Five Hundred Times of Glancing in This Life (New Collection of Emotional Essays by Bi Shumin)

Author: Bì Shūmǐn
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: After reading Five Hundred Times of Glancing in This Life, a profound sense of emotional resonance arises. Bì Shūmǐn is indeed a master of words, leading readers on a grand detour, making them enjoy the journey so much that they almost fully her choice: from now on, do nothing but gaze around all day, focusing on nature and humanity. The plot takes a turn, and "suddenly, she smiled." The author had an epiphany and resolutely decided, "From now on, no more wandering glances—only a mind as calm as water, seizing the present." She artfully expresses her life philosophy, offering readers deep inspiration.
In truth, since Buddha said, "It takes five hundred glances in past lives to earn a mere passing in this one," then for the passing of future lives, why not keep looking now—gazing at high mountains, contemplating greenery, observing crowds, watching the sea and flowers, admiring fit athletes, admiring wise scientists, admiring kind elders and joyful young girls, and watching "innocent children." To think and act this way is indeed a good thing. With a kind heart and a smile toward life, it harms neither the world nor others. However, an undeniable fact is that if everyone were to satisfy themselves with just this, society could never progress, for humanity needs more creation, and creation demands seizing the present and living every day to the fullest.
Suddenly, I thought of Hu Lancheng. Setting aside his romance with Eileen Chang, Hu could be compared to literati like Lin Yutang, Liang Shiqiu, Qian Zhongshu, and Dong Qiao in terms of his "literary brilliance." His autobiography, titled This Life, This World, earned praise for being "as dazzling as heaven but meticulously crafted; as light as clouds yet deeply penetrating" (as described by Zhi Yan). It conveys the idea of living every day to the fullest.
Suddenly, I recalled Helen Keller of the United States. Her timeless masterpiece Three Days to See shares a thematic resonance with Bì Shūmǐn's Five Hundred Times of Glancing in This Life. In her imagined limited time, Helen Keller wanted to see the most valuable things—like "kind, gentle, and friendly people who make my life meaningful," the "eyes of a dog," "simple and small things at home," the beauty of forests, sunrises, history museums, theater, and music. Of course, she also wanted to immerse herself in the crowd to experience real life firsthand, keeping us humble and reverent, knowing that in this world, there are things we must look up to.
"Contemplating greenery" is because "only with it can life thrive and flourish." "Observing crowds" is to take the accumulated wisdom of humanity as a long-term lesson in being human and to submit an excellent answer. To truly understand the profound depth of Five Hundred Times of Glancing in This Life, This Life, This World and Three Days to See are excellent references. If their contents were integrated, it would be like a martial arts novel.