Don't be too arrogant.

Author: Jin Ming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: High standards in conduct, low profile in life. To be a person of worth, one must first have a clear vision. If a person lacks ideals and does not spread their wings of aspiration, how can they possibly talk about success. Heaven is fair to everyone; it gives each person 24 hours every day and a lifetime of time. At the same time, Heaven is unfair to everyone; it does not give each person 24 hours, nor does it give each person a lifetime of time. The difference lies in whether one has ideals. People with ideals live an eternally positive life, constantly moving forward toward their aspirations. People without ideals live in confusion, lacking ambition, and ultimately areed by life.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Abag in the Inner Mongolian grasslands. One day, young Abag and his father got lost in the grasslands. Abag was tired and scared, and by the end, he could barely walk. His father took out five coins from his pocket, buried one in the grass, and placed the remaining four in Abag's hands. He said, "Life has five coins: one for childhood, one for adolescence, one for youth, one for middle age, and one for old age. You have only used one so far—the one buried in the grass. You cannot throw all five coins away in the grasslands. You must use them one by one, making each use meaningful, so that your life is not in vain. Today, we must leave the grasslands, and in the future, you must also leave the grasslands. The world is vast; when you live, you must travel more and see more, so that your coins are not wasted." With his father's encouragement, Abag left the grasslands.
Later, Abag left his hometown and became an excellent captain. Some people say that ideals always belong to the young, but this is a mistaken belief. While it is true that young people pursue ideals, ideals are not the exclusive domain of the young. Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's, was still an ordinary small businessman in his 50s, but he never gave up on his ideals and eventually succeeded. This shows that ideals are not the exclusive domain of the young; they belong to everyone. As long as you work hard, you will be rewarded.
Seeking Contentment, Avoiding Extravagance
The Vegetarian's Manual contains the following passage: "When one keeps their mind at ease, how can fame or disgrace move me? When one keeps their mind calm, how can gains or losses deceive me?" This means that when one keeps their body and mind in a state of tranquility, all the fame, fortune, and success or failure in the world cannot sway them. When one keeps their body and mind in a state of peace, how can worldly ambitions and the right or wrong of things deceive or mislead them?
If human desires are allowed to run wild without restraint, they will inevitably expand endlessly. Therefore, one must temper their willpower, formulate a feasible plan, and strictly follow it, suppressing their greedy desires.
The Zhuangzi tells a story: Once, Zhuangzi went to visit the Duke of Lu. He found the Duke in a bad mood, deeply troubled. Zhuangzi asked why, and the Duke replied, "I have been careful and cautious in everything I do, yet I still cannot avoid misfortune. That is why I am so worried and troubled." Zhuangzi asked, "Do you know the fox and the leopard?" They live in mountain caves and dense forests...