Be still and not contend. It is the best spiritual practice for middle-aged people
paulpeng
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "Only by not contending can one be unrivaled in the world."
When people reach middle age, they gradually become indifferent and find that the vicissitudes of the world are all passing clouds.
There is nothing in the world that is guaranteed to be profitable without loss, nor is there anything that can be prosperous forever. Perhaps one can sometimes surpass others by half a measure, but one can never surpass heaven by an inch.
Rather than contending, it is better to live in peace. A peaceful and beautiful life is the pure joy in the world.
Retire gracefully in the rapids and be still without contending.
The ancients said: "When one is full of vigor and vitality, one should refrain from fighting; when one is old, one should refrain from greed."
In the second half of life, it is important to refrain from contending and fighting and learn that giving up is gaining.
Heaven has its regularities and the Tao follows nature. This is the law of heaven and earth, not a law made by humans.
After Liu Bang established the country, he enfeoffed and granted titles to his meritorious officials.
Xiao He, the prime minister and a key official at the founding of the country, chose land that was both remote and barren.
People didn't understand: "We are fighting desperately for a good piece of land, but you are pretending to be noble."
Xiao He smiled without a word and left with a wave of his sleeve.
Many years later, many of the original dignitaries were persecuted to death. Most of the descendants of the dignitaries squandered their family fortunes and were left wandering in the streets.
Only the descendants of Xiao He, because the land was barren, had to support themselves by working hard and became prosperous instead.
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contending. It dwells in places that people dislike. Therefore, it is close to the Tao."
Taking what others discard and giving what others take. This is not only the open-mindedness of being detached from the material world but also the wisdom of living in the world.
There is no need to seek perfection in everything. When the moon is full, it wanes. When the water is full, it overflows. Holding on to imperfection is true wisdom.
If people are as good as water, heaven will surely bless them. Contending without contending is the greatest contention.
Be content with one's lot and let everything take its course.
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "The way of heaven does not contend yet it is good at winning. It does not speak yet it is good at responding. It does not summon yet it comes on its own. It is calm yet it is good at planning. The net of heaven is vast. Though its meshes are wide, nothing slips through."
Winning without contending, responding without speaking, coming without being summoned, achieving without planning. The way of heaven never forces but can naturally achieve what it desires.
When King Wen of Zhou met Jiang Ziya, he was already 72 years old.
Before that, Jiang Ziya had been a butcher and sold rice wine. He had also lobbied the feudal lords.
But destiny is hard to defy. He failed in business and was not appreciated by the feudal lords.
In an instant, he became indifferent to everything. He lived in seclusion by the Pan Stream and fished with a straight hook, waiting only for the king.
When he stopped chasing his destiny, destiny turned around and catered to him.
King Wen of Zhou regarded Jiang Ziya as his teacher and friend and together they created the eight-hundred-year glory of the Zhou Dynasty.
As is said in the "Taoist Induction Chapter": "There is no fixed door for fortune or misfortune. It is only summoned by people themselves. The retribution for good and evil follows people like a shadow."
Everything in the world has its causes and effects. Causes and effects are like a bag of heaven and earth. You and I are all people in the bag.
What is yours does not need to be contended for. What is not yours cannot be contended for. Be content with one's lot and believe that everything is the best arrangement.
"The way of heaven is impartial and always favors the good." As long as one does good deeds, there will surely be a bright future.
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "The way of the sage is to act without contending."
Being pure and inactive is not idling around doing nothing but following one's heart and not chasing after fame and fortune.
The rest of life is not long and should be spent in worthwhile places. Leave external things for others to contend for. A pure heart is the greatest treasure.
The highest good is like water. Still waters run deep. Being still and not contending is the best spiritual practice for middle-aged people.
May blessings be boundless. Amitabha!
When people reach middle age, they gradually become indifferent and find that the vicissitudes of the world are all passing clouds.
There is nothing in the world that is guaranteed to be profitable without loss, nor is there anything that can be prosperous forever. Perhaps one can sometimes surpass others by half a measure, but one can never surpass heaven by an inch.
Rather than contending, it is better to live in peace. A peaceful and beautiful life is the pure joy in the world.
Retire gracefully in the rapids and be still without contending.
The ancients said: "When one is full of vigor and vitality, one should refrain from fighting; when one is old, one should refrain from greed."
In the second half of life, it is important to refrain from contending and fighting and learn that giving up is gaining.
Heaven has its regularities and the Tao follows nature. This is the law of heaven and earth, not a law made by humans.
After Liu Bang established the country, he enfeoffed and granted titles to his meritorious officials.
Xiao He, the prime minister and a key official at the founding of the country, chose land that was both remote and barren.
People didn't understand: "We are fighting desperately for a good piece of land, but you are pretending to be noble."
Xiao He smiled without a word and left with a wave of his sleeve.
Many years later, many of the original dignitaries were persecuted to death. Most of the descendants of the dignitaries squandered their family fortunes and were left wandering in the streets.
Only the descendants of Xiao He, because the land was barren, had to support themselves by working hard and became prosperous instead.
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contending. It dwells in places that people dislike. Therefore, it is close to the Tao."
Taking what others discard and giving what others take. This is not only the open-mindedness of being detached from the material world but also the wisdom of living in the world.
There is no need to seek perfection in everything. When the moon is full, it wanes. When the water is full, it overflows. Holding on to imperfection is true wisdom.
If people are as good as water, heaven will surely bless them. Contending without contending is the greatest contention.
Be content with one's lot and let everything take its course.
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "The way of heaven does not contend yet it is good at winning. It does not speak yet it is good at responding. It does not summon yet it comes on its own. It is calm yet it is good at planning. The net of heaven is vast. Though its meshes are wide, nothing slips through."
Winning without contending, responding without speaking, coming without being summoned, achieving without planning. The way of heaven never forces but can naturally achieve what it desires.
When King Wen of Zhou met Jiang Ziya, he was already 72 years old.
Before that, Jiang Ziya had been a butcher and sold rice wine. He had also lobbied the feudal lords.
But destiny is hard to defy. He failed in business and was not appreciated by the feudal lords.
In an instant, he became indifferent to everything. He lived in seclusion by the Pan Stream and fished with a straight hook, waiting only for the king.
When he stopped chasing his destiny, destiny turned around and catered to him.
King Wen of Zhou regarded Jiang Ziya as his teacher and friend and together they created the eight-hundred-year glory of the Zhou Dynasty.
As is said in the "Taoist Induction Chapter": "There is no fixed door for fortune or misfortune. It is only summoned by people themselves. The retribution for good and evil follows people like a shadow."
Everything in the world has its causes and effects. Causes and effects are like a bag of heaven and earth. You and I are all people in the bag.
What is yours does not need to be contended for. What is not yours cannot be contended for. Be content with one's lot and believe that everything is the best arrangement.
"The way of heaven is impartial and always favors the good." As long as one does good deeds, there will surely be a bright future.
As is said in the "Tao Te Ching": "The way of the sage is to act without contending."
Being pure and inactive is not idling around doing nothing but following one's heart and not chasing after fame and fortune.
The rest of life is not long and should be spent in worthwhile places. Leave external things for others to contend for. A pure heart is the greatest treasure.
The highest good is like water. Still waters run deep. Being still and not contending is the best spiritual practice for middle-aged people.
May blessings be boundless. Amitabha!
