Life seen in the garden

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Pause your busy pace, return to your quiet personal world, and reflect on the ordinary and exhausting past year – one without any spiritual gains or life experiences at all. In the blink of an eye, it can be said to be without regrets, yet only filled with sorrow. It’s sad that my father-in-law also passed away last year, and my beloved dog and cat, having reached an advanced age, died after him. I think at this moment, my in-laws must be happily playing around in heaven with Ava! In short, whether in heaven or on the way to heaven, happiness is the most important thing. Think about it calmly: what can a passerby, someone who stops at this inn to rest, take with them or leave behind? There is nothing that can be taken away in the form of a belt, but one thing can remain: wisdom or spirit. Aren’t all these books in my room the wisdom legacy left by our ancestors? Everything that isn’t left behind will dissipate over time. In a country like China that doesn’t value its own culture, what use is there to the wealth that remains, and how many generations can it be passed down to? These past few days, I have been listening to \"Pure Music\" in my study, reading \"Lotus in the Musical Courtyard.\" I put aside the reflections I had been developing on works such as \"Laozi,\" \"The Insights of Zeng Guofan,\" \"Hu Shi in Chinese Reflections,\" and \"Rousseau: The Meditations of a Solitary Walker.\" I also ignored the worries regarding how to write notes after reading \"Zizhi Tongjian,\" and instead turned to reading books from the series on Chinese garden art. I would like to gain some insight from a side perspective into the fluidity of Chinese culture and wisdom. I have gained some insights. Chinese architecture embodies China’s spiritual culture of stillness and movement; its core principles are elegance, naturalness, and refinement. A single punch can convey the essence of heaven and earth, a single garden can reflect the cycles of spring and autumn, and even an ordinary stone holds within it the mysteries of the universe. Slender, translucent, delicate, with wrinkles – such is its graceful appearance. This is the form. And meaning is that what we pursue is something that seems subtle yet profound, simple yet majestic, like the beauty of spring, radiant and bright. When there is connection, there is spirit; when there is connection, there is interaction. When clarity prevails, it contrasts with darkness, creating a state of harmonious balance. It moves without causing disturbance, and even when disturbed, the movement is slight, resembling the demeanor of a Taoist immortal. And this is precisely the kind of spirit that enables people in contemporary China to let go of vanity and reflect on life. Now, when those same people talk about Taoism and Buddhism, they only have a superficial understanding; they fail to distinguish between the two, and those who speak on these topics often mix things up. Therefore, if one can grasp the essence of Chinese garden architecture and thereby reach an understanding of spiritual wisdom, one will develop a great interest in Taoist culture, as people in this country, regardless of wealth or age, hold a special affection for houses. Thus, distinguish the origins of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Chinese garden architecture embodies three concepts: separation, restraint, and curvature, akin to stillness, sensation, and insight in our consciousness. The character for “separation” is used in garden architecture to divide different areas, so that each area functions as an independent unit, a complete entity in its own right. In this way, one can appreciate the varied and intricate patterns of the garden scenery; it creates a sense of endlessness, with more scenes beyond the visible ones and more images beyond those that are apparent. Thus, the world within the garden seems to expand – a spoonful of water reveals its depths, and a lump of stone preserves its intricate contours. It’s like when one becomes calm, gradually removing distractions from one’s thoughts, cultivating tranquility and serenity, and watching the clouds rise from a distance. When the mind is at peace, it is as vast as the sea and as boundless as the sky; in that stillness, every flower represents a whole world, and every single heart embodies the nature of Buddha. The character “yì” better reflects how those who have settled down can explore the meaning of life and embark on new journeys. Or obstacles in the garden, such as boulders and maples. The purpose of obstacles is to create openness. Once one passes the obstacle, it means that a beautiful landscape awaits – a hidden path leading to a wonderful place. A restraint creates a temporary void in the landscape, akin to pulling back the bowstring before releasing an arrow; once released, it’s like letting the arrow fly, and within that void emerges the most vibrant vitality. This restraint acts like a cooling agent, and after such restraint comes release. In a garden, this restraint is like a mind that has been at peace, only for new waves of activity to arise within it, leading to a state of profound enlightenment and great joy after meditation – an understanding of what human nature and life are, how they exist, and where they end. And this character for “melody” is akin to life after achieving great enlightenment: no matter what the circumstances or feelings are, I am still me, the wise me. My me, my joyful me. Chinese garden architecture features grace within curves, as well as techniques of variation within those curves; these variations are the essence of gardens. Gardens place great emphasis on curves, just as life does on its twists and turns. Chinese architecture, like human life, values the intricate experiences that come along the journey of life. This is also what is needed in ancient Chinese architecture – the beauty that lies in curves, as well as the advantages inherent in movement. The design of curves gives rise to a natural sense of vitality. And humans are also the ones who control their own tortuous lives. Therefore, music is the soul of a garden, just as it is the soul of a person. A soul that has not gone through hardships in life is an imperfect soul. Thus, the three stages of artistic conception in Chinese gardens reflect the cultural principles of China: tranquility, sensitivity, and enlightenment. The philosophy of understanding human nature in Chinese philosophy is reflected in the architecture. What shares a sense of empathy with people and things is Chinese culture. If you wish to gain a deeper understanding of the true essence of life, you can go to a garden, stroll there in thought, and savor it carefully. With a mindset of emptiness and letting go, one comes across a pool of water whose waves are gentle and the surface is smooth and flat. Then one enters the corridor, crosses arched bridges and walks along winding walls; one follows the path while enjoying the views – the curves in the landscape complement each other. There are corridors, several streams, deep caves, winding stairs, and undulating walls; the various stained-glass windows echo each other, creating a continuous flow that never ends. At that time, you will surely gain some insights; you will feel the influence of a certain culture and a change in your life perspective. You will experience the intersection of history and reality, the closeness between matter and spirit, as well as the profoundness of Chinese culture and the true meaning of life’s values. I marvel that we, who enjoy such beautiful scenery, didn’t realize its beauty sooner. Is there any path in this world that cannot be traversed?