Favorable and Unfavorable Circumstances
A man's life is a mixture of favorable and unfavorable factors. No
one can avoid it. Therefore, a man has to understand these two
opposite factors and treat them fairly to know better about human
life, to live a healthy life, and accumulate strength for ultimate
success. A Daoist divination book says: " Horses refuse to go
further on a bridge blocked by a snow storm. The fisherman's boat
is locked in violent wind and rain. It's too late to lament over
fallen petals in a flowing stream. A man should go straight ahead
without any hesitation toward his goal." In the first two
sentences, the book suggests a story about Han Yu, who lived in the
Tang dynasty.
After being appointed to the position of prime minister, he
returned to his hometown in glory. On his birthday celebration, he
was flattered by local officials. On this occasion, Han Xiangzi,
his nephew, however, suggested to him to leave officialdom, which,
he claimed, would bring forth disasters. In order to persuade his
uncle, Han Xiangzi composed a poem, saying " roads are blocked by
clouds and mountains, the horses hesitate to go further at the
snow-blocked Lan pass".
At the peak of his career, Han Yu paid no attention to the
implications of this poem. Years later, after he wrote a report to
the emperor expressing his opposition to his favorable policy
towards Buddhism, he was removed from his position, and expelled to
Chaozhou, a remote prefecture in the south. Setting out from the
imperial capital, he found no friends and colleagues to come to see
him off. On his way to the south, he and his entourage were blocked
by a terrible snow storm. His horses refused to go further on a
bridge. There were no boats below to ride across the river. At this
moment, Han Xiangzi, his nephew, appeared. Only now did Han Yu
understand the implication of the poem written by his nephew. In
the story, after this, Han Yu got a deeper understanding of human
life, following his nephew in the pursuit of Dao. A man's life
consists of ups and downs, of good luck and bad luck, of favorable
and unfavorable factors.
Therefore, a man should be on high alert and modest in favorable
circumstances, and keep a high spirit in unfavorable circumstances,
fighting a way out through strengthening his will, accumulating
good deeds, and doing hard work. Understanding the ups and downs in
human life on a higher level will broaden one's horizons and bring
more meaning to daily life.