
5. Optimistic and open-minded, laughing at life
"Smile, ten years less", this Chinese proverb, concisely and profoundly reveals the positive effect of optimism on longevity and rejuvenation of the soul.
In the pen of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, Levin in "Anna Karenina", despite many life setbacks, has always cherished the love and exploration of life, and his story tells us that even if the reality is full of thorns, optimism can still guide us to discover the beauty of life.
The ancient Chinese fable "Saiong Lost His Horse, Knowing Not Happiness" expounds the optimistic and open-minded philosophy of life from another perspective.
In the story, instead of being pessimistic and hopeless in the face of the misfortune of losing his horse, Seon looks at the future with an open mind, and finally proves that every misfortune may be followed by a hidden turnaround.
This ancient wisdom still teaches us today that optimists see hope in adversity and opportunity in change.
Turning to Western literature, Mark Twain's humor and satire were a sharp sword in the face of life's hardships.
In his autobiography, even looking back on the difficult years of his early years, there is no lack of light-hearted and witty strokes, showing a life attitude of laughing at life and embracing all kinds of situations in the world with an open-minded mind.
Another example is the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi, in the face of a derogatory career, he wrote in "Fixing the Storm", "Bamboo canes and shoes are lighter than horses, who is afraid?" A cloud of smoke and rain is Ren Ping's life. Such a transcendent poem and a smile on the wind and clouds show that even if you are through thick and thin, you can enjoy the journey of life with an optimistic attitude.
Optimistic and open-minded people, with a smile as a boat, with humor as a sail, even in the stormy waves of life, can laugh at the wind and rain, so that the ship of the soul sails to the other side of happiness and tranquility.
6. Those who are content and always happy, and are grateful
"Those who are content are poor and lowly, and those who are not content are rich and worried." This sentence in "Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching" expresses the true meaning of contentment. In life, those who know how to cherish what they have and are grateful for every gift are always filled with happiness and satisfaction in their hearts.
When he was dying, because he had no regrets in his heart, he was able to walk peacefully to the end of his life and enjoy the peace from the bottom of his heart.
The reason why these six types of people were able to survive illness and die peacefully at the end of their lives was because they practiced a certain wisdom of life all their lives, either as compassion, or as indifferent to fame and fortune, or as diligent in practice, or as optimistic and open-minded, or contented and grateful.
These qualities, like a beacon on the path of life, guide us towards a brighter and more peaceful shore.
Let us try to cultivate these beautiful qualities in our daily lives, and perhaps, every moment of our lives can become more wonderful and meaningful.