Throughout One's Life, No One Can Escape Cause and Effect
Bai Yansong once said, “The attitude with which you face your fate will determine how your fate will treat you in return.” Upon reflection, this seems to be true. Life appears to be a cycle of cause and effect. Every little thing you put out into the world will eventually come back to you; everything you forcefully demand will eventually be lost, no matter how many twists and turns it takes. It’s true that as you sow, so shall you reap. Throughout one’s life, no one can escape the concept of “cause and effect.”
Good begets good, evil begets evil
There’s an ancient saying: “Do good, and even if fortune doesn’t come, misfortune will stay far away.” When you plant the seed of kindness, in due time, it will bear fruit, illuminating others and benefiting yourself. When you nurture a good thought, you are accumulating blessings for yourself. Your blessings are the interest earned from your kindness. There’s a story that illustrates this: One day, in Taizhou, Zhejiang, a fruit farmer named Chen Kai received an order from a customer on his online store. The customer was a doctoral student from Zhejiang University who wanted to buy some oranges for a scientific experiment. Chen Kai immediately replied, “For your research for our country, I will send you a box for free.” This kind-hearted farmer sent a box of honey oranges, and later, when he found out that the experiment required many more oranges, he selected 5 more boxes and sent them for free. This small act by Chen Kai brought a significant boost to his online store. During that time, his daily shipment volume suddenly soared to more than 20 times its original amount. Previously, he sold a maximum of 100 boxes of oranges a day, but now he was selling over 2000 boxes a day. It was later revealed that the doctoral student, in gratitude for Chen Kai’s help, had shared his experience on the university forum, leading many Zhejiang University students to flood into Chen Kai’s online store, eager to make purchases. Chen Kai exclaimed, “I never expected that such a small act could have such a huge impact.” You see, a small act of kindness can have an infinitely magnified effect, much like the butterfly effect. The beauty of the world is interconnected, and every small act of kindness you perform, perhaps, is forming a surprise that will unexpectedly meet you in the future!
I hope this captures the essence of the story you shared.
Disaster leans on the side of fortune, and fortune hides within disaster.
Laozi once said, “Misfortune is fortune’s hiding place, and fortune is misfortune’s dwelling place.” This means that within misfortune, there may be hidden fortune, and within fortune, there may lurk misfortune. Misfortune can at times transform into fortune, and fortune may also transform into misfortune. Of course, this does not imply that misfortune is always fortune, or that fortune is always misfortune. Rather, it suggests that fortune and misfortune, though seemingly opposed, actually depend on each other and complement each other.
There was once an old man who raised a group of horses. One day, he lost one of them. Upon hearing this, the neighbors came to comfort him, but the old man waved them off, saying, “Losing a horse might bring unexpected fortune.” Sure enough, not long after, the lost horse returned home on its own, bringing with it a fine steed. The neighbors greatly admired the old man, believing he had a gift for foreseeing events. However, the old man sighed and said, “Regaining what was lost and gaining an extra fine horse without reason might bring trouble.” Later, the old man’s only son, due to his love of play, accidentally fell from the fine horse and broke his leg. The old man again mused to himself, “It’s all fate; this might be a stroke of luck.” The neighbors thought this event had greatly affected him, causing him to lose his mind and speak incoherently. However, not long after, the village was conscripted for war, and the old man’s son, due to his broken leg, was unable to join, thus fortunately preserving his life.
The story of “the old man and his horse” teaches us that what seems like a loss may actually be a blessing in disguise. It seems that this is the essence of life. When you feel like you are riding a wave of luck, the next moment, disaster might strike. When you feel like you are having a run of bad luck, the next moment, good fortune might come your way. Therefore, there are no permanent lows. If you persist a little longer, a turn for the better might just be around the corner!
To lose in the east corner and gain in the sunset glow.
The gains and losses in life, like losing in the east corner and gaining in the sunset glow, always transform unexpectedly. Perhaps in the morning light of the east corner, we missed yesterday’s dreams, yet in the lingering radiance of the sunset glow, we found another kind of tranquility and contentment. Therefore, do not be distressed by what you cannot obtain, nor be saddened by what you lose. As long as you persist, you will discover that those lost things will return in another form.
Su Shi (Su Dongpo) experienced many ups and downs in his life, enduring three setbacks and three recoveries. Despite his wanderings and setbacks, he still lived a rich and flavorful life. As the saying goes, “If you’re not happy, read Su Dongpo.” Su Shi entered officialdom at the age of 26, was exiled to Huangzhou at 45, banished to Huizhou at 59, and exiled to Danzhou at 62. During this time, not only did he face disappointment in his official career, but also experienced the deaths of loved ones and the loss of his young son. Yet, even under such severe blows of fate, Su Shi was able to heal himself. In Huangzhou, he wrote timeless masterpieces such as “Rhapsody on the Red Cliff” and “Prelude to Water Melody,” and even created the delicious dish known as “Dongpo pork.” In Huizhou, due to perennial water disasters, Su Shi took a series of measures to control the floods and improve the lives of the people. In Danzhou, he established a school, taught and educated students, and produced the first Jinshi (imperial examination graduate) in the history of Hainan.
Gains and losses have their own predestination. Although Su Shi did not achieve great success in the imperial court, he realized his own value and ideals outside of officialdom, and won fame both during his lifetime and after his passing. It’s important to understand that no one will always gain, nor will anyone always lose. The ups and downs are part of life’s normal state. What we need to do is not to be attached to temporary success or failure, not to care about immediate wins or losses, so that we can stand safely and calmly in this chaotic world.
Gatherings and partings have their time, as always, the mist and rain are beyond human control.
In the movie “Chungking Express,” there’s a confession that goes, “I don’t know when it started, but everything has an expiration date. Mackerel will expire, canned food will expire, even plastic wrap will expire.” In this world, everything has its own time. Gatherings and partings have their time, and as always, the mist and rain are beyond human control. Even the best relationships will have a day to say goodbye.
I and Xiao Wu were college classmates. Because of our similar personalities, and even sharing the same name origin, we felt an instant connection when we first met. During our university years, we were in the same class and naturally became desk mates. We studied and played together every day. I excelled in my major courses, so every time there was a big test or quiz, I would explain the key points to Xiao Wu to help her better understand. Xiao Wu was extremely skilled at bargaining. Whenever it was time to buy clothes for the changing seasons, I would try them on, and she would handle the bargaining. We always returned with a good haul. During that time, we often fantasized about being together forever, about being there for each other when we needed it most.
After graduation, we looked for jobs together. Xiao Wu wanted to be closer to home, so she went back to her hometown. I had always dreamed of Beijing, so I went there after graduation. At first, even though we were thousands of miles apart, we often had video calls, showing concern and greeting each other. But gradually, due to the distance and our busy lives, our chat frequency decreased from every few days to once a week, and then to once every six months, until now, we haven’t talked at all. I only found out about her marriage through our class group chat. From being extremely close in the past to now being like strangers, there were no arguments, no conflicts of interest. It’s just that gradually, the feelings and contact faded away. Neither of us was at fault; it’s just that, under the intersection of time and space, we gradually drifted apart, becoming two parallel lines that would never intersect. Perhaps companionship is fate. When fate arises, there is joy; when fate ends, it’s a dignified conclusion, marking a perfect ending to the story.
