In this complex world, to live a life of high quality, we must continuously discard the cumbersome and superfluous, returning to simplicity. Yet to truly master the way of simplicity is not an easy task. Life is a journey from simplicity to complexity and back to simplicity. At the beginning of life, we are pure and unblemished—what we see is what we get. After being baptized by worldly affairs, emotional experiences make everything more complicated. However, at the end of the road, we put down our weathered burdens and rediscover the beauty of simplicity.
Stepping into the world, we accumulate experience and knowledge to grow and mature; and when we step away from the hustle and bustle, casting aside material desires and letting go of attachments, it is the cultivation and return of the soul. The journey of life, after many detours, ultimately brings us back to the starting point. From the naive and pure heart of a child, through the complications of life, to the ultimate epiphany of returning to simplicity, each step transcends the tests of fate and the refining of life.
Like a piece of uncarved jade, from the moment one is born, we are simple. But with the passage of time, the complexities of society and our inner desires make us intricate and convoluted. To rediscover authenticity, we must strip away those intricate shells. Struggling in life’s maze, plagued by complexities and endless desires, we realize that to find our true self, we need to give up the complicated and retreat from the mundane.
When we are young, happiness seems within reach; when we are older, simplicity itself becomes a form of happiness. Perhaps only after weathering many storms do people recognize that simplicity is the most noble lifestyle. The simpler the material aspects, the richer the spirit can be. Along the journey of life, what we truly need is little. Facing the terror of emptiness, we should reflect whether our desires have become too inflated.
If one overly pursues material pleasure, spiritual realms will pay the price. Throughout history, the world of grandeur ultimately boils down to the simplest truths. Choosing a simple life means transcending material distractions, serenely discerning the essence of life, and thereby savoring the spiritual levels.
If emotions could be simple, the heart would be joyful. The dissatisfaction and fulfillment in life are often just a thought away. Truly happy people are not so because of their superior circumstances, but because they know how to throw instant frustrations and setbacks out of the depths of their heart. Treating everything simply is the key to making oneself happy.
And a simple circle of friends makes life more comfortable and enjoyable. Whom we meet is arranged by destiny, but choosing to deepen relationships is up to us. Emotional brevity and intellectual restraint epitomize the essence of simple living, and also represent the deepest contemplation and practice in a complicated world.
The complexity of life often stems from an overly large and complex social circle. When interpersonal relationships become complicated, people often find themselves unable to extract time and energy to pursue the life they truly want. Hence, advocating for a social circle of high quality rather than breadth, the comfort and purity therein are particularly precious.
No need for deliberate cultivation, nor to waste mental energy in suspicion. Only in such an environment unpolluted by impurities can people maintain the purity of their hearts, unburden their spirits, live sincerely, and remain true to themselves.
