Self-Saving - 75 Rules for Self-Realization in Good Times and Bad

Author: Tong Desi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Once, a story was published in Reader: Leo Rosten, the most obese Hollywood star in American history, collapsed on stage due to sudden cardiac failure and was rushed to Thompson Emergency Center. Despite all efforts, the medical staff couldn’t save his life. On his deathbed, Rosten murmured, “Your body is enormous, but all your life needs is a heart!” As a thoracic surgery expert, President was deeply moved by these words and had them inscribed on the hospital’s facade. Later, oil tycoon Mer also suffered cardiac failure and was admitted to the same emergency center. Due to his busy schedule, he rented an entire floor at Thompson Hospital, equipped with five telephones and two fax machines. At the time, The Times called it the oil hub of America. Mer’s heart surgery was successful, but after discharge, he didn’t return to the U.S. or continue his oil business. Instead, he moved to a villa in the Scottish countryside and sold his company. He was deeply moved by the words inscribed on the hospital’s facade. In his autobiography, he wrote, “Wealth and obesity are no different—they are both about having more than we truly need.” Mer was great because he woke up in time, realizing the true meaning of life. In real life, how many people remain blind to their desires, letting them grow endlessly until life becomes overloaded? People are often like this—only when faced with life or death do they truly awaken, realizing that life is more important than anything else. Among all of us, few can face life calmly, and even fewer can renounce fame and fortune. Life is full of people who value fame and fortune more than life itself. Only by understanding life and death can one see through the illusion of fame and fortune. In truth, life doesn’t have to be dramatic—simplicity is true. Some believe that life doesn’t need to be colorful; as long as one lives peacefully, they can “have the blue clouds and green pines as my companions, and a pot of muddled wine to quiet the heart.” Isn’t this a serene and poetic scene, like a clear stream? Simple life is both beautiful and enduring—something those who live intensely yearn for but can never attain. Even if one lives intensely, what difference does it make? It’s still the same as flowing into the sea. As long as one has their own way of living, there’s no need to follow the crowd. A small stream can carry a child’s paper boat; life is short, but it can’t carry too much desire and vanity. Life is born of simplicity and returns to simplicity, but the passionate longing or heart-wrenching disappointment within is actually the loss and confusion of the soul.
Legend has it that there was once a long-haired princess named Rapunzel, who wore an extremely long, golden mane, so beautiful. From childhood, Rapunzel was imprisoned in a tower in an ancient castle, and the witch who lived with her would constantly tell her that she was ugly. One day, a young, handsome prince passed beneath the tower and was stunned by Rapunzel’s beauty. From then on, he visited every day to admire her. Rapunzel recognized her own beauty through the prince’s eyes and, at the same time, discovered her freedom and future from them. One day, she finally let go of her long golden hair, allowing the prince to climb up the tower and rescue her. In reality, the one who imprisoned Rapunzel wasn’t anyone else but herself—the old witch was the demon in her heart that made her lose herself. She believed the witch’s lies, thinking she was ugly, and refused to see people, thus imprisoning herself in the tower.
Often, people bind themselves in their own (cocoon), their hearts easily trapped by various troubles and desires. These are the prisons they build for themselves, just like Rapunzel, who believed the witch’s lies, thinking she was ugly, and thus locked herself away. It’s the chains in our hearts that suppress our unique creativity, making us believe we can’t succeed, that we won’t be the ideal partner in someone’s eyes, or the ideal parent to our children, or the ideal child to our parents. Then, we begin to bow to circumstances, even to fate, and complain endlessly.
Think about it—often, in the vast ocean of life, we are like a swimming fish. We could freely swim, search for food, admire the wonders of the underwater world, and enjoy the richness of life. But suddenly one day, we encounter a coral reef, and then we no longer want to move, shouting that we’re trapped in a desperate situation. Isn’t this absurd? We build our own prisons of the soul and then crawl inside, waiting to die. Life is indeed full of obstacles, regrets, confusion, and helplessness. A slight carelessness, and we can be imprisoned by the prisons we’ve built. And these prisons of the soul are great killers of our minds, withering our souls while severely threatening our health. P002-004