Roots of Wisdom - Contaminated Mind

"Mountains and forests are excellent places.  

But once you put designs on them, they become no better than the marketplace.

Books and paintings are elegant things.  

But once they are coveted unreasonably, they become no better than pawned goods.

Generally, if the mind is untainted, 

even the vulgar world is the realm of sages.

But if the mind is infatuated, even places of pleasure become seas of regret."

"If the heart is uncontaminated, everywhere is a good place."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom

"You reap what you sow.  How one treats others is like seeing one's own face in a mirror.  If you smile, you see a smiling image.  If you frown, a frowning image stares back at you."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - The Folly of Greed

"Once greed is aroused one's intuitive knowledge of the good is shattered.  He will then be unable to tell right from wrong and instead of intelligence and insight, there will be ignorance and folly."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming) 

Roots of Wisdom - Unperturbed Heart

"One must not let praise or blame, honour or disgrace affect one's original nature.  Changes in one's fortunes are like the clouds that come together or drift apart.  There's no need to be too concerned about such things."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

 

Roots of Wisdom - To Let Go is to Gain

 

"To retreat is to advance, to let go is to gain.  Thus to retreat a step can mean an advance of a hundred steps."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - You Reap What You Sow

"You reap what you sow.  How one treats others is like seeing one's own face in a mirror.  If you smile, you see a smiling image.  If you frown, a frowning image stares back at you." 

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Practising the Way

"When one is studying or practising the Way, one has to be diligent.  Flowing water will eventually find its course just as a ripened fruit will fall to the ground."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - One's Mind

"One's mind must be like the water with the moon's reflection on it - no image is retained.  That way one will be free of worries and cares."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming) 

Roots of Wisdom - The Joys of Living

"One who knows how to savour the joys of living will also understand the meaning of life." 

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Non-Attachment

"Everything is of equal value in existence.  There is no need to compare and to feel inadequacy nor to feel abundance and brag about it."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Endless Cycle

"Gain or loss is an endless cycle, power and weakness are just human concepts.  Wealth and honour is as empty as a dream.  If one can understand this, then he would not become a slave to his desires and get ensnared by things."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming) 

Roots of Wisdom - Anything Natural

"Fascinating and novel things do not endure.  That which endures is the plain and ordinary.  Anything that is contrived loses its natural flavour.  Only that which is natural is true." 

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Man's Nature

"Man's nature is basically good but it is often clouded by desires.  It is like a person who suddenly loses his sight.  Isn't this lamentable?

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

 

Roots of Wisdom - Truth

 

"Every truth has its immanent and apparent meaning.  The aim of study is to understand its spirit and not for the sake of getting results. Action must be in accordance with what is good and right for it to have meaning."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Expansive Mind

 

"If one can drop the burdens of thought, then he will be able to appreciate the full flavour of life."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Slip of the Tongue

"Do not because of a moment's slip of the tongue incur trouble.  Do not because of a moment's desire stray from what is right."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Duality

 

"To be caught in duality and delusion is to be at odds with the truth of things.  To involve oneself in secular affairs and yet not be bound by them is the most transcendent way of mundane living."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - Worldly Bondage

"A person who recognizes that he is but one of the constituents of Nature is a person of worth. He will transcend the ways of the world and not be subject to worldly bondage."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

 

Roots of Wisdom - The Silent Mind

"People often feel anxiety and apprehension over things yet to happen and regret over things past.  Thus do people pass their days in sorrow and pain."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)

Roots of Wisdom - The Human Mind

 

"The human mind is originally quiet but is usually clouded by thoughts and desires.  Once such mental obstructions are removed, then the clear mind will naturally manifest itself."

(From the book "Roots of Wisdom" written by Hong Yingming)