Recently, I wrote four couplets (strictly speaking, they are not written in the form of couplets, and the lines are collectively called "couplets"). The size is shakuhachi screen-cut antique rice paper with gold dragon pattern, that is, 116X53 cm. After finishing writing, I felt that I still had more to say, so I wanted to interpret the profound meaning of the couplet, so I wrote the following article.
——Wu Feng (Yifeng)
1. If you don’t put aside the suffering, you will become famous if you hold it back.
Chinese characters have profound heritage and profound meanings. An example is given below.
A couplet is formed by analyzing two words: If you don’t put it aside, it will always be suffering. If you hold it back, you will become famous. Speaking purely literally, the difference between the word "ruo" and the word "ku" is very small, that is, if the word "ruo" is not left out, it means "ku"; the difference between the word "ge" and the word "name" is The "捺" pen stopped midway. Only when it can be "held back" can it become the character "name".
But this couplet has a profound meaning, that is, the horizontal line of this couplet: "putting aside life"! Only by putting aside distracting thoughts and baggage can we avoid suffering and torment; let go of what should be given up, take in what should be taken in, and do something good and not do something in order to achieve a great cause.
2. Life can never be as satisfying as you want, and everything should only be half-satisfactory
It is said that when people grow old, they have to live a "half-satisfactory" life!
There is such a couplet in Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou: "How can life be so satisfying? Everything can only be half-satisfactory." The language of this couplet is simple and straightforward, but it contains profound philosophy. This kind of "half-satisfied" life and a contented and happy-go-lucky mentality were called "the most sound life ideal discovered by the Chinese" by Mr. Lin Yutang. "Half-satisfaction" is not helplessness and negativity, but a kind of open-mindedness and wisdom. Since ancient times, the most jealous thing in life is to be half poor, half rich and half self-satisfied; half life, half day, half chance, half taking, half giving, half doing good; half deaf, half dumb and half confused. , half wise, half foolish, half sage; half human, half me, half at ease, half awake, half drunk, half god; half dear, half loving, half bitter and happy, half vulgar, half Zen, and half casual; half of life depends on me, and the other half is left to nature.
In real life, everyone wants everything to go well. In fact, this is just a good blessing from people. On the contrary, those who only seek "half-satisfaction" in everything are more likely to seek happiness and happiness. If you strive for perfection in everything and everything you want, you will only plunge yourself into pain and helplessness.
Therefore, this kind of "half-satisfied" life, this kind of contentment, easy-going, natural and comfortable life attitude is also called by Mr. Lin Yutang "the most sound life ideal discovered by the Chinese" .
Eating semi-delicious food
You may lose your appetite when a large bowl of food is placed in front of you, but a little bit of exquisite food is always particularly tempting.
Middle-aged and elderly friends should also learn to "eat half" in their diet. This is not only beneficial to health, but also allows them to better discover the deliciousness of food and savor the moment when the food is in their mouths more carefully. The color and fragrance.
Of course, we should not scrimp on food and clothing. When we are in good health, in good shape, and have a good appetite, we should eat something delicious and something beneficial to health.
Move half healthy
People still need moderate exercise when they are old. Walking, dancing, Tai Chi, etc. are all good ways to exercise. However, exercise should not be excessive or overdone.
Maintaining health is not about spending money on miscellaneous health products and medicines; it is about exercising moderately, eating a balanced diet, and developing good living habits.
Speak in a semi-sounding tone
Leave room for speech, do things with a sense of proportion, grasp a "degree", do not care about one or the other, and do not take the wrong approach. Saying less can show your generosity and tolerance, experience and tact.
Especially when it comes to our children, we should not only speak less, but also speak enlighteningly. Only in this way can your children have a good impression of you and be willing to accept your suggestions.
When we grow old, we should speak moderately, so as to avoid unnecessary adverse consequences and make ourselves a popular new elderly person.
Half-happy in heart
Only seek to be half-satisfied in everything, because God will not allow all happiness and joy to be concentrated on one person.
Yang Jiang said: "Getting love does not necessarily mean you have money; getting money does not necessarily mean you can have happiness; having happiness does not necessarily mean you can enjoy health, and even if you have health, everything may not be as you wish." This passage It is a summary and summary of "half-satisfied" and is rich in the philosophy of life.
Nothing in the world is perfect, and insisting on perfection will only make you unhappy.
Having a little regret and a little defect is also another kind of beauty, isn't it?
In fact, "half-satisfaction" is a perfect state of life. Only seeking "half-satisfaction" in everything, especially for middle-aged and elderly friends, they should take trivial matters lightly, take a broader view, and pursue a "half-satisfaction" life calmly.
The pursuit of a "half-satisfactory" life is not helplessness and negativity, but a kind of open-mindedness and wisdom.
(This article is reposted, I have made major changes)
3. Reading the paper shows that I have little knowledge, but Linchi Xiaoren has deep knowledge
Not long ago I was in I found a couplet in seal script on the Internet and copied the content immediately. The original work was signed "Compiled and written by Ren Zhigang on New Year's Eve in the Year of the Dragon." This shows that this couplet should be the original work of Ren Zhigang. Not to mention how the writing of this couplet conforms to the law of couplets and how the contrast is stable. In terms of its content, it is very beneficial to read it.
This couplet has something in common with the "half-hearted" couplet above, that is, the language is simple and straightforward, but it has a profound truth: Only when you open the book will you realize the shallowness of your knowledge, and copy the inscriptions and inscriptions. I know the profound attainments of previous sages. The shortcomings of a "confidant" and the mastery of "knowing the enemy", so as to discover the gap between oneself and others, can be described as the most humble thing!
Human knowledge is vast, and what you have learned is only a drop in the ocean. If you want to improve your cultural literacy, you can only read more, study and study again; calligraphy is the quintessence of China, and it is broad and profound. To improve your calligraphy level, you can only write with ease by reading more sages' inscriptions, studying more and reading the ink of famous writers, seeking innovation, development, and improvement while inheriting!
I once had a motto for learning calligraphy and painting: "The calligraphy follows the method and the painter follows naturally." There are many calligraphy sages and celebrities everywhere, and they are a treasure trove that can never be exhausted. The vast nature has endless materials for painting, and it is an inexhaustible source. The same is true.
This means that there is no limit to learning and art!
4. The house is connected to the lake and the water is moist, and the window is close to the flower shade and the music is fragrant
The literal meaning of this couplet is simple and easy to understand. It means that your study or living room is adjacent to the lake and the water will always be moist. , the window is close to the flowers, wood, piano and books will be overflowing with fragrance. But "the house is connected to the lake" and "the window is close to the shade of flowers" only means that you have a very elegant external environment. As for whether your "pen and ink" is "moist" and whether your "qin Shu" is "fragrant", that is another matter! This is the dialectical relationship between internal and external factors. External factors are necessary objective conditions, while internal factors are the subjective factors that determine the outcome. Only by persevering in the pond and waving hair can one write beautiful words and draw beautiful paintings; only by persevering in playing and studying hard can one play beautiful music and enrich one's treasure house of knowledge. If you don’t work hard subjectively, no matter how good the conditions are, everything will be zero.