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Chuang Pages 138-139 Chill Out, keep quiet and simple, natural and minimalist

 "I am just a little stone or a little tree set on a great hill... As I perceive my own inferiority, how could I ever be proud?"

Yes, a great challenge to us all, and our egos. The universe is vast and ancient; Earth is so small and will exist for such a short time relatively speaking. We, the inhabitants of the Earth, are even smaller and live such short lives. Thus, yes, we should never be proud.

On the other hand though, we should appreciate the beauty and momentary significance of the tiniest thing we come across; a pebble, a blade of grass, a smile.


"When talking of all life, we count them in tens of thousands, and humanity is just one of them."

This is a reiteration of the point above, that humanity, and we as individuals, are insignificant so should not get het up about anything or everything. So stay humble and chill out.


"There is nothing constant in Fate; beginning and end have no regulation."

Therefore, don't worry about changes to come, and try to let go of things that affected us in the past, including our genetic and cultural conditioning. They just push us into ways of thinking, saying, and acting, that are skewed and unhelpful.


"Great knowledge...is neither exalted by success nor disheartened by failure, for it knows of the inconsistency of fate... Great knowledge knows the straight and quiet road, so it does not get excited about life nor dejected by death, for it knows that neither beginning nor end is regulated."

The straight and quiet road - love this. The path in life that does not get tempted into cul-de-sacs and dead ends caused by excitement of news, business opportunities, etc. Keep things quiet, simple, minimalist and natural.


"The great person through their actions will not set out to harm others, nor make much of benevolence and charity; the do not make any move for gain."

Interesting that they don't see philanthropy as any big deal. Why? Because it is just yet another tiny little blip in a life and world of constant changes and tiny little blips. Live simply and quietly.

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