The Right Way of Life: Diligence, Kindness, and Harmony
The Huainanzi says: “Rather than standing by the pond and envying the fish, it is better to go home and weave a net.”
Diligence (Shen Qin)
The Zengguang Xianwen states: “The plan of a lifetime lies in diligence.”
He Shaoji, a famous calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, sent a light box back from the capital when he learned his daughter was preparing her dowry. On her wedding day, his daughter Chunmei and her husband opened the box, only to find it empty. However, at the bottom of the box, a large character was clearly written: “Diligence”. Upon seeing this, the newlyweds fell into deep thought and understood their father’s profound intention. From then on, the word “Diligence” became the couple’s guiding principle for managing their family and achieving prosperity. As the saying goes, “With diligence, nothing in the world is difficult; with laziness, everything is lost.” Diligence is undoubtedly the first essential of life. In our dealings with others and in our work, we should take diligence as the foundation. No pain, no gain. The road ahead will have wind and rain, and no one can be successful without effort. But heaven rewards diligence and will not let down anyone who works hard. Time waits for no one. We must seize the moment, be diligent, positive, and disciplined, so that we can go steadily and far, making our path smoother.
Kindness (Xin Shan)
The Tao Te Ching says: “The Way of Heaven has no favorites; it always befriends the good man.”
With kindness in your heart and by helping each other, the road will become wider and blessings will become more abundant. In the days to come, as long as you harbor kindness and move forward, you will eventually find fulfillment.
Harmony (Qi He)
The Geyan Lianbi says: “If one is rough and impatient, nothing will be accomplished. If one is calm and harmonious, thousands of blessings will gather.”
Because people who are calm and harmonious can think clearly, look past trivialities, and let go, their lives are sunny everywhere, and their journey is naturally smooth.
In history, there was a Zen master named Jindai who loved orchids dearly and planted many precious varieties. Once, he had to go out for a while. Before leaving, he instructed his disciples to take good care of them. Unexpectedly, an accident happened. A disciple tripped while watering the plants, and the whole shelf of orchids fell to the ground. The disciple was worried all day, terrified of how angry the master would be when he returned and saw the mess. When Zen Master Jindai returned, he was not angry. Instead, he patiently comforted the disciple: “I raise orchids to enjoy them, not to get angry.” Losing one’s temper is like burning a forest of merit. The greater a person’s temper, the less their fortune and merit.
The Cai Gen Tan says: “A person with a gentle spirit and a warm heart has thick blessings and long-lasting grace.” A harmonious person is gentle and elegant in dealing with others. They know how to be tolerant and understanding, making people feel like a spring breeze is blowing when they are around. They can always maintain their reason, avoiding impulsive actions and regrets. Behind a gentle temper lies a shining moral character and long, deep blessings.