FOUR JOYS IN LIFE

By Venerable Master Hsing Yun

 

Life can feel like the four seasons, and so can our state of mind.  If we are trapped in sorrow and pain, then even though it may be springtime, it will feel like the coldness of winter.  If our mind is liberated from the bondage of trouble, we will feel cool and easy even in the middle of summer.  Therefore, when we are able to transcend the hot and cold of human sentiments, each of the four seasons will be filled with endless delight.  The following are some ways to enjoy each season:

 

1. Marvel at the fragrant blossoms in spring.  When spring arrives, the earth awakens, and flowers bloom in all their glory of their colors.  They are elegant and beautiful, spreading bouquets of perfume.  Spring is like a newborn baby full of life and energy.  Wherever spring goes, life is filled with hope. “Green grass and fragrant flowers, travelers truly delight in them.”  Life is certainly enjoyable at this time.

 

2. Enjoy a taste of sweet tea in summer.  If summer feels too hot for you, share a cup of tea with a few good friends in a gazebo or under the shade of a tree.  It would feel like drinking sweet dew.  When friends gather, the friendly exchange and camaraderie are like gentle breezes.  Summer! Just take time to sip some tea and savor its flavor as our heart warms up.  It is certainly a joyful time in life.

 

3. Admire the cool moon in autumn.  “The moon is particularly bright by mid-autumn.”  Autumn is the season when we get closer to the bright and clear moon.  Once the weather gets cool, the moon in the sky appears even cooler and brighter.  When admiring the white shining moon, we may be reminded of what Master Han Shan once said, “My heart is like the autumn moon, its reflection clear and white in the blue water. There is nothing that can compare; what more can I say?”  Tang Dynasty Li Bai expressed a similar carefree and romantic feeling in the following lines: “I raise my glass to invite the moon, forming a company of three along with my shadow.”  Viewing a full autumn moon is another joy in life.

 

4. Listen to the firecrackers in winter.  When winter comes, the New Year arrives. Households set off firecrackers to bring good fortune for the New Year which can be heard everywhere.  The distance between people becomes so much closer: “The old year leaves with the sound of firecrackers.  Like everything else, new scrolls of blessings replace old ones on walls.”  A new year allows us to start everything anew, bringing a renewal of hope.

　

　

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, each has its own vista and beauty.  Likewise, the twenty-four hours in the day are also full of joy.  Aren’t we happy putting on clothes, eating a delicious meal, or going out for a ride to admire the scenery?  We can also be at peace while walking or exercising.  Therefore, we should be looking for happiness in our daily activities, for there is no need to become mired in sorrow and suffering.  Why not seek out the joys of life every season of the year?