There is a kind of reading in the world, which has different incarnations in different times. This kind of reading is the eternal need of human beings, because it reflects the deepest exploration of the human mind - to find the meaning and purpose of living in this world.
As a child, Dan found his purpose in life - to be a gymnast, and has been fighting for it. He has excellent academic performance and has won numerous competition medals, which are highly valued by the coaches. It seemed like a smooth life and a bright future, but Dan was tossing and turning in the middle of the night, unable to find the missing piece of the puzzle.
In the middle of the night, I walked to the gas station that was not closed, and met my life mentor, Socrates.
Socrates pointed out the flaws in Dan's body, which made Dan, who had been immersed in honey, feel very unhappy. Growing up, Dan got nothing but compliments and couldn't believe being called a fool. "Try to use whatever knowledge you have, but see the limitations of knowledge. Knowledge alone is not enough, knowledge has no heart. No amount of knowledge can nourish or support your heart, it will never bring you the ultimate To be happy or peaceful, life needs not just knowledge, but passion and energy. Life must take the right actions to make knowledge come alive. Life is a mystery. My ignorance is based on This understanding, and your understanding is based on ignorance, I am a humorous fool, and you are a serious fool." Socrates said.
Dan refuses to admit that he is a fool, thinking that he is a warrior like Socrates. "That's your problem, you know, and you don't act, you're not a warrior."
Warriors should be in the following state:
Mind: determination, tenacity, clarity of thought, no doubts;
Body: soft, flexible, sensitive, full of energy;
Mind: Have compassion for everything around you.
"You have fragments of these qualities, lack of integration, Dan, it's my job to piece you together again."
Dan was irritated again by Socrates' words, and he couldn't believe that the old man in front of him dared to brag about trying to piece himself together. Dan humiliated Socrates with fiery words, and Socrates didn't get angry, but instead laughed: " Warriors act, fools only react. Life depends on your thinking, your emotions, and your past. You'd better be for your present Instead of blaming others or circumstances for your plight, you become a whole person when you take full responsibility for your life.”
Su: "Dan, you know what? You are a captive held by your own illusions, and you have illusions about yourself and the world."
Dan: "I don't feel like I'm imprisoned."
Su: "You can't see your cage, because the fence is invisible. You're suffering, and you're not enjoying your life at all. Your entertainment, romance, even gymnastics, are just a palliative, not a cure. Avoid the fear that hides in your heart."
Dan: "Are you saying gymnastics, romance, and entertainment are bad?"
Sue: "Of course not, but you're not enjoying these things, you're just addicted to it. You're using them to escape the mess of your inner life, which you call the mind's mass of regrets, longings, and Fantasy. You're always looking for achievement and entertainment to avoid the source of pain."
If you don't get what you want, you will suffer;
Get what you don't want, and suffer;
Get exactly what you want and still suffer because you can't have it forever.
Your mind is your predicament.
It wants to be free from change, free from pain, free from the inevitability of life and death.
However, change is a law, and no amount of pretense can change that fact.
Dan: "If life is suffering, why should I live?"
Su: " Life is not suffering, you will suffer because of it, not because of it - unless you get rid of your inner obsession, no matter what happens, just be free and go ahead with the wind. You should start from your Learn from your life experiences, not complain or wallow in them. ”
Dan: "There is a shining light all around you. Where did the light come from?"
Su: "A peaceful life."
Emotions rule our lives all the time. Fear and sadness inhibit action, and anger motivates action. Once you learn to use your anger well, you can turn fear and sadness into anger, and then anger into action. This is the secret of the body in inner magic.
Dan: "If I can't even control my emotions, how can I control my habits?"
Su: " If you want to eradicate old habits, you can't focus all your energy on discarding old habits, but on building new ones. Emotions are like changes in the weather. They are natural phenomena, sometimes fear, sometimes sadness, sometimes Anger. Emotions aren't the problem, it's how to turn emotional energy into positive action. Take a moment to look at a baby. When a baby is uncomfortable, they express their emotions by crying. It's pure crying. Babies don’t think about things and wonder if they should cry. Babies completely accept their emotions, vent them at will, and let them go after venting. Babies are excellent teachers in this matter. Can dissolve old habits. ”
Dan: "Are rich people happier than poor people?"
Su: "To be honest, people must be rich to be happy."
Pleasure = Satisfaction/Desire As long as you have enough money to satisfy your desires, you are rich.
There are 2 ways to get rich:
1. Earn, inherit, borrow, beg, or even steal enough money to satisfy all desires;
2. Pure heart and few desires, simple life, in this way, you will always have enough money.
Peaceful warriors have the insight and discipline to choose a simple life and understand the difference between needs and wants. We have only a few basic needs and an infinite number of desires. Focusing on every moment is my joy. It doesn't cost you money to concentrate. Your only investment is cultivation. This is another benefit of being a warrior. It's much happier.
The point of happiness is not to seek more of what you want, but to cultivate the ability to desire less.
The above content is excerpted from the novel "Meet Socrates in the middle of the night", and interested friends can read the original work. The book also has a remake of the movie - "Peace Warrior". Compared with the novel, the movie adds a plot: Socrates took Dan to climb a mountain, the two of them were sweating profusely and panting, and finally reached the top of the mountain. Dan asked Socrates: "What wonders do we want to see or learn about when we climb the mountain so hard?" Socrates said lightly, "Nothing." Dan expressed his disbelief that he had lost such a big deal. Strength, is it just to climb to the top of the mountain? Socrates shrugged.
In the long road of life, we have been overcoming obstacles and moving forward with difficulty. We work hard and are more eager for rewards, always wishful thinking in exchange for the rewards in our dreams. Sometimes, like Dan and Socrates, it is difficult to climb to the top of the mountain, but there is no gain. This is life. We don't have to be upset or remorseful about it, we just need to enjoy the moment. There are no ordinary moments in life.
Dan is a very lucky young man. During the confused period of his life, Socrates helped him out of the predicament step by step. I'm also a lucky reader, able to learn these life wisdoms in advance in my twenties.
May you and I both become a peace fighter and dance a graceful dance in the turbulent universe.
Past articles:
reason to live
Either die or live well
Human life is actually a long process of self-healing.
Public Number: Mr. Yao Happy Progress Camp
View more about Peaceful Warrior reviews
