Misty Clouds Drift Across Misty Mountain

Among the countless people of this world, the ordinary and lowly, buffeted by misfortune, what should they do? How should they fight back?

In the endless river of history and the vast sea of books, the forefathers of humankind and the gods, emperors and generals, sages and philosophers have all raised monuments, written biographies, and recorded their great achievements. Yet few ever ask what storms the ants and weeds have endured, what bitterness and suffering they have faced, or what joys and happiness they may have tasted. It is a bleak state of affairs. Here, I gather a few such fragments, so that ordinary people may occasionally browse them over tea or in idle moments, to while away lonely days and comfort empty souls. They may also serve as a warning to those who have lost their way, spurring them to work hard and push forward on the path best suited to them, at the right time, carving out a glory of their own. They can also help us examine life, explore the soul, seek the truth, and set the spirit free: let falsehood, ugliness, and evil be exposed under the blazing sun, and let truth, kindness, and beauty be nourished by sweet dew; let the filth hidden beneath splendor be brought into the light, and let the stench buried by injustice be swept away by the hurricane. I do not hope to be remembered for all time, nor do I expect to leave behind a fortune. I only wish to give what warmth I can at life's end, and not waste my twilight years. It may also be called an awakening beneath the Bodhi tree, repentance within the spirit's sanctuary, a realization along a rough and rugged road, or a taste of life's bitter and sweet, sour and spicy flavors.