Little Window Reflections

Author: (Ming) Chen Jiru
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Commentary: "Contentment brings joy," and this is true. Some people are melancholic in their youth and gloomy in their old age, never having experienced true happiness in their lives. The root of this lies in their dissatisfaction. They money when they have it, status when they attain it, houses when they own them, wives when they marry them, and they always find something to complain about. If one adjusts their mindset, considers things from a different perspective, and allows their mind to relax and loosen up, they will experience the joy of relaxation and truly savor the essence of life.
The original text of "Shi'en" reads: "①J②：③：。"
Annotations:
① Shi'en: "" is synonymous with "" (to bestow), as seen in Fan Zeng's On the Extinction of the Soul: "." (: to assist)
② Hou: Generous, not petty. As recorded in The Records of the Grand Historian·Zhou Bo's Family Tree: "Bao was a man of simple character and great integrity." (: straightforward and strong-willed.)
③ Yao: Need, want (a later meaning). As seen in Liu Yuxi's Song of Go Playing, Sending Xuan Shi Westward: "Gambling for fame does not require money."
④ Zhi: Upright in conduct. Here, it refers to being honest and sincere in dealing with others. As noted in The Book of Shangjun·On Upholding Authority: "If the ruler loves the law, upright and honest men will come forward."
Translation: To bestow kindness on others is less generous than repaying kindness; to seek fame is less suitable than escaping fame; to feign affectation is less genuine than being straightforward.
Commentary: There is a saying: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Yet, many are captivated by sensual pleasures. While people clamor for truth, goodness, and beauty, they are reluctant to remove their masks and live sincerely. Thus, while lamenting the scarcity of genuine goodness, they fail to create it. Some deliberately bestow kindness to gain others' favor, but their true intention is to reap benefits for themselves. Perhaps their kindness is to win hearts or to establish authority. Although they help others, they are ultimately helping themselves, which is insincere.
Receiving a favor and repaying it with virtue is a traditional moral norm. "Quenching one's thirst by remembering the source" and "a drop of kindness deserves a gush of gratitude" reveal the sincerity and kindness of human nature—this is what people truly seek and praise. People of integrity and high principles would never betray their conscience to pursue fame and fortune. Instead, they prefer to escape the burdens of fame. Because of fame, life may lose its original tranquility, forcing one to do things they do not wish to or to act subserviently. Such pretense and affectation only strip away the sincere and peaceful nature of the human heart. Therefore, the saying goes: "Work diligently and live honestly—such simplicity is the true essence of life."
P2-3