The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 24 Talking about Life

[Chinese] Bingxin
In the big life of the universe, how humble and insignificant we are, but the activity and growth of a drop and a leaf synthesize the operation of the entire universe.

I dare not say what life is, I can only say what life is like.

Life is like a river of spring water flowing eastward. It originates from the highest point, and ice and snow are its predecessors.He gathered many small streams to form a powerful torrent, rushing down, he zigzagged through the cliffs, washed away the layer of sand, carried the rolling sand and stones, and flowed away happily and bravely. Along the way he enjoyed everything he encountered.Sometimes when he encounters dangerous rocks and obstacles, he gallops angrily, roaring, and circling, the ups and downs of the front wave and the back wave press him, until he passes the precipitous cliff and rushes down, he calmly rushes down thousands of miles.Sometimes he passes the fine flat sand, among the grassy grass in the setting sun, and sees the red peach blossoms on Jia’an bank. He is happy but shy, flowing quietly, singing softly, and spends this romantic period gently. journey.Sometimes he was caught in a storm, and the lightning, the thunder, terrified him; newborn force.Sometimes he meets the sunset glow and the new moon, shining on him, projecting on him, bringing some faint warmth in the cold, at this time he just wants to rest and sleep, and the forward force still urges him to move forward Walk……

Finally one day, he saw the sea from a distance, heh!He has reached the end of his journey, the sea, which takes his breath away and bows his head, how vast and how great she is!How bright and how dark!The sea solemnly stretched out her arms to receive him, and he fell silently into her arms.He melted and naturalized, neither happy nor sad!Maybe one day, he will rise from the raindrops on the sea again, fly to the west, form a river again, wash down the stone walls on both sides, and then come to look for the peach blossoms on the banks.However, I dare not speak of an afterlife, nor dare I believe in an afterlife.

Life is like a small tree, it gathers a lot of vitality from the ground, stretches under the ice and snow, and breaks out of its shell bravely and happily in the moist soil in early spring.He may grow on the plains, on the shore rocks, or on the city walls, as long as he looks up and sees the sky, ah!I saw the sky!He stretches out his young leaves to absorb the air, to receive the sun, to sing in the rain, and to dance in the wind.He may be under the shade of the big tree, maybe he may be under the pressure of the big tree, but the strength of his youthful growth finally makes him break free through the branches and leaves, and stand upright in the scorching sun!

He meets the sun in the spring, he may bloom a tree full of flowers, bees and butterflies fly around him and make noise, birds appreciate and sing on his branches, he hears the yellow warbler singing, the cuckoo cries blood, and maybe the owl's cry Strange sound.He grows to the most luxuriant middle age, he stretches out his thick shade like a canopy to shade the flowers and grasses under the trees, and he bears numerous fruits to present the endless sweetness and fragrance of the earth.When the autumn wind blows, it blows its leaves from dark green to crimson red. Under the autumn sun, it has a different majesty and splendor. It is not the pride of flowering, nor the joy of fruiting, but the tranquility and joy of success!

Finally one day, the winter wind rolled down and shook his yellow leaves and dry branches. He danced feebly in the air and groaned under the roots. in her arms.He melted and naturalized, he was neither happy nor sad!Maybe one day, he will burst out from the nuts in the ground, grow into a small tree again, pass through the thick cover of the jungle, and listen to the singing of the yellow warbler again, but I dare not say the afterlife, nor dare to believe in the afterlife , the universe is a big life, and we are one breath in the atmosphere of the universe.The river flows into the sea, and the leaves fall back to their roots. We are a leaf of the big life, a drop of the big life.In the big life of the universe, how humble and insignificant we are, but the activity and growth of a drop and a leaf synthesize the operation of the entire universe.

Remember: not every river can flow into the sea, and those that don't flow become dead lakes.Not all the first seed can grow into a tree, what does not grow becomes an empty shell!
Life is not always happy, nor is it always painful, happiness and pain are mutually reinforcing.It means that the waterways have to pass through different banks, and the trees have to pass through the ever-changing seasons. In happiness, we should thank life, and in pain, we should also thank life.Happiness is exciting, but is pain not beautiful?I once read a saying, "May there be enough clouds in your life to make a beautiful evening".

Heart mark notes
Bing Xin used poetic language to express her understanding of the essence of life: life is movement, and there is no life without movement; life is a process, and this process is not calm and smooth. In this process, success is intertwined. And failure, joy and sorrow, pain and joy, this kind of interweaving constitutes the truth and beauty of life; we should treat life and every state of life with a peaceful attitude.

Life is a bright and upward force; life is the coexistence of humbleness and loftiness; life is a cycle of death and rebirth; life is a beautiful existence!Such a poem of life praises the beauty of life and the course of life.Life is like all this.

(End of this chapter)