Living and Working Well 做人做事 from Collection of Rain Blossoms

The ocean is steady; the mind is steady. Image: Shutterstock.

The sea is calm and still, like a mirror. But once the wind blows, ripples appear, and soon waves rise. Remember, the human heart is much the same. In its natural state, it is peaceful and steady. But when temptations or troubles touch it, the surface begins to move. Small ripples of thought can grow into big waves, and before long, a storm begins.

And just as waves rise with the wind, when the heart begins to stir, that is the very moment to steady it. Remember—quiet the rush of thoughts, keep desires from taking over. If the waves swell too high, even the strongest boat will be overturned. In the same way, when the heart is in turmoil, it cannot hold anything else. This is why, in daily life, the heart is best kept calm and disciplined—like the sea on a clear, quiet day.

Facing Challenges Wisely

And just as we guard the heart in daily life, so too must we guard the mind when we face the affairs of the world. Remember this: when handling life’s matters, it is wise to first consider what could go wrong, not only what could go right. In this way, the mind is prepared for any turn and less likely to be caught off guard. If we look only at the bright side, we may charge ahead without thinking. And then, when a setback comes, the blow feels even harder, leaving us tired out and discouraged.

But if we think through the harder side of things ahead of time, even failure won’t hit us as hard. Then the heart stays steady, and the mind is ready to start again. Remember—whether in living or in working, two habits are worth keeping close: a heart as calm as still water, and a mind that looks ahead before setting sail.     

做人做事

雨花集

濟公活佛

海在平日靜止如鏡, 只因風之吹拂, 始見微波, 人之心亦猶海也; 人心本來平平淡淡, 如果遇著外物之誘惑, 便起波瀾, 起伏不定, 煩惱隨來。

所以做人遇著心起微波之時, 便要極力抑制自己之思潮, 遏制自己之慾望, 否則好像海水一樣, 經風一吹便興波浪, 驚濤澎湃, 成為海不容舟, 亦猶人之不能容物, 所以做人務必隨時管制自己的心, 不要令它起波濤, 生活亦隨時檢點。

做事要先從壞一方面著想, 切不可從好的一面去看, 如此便穩當可靠, 假使處理某一件事, 你從好的一面去看, 一定不顧一切, 到頭來一經挫折, 便生氣全無, 失望更深, 若先從壞方面看, 縱使失敗, 亦不致失望, 此做人做事所不可不知者也。

A Personal Reflection

The teaching here speaks to me as someone who has always tried to keep an even keel. For a long time, I leaned heavily on positive thinking—so much so that I was almost afraid to even consider what might go wrong. Looking back, I see this came from my anxious habit of worrying too much about the future. To protect myself, I clung to positive thoughts, and I couldn’t allow even a single negative one. Because as soon as a dark thought entered my mind, all my positivity would collapse. In that season of life, positive thinking was what kept me afloat, and yes, it has its place.

But now I see the other side of the coin. If we rely only on positive thinking, without preparing for difficulties, we are easily disappointed when setbacks come—just as this chapter warns. Balance is needed: hope and positivity on one side, but also realism and readiness on the other.

Perhaps I understand more now about my true nature, my mind, and the laws of karma. I can face both sides without leaning only on positive thinking or fearing negative thoughts. It feels almost natural now to plan for both outcomes. If things work out, that is good. If not, then the right time will come. In this way, I can stay calm, not get carried away by the situation, and keep my interactions with others gentle and steady.

This translated text is a chapter from Collection of Rain Blossoms, a scripture written by JiGong Living Buddha in the 1900s through spirit writing. Here the link to the original Chinese source.

If you are interested in other chapters of this book, here is the link to the table of contents.