The Great Way is exceedingly simple, formless, and methodless. This represents a high-level state of naturalness and returning to simplicity. In this state of tranquility and non-action, selflessness and unity with nature, one does not seek to improve skills, yet skill naturally improves; one does not seek to heal, yet body and mind naturally adjust; one does not seek abilities, yet abilities naturally manifest; one does not seek the circulation of qi, yet all meridians naturally become unblocked. The most profound truths are the simplest and most ordinary. Transforming the most complex into the simplest is the highest wisdom. The greatest individuals appear noble precisely because of their simplicity.
The Great Way is exceedingly simple, and so is life. Enlightenment means that profound truths become simple, and simplicity reveals profound truths. From seeing mountains as mountains to seeing mountains as mountains again, the state is different. From simplicity to complexity and back to simplicity is the process of sublimation. The meaning of life lies in simplicity. When a person reaches a certain level of cultivation, they become indifferent to many things and simplify their lives. You may understand others, but they may not understand you; it is not about understanding, but about recognition.
Refined in mind and simple in form. Questioning the soul is the ultimate issue for humans. Simplicity is not only a form of supreme beauty but also a skill and a state of being. Seeing through but not saying through is a high realm; seeing vaguely but with clarity of mind is true insight. Knowing without knowing, seeing but deliberately not seeing through, is thorough understanding. Knowing that the world cannot be completely seen through is true insight. The clarity after the lack of clarity and the understanding after not understanding are true wisdom.
“The Great Way is exceedingly simple” is the wisdom of life. To simplify a complex matter requires wisdom. To return complex things to simplicity requires wisdom, ability, and determination. Wise people appreciate simplicity, thus power and profit should not be pursued blindly; fame and wealth should not be burdensome. Being indifferent to fame and wealth, and having a calm mind leads to a peaceful and far-reaching life. We should live simply, work earnestly, and use wisdom to simplify difficult matters.
Casting aside fame and profit, maintaining a purity akin to childhood innocence, and being as genuine as the fertile soil tilled by our forebears, only those with a calm heart can appreciate the leisure of “the setting sun illuminating the village, cattle and sheep returning to the alley.” They can hear the celestial sounds of “the autumn air brought by the lotus wind, the clear sound of bamboo dew dripping,” and feel the vastness of “an empty mountain without seeing people, but hearing human voices.” Tao Yuanming was such a person, capable of writing the timeless verse “Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains.” Ouyang Xiu was also such a person, able to write “The Pavilion of Drunken Old Man” with ease during his exile.
The Great Way is exceedingly simple, and so is life. Simplicity is not material poverty, but spiritual freedom; it is not the emptiness of life, but the purity of the soul. The Great Way is exceedingly simple because the highest truths are often the simplest. One should learn to live simply, lead a simple life, act simply, let go of selfish desires, transcend the cage of self-desire, and truly forget one’s thoughts and consciousness, entering a state of selflessness and objectlessness.
The complexity of life arises from confusion. Use “benevolence” to resist temptation and “wisdom” to resolve confusion. Without confusion, life transitions from complexity to simplicity. From the vast waters of the Weak River, I only take a ladleful to drink; among the hundred forms of life, one must be consistent. Enjoy life by forgetting worries, and preserve truth through simplicity, which is the essence of “the Great Way is exceedingly simple.”
There is a story about the Great Way being exceedingly simple and maintaining a normal mind: A traveler asked an old Taoist master, “What did you do before you attained the Way?” The old master replied, “Chopping wood, carrying water, and cooking.” The traveler then asked, “What about after attaining the Way?” The old master replied, “Chopping wood, carrying water, and cooking.” The traveler asked again, “What does it mean to attain the Way?” The old master replied, “Before attaining the Way, while chopping wood, I thought about fetching water; while fetching water, I thought about cooking. After attaining the Way, chopping wood is just chopping wood, fetching water is just fetching water, cooking is just cooking.” This conversation enlightens us that the highest and deepest truths are often contained in the simplest thoughts.
The Great Way is exceedingly simple, and so is life. A thousand people have a thousand ways of living and life paths. As we go through time and life, we feel many emotions; letting go of everything brings freedom. By letting go in the present moment, one finds freedom in the present moment. Many problems in life do not need to be kept in the heart, and many burdens of life do not need to be carried on the shoulders. Letting go of one thought allows one to feel the joy of a simple life and the pleasure of a soaring soul. To change something, one must first find oneself. We all have potential energy, but it is easily covered by habits, blurred by time, and worn down by laziness. We should remember what needs to be remembered, forget what needs to be forgotten, change what can be changed, and accept what cannot be changed. We should face the past with minimal regret, face the present with minimal waste, and face the future with the most dreams.
The way of heaven and earth is simple and easy. Life is short; do not overcomplicate things. Live simply. Once life’s grand drama begins, regardless of how stage-frightened you are, you must perform until the end. The greatest challenge in the growth process is that some parts of the journey must be walked alone in silence. Happy work and simple living are the keys to a happy life. One must understand contentment brings happiness. All sorrow, pain, and things that cannot be let go of are just transitions in life. Once you pass through them, life becomes more splendid.
The best life is a simple life. A cup of tea, a table, a quiet place, simple days without distractions. However, achieving a simple life requires much effort to live worry-free and enjoy life. Overall, life is perfect; what is imperfect is the mindset. Those who do not know how to appreciate will use criticism to find flaws in everything. Live simply, act naturally, grasp the measure, be content with circumstances, and accept reality calmly. Live simply, avoid trouble, do not cause trouble, do not fear trouble, do not regret, do not resent, and do not begrudge what you do.
Life is a long struggle; some laugh at the beginning, while others win in the end. Try to smile, try to look back, relax, do not force, do not languish, do not be impetuous. Live simply, follow your heart, be natural, go with the flow, be the best version of yourself, be content, smile, and remain calm. No matter how bitter or tired you are, keep moving forward, and your own scenery will eventually appear.
Whether life is easy depends on how you live. Circumstances depend on the state of mind; change your mindset, and circumstances will change too. The more you demand from life, the more tense and complex it becomes, making life harder. Conversely, the less you demand from life, the easier it is to be satisfied and happy. The mountains and rivers have no fixed owner; the idle person is the master. The Great Way is exceedingly simple; live in the present, and contentment brings lasting happiness.
Entering the realm of unperturbed tranquility, the mind’s moon shines alone, fully revealing the state of calmness; a calm heart naturally brings ease and freedom, holding the heart like water, smiling through life, showing the charm of calmness. Life in the world, simplicity is the truest, and silence is the most beautiful. The most enduring part of life is not the hustle and bustle but the simplicity and joy. Maintain a childlike heart; when unhappy, openly share your troubles with friends, and when happy, laugh heartily. Perhaps all worries will flow away in sharing, and all tension will be released in laughter. Live like a child, simply and joyfully, maintaining the original state of the soul; everything will be beautiful.
There is always a story in life that you want to tell but find hard to express, forming a melody in your heart over time. People are like this: always longing for what they cannot have, and only realizing the value of what they have lost. So-called gains and losses, affections, scenery, and stops along the way all gradually fade in the dust of time. Although it is difficult to let go of some things, what does not belong to you will eventually drift away.
A person’s life is destined to experience many things. On the path of life, there are hearty laughs, tears of grievance, ignorant perseverance, confidence in success, and reminders from failure. Every experience is destined to be precious. The richness of life comes from a compassionate heart; the beauty of life comes from having a normal heart. Simple living makes people relaxed and happy; simple thinking makes people peaceful and calm. Because of simplicity, one deeply understands the lightness of life; because of simplicity, one sees through the tranquility of the soul.
