Today, I found myself thinking about the idea of environment.
Of course, I do not mean the natural environment. Here, “environment” refers to the people, events, and things surrounding an individual.
For adults, matters are not always simply right or wrong; often, they are questions of perspective and position.
When it comes to an individual—one’s innate nature and calling—the surrounding environment has a direct impact: it can either strengthen or weaken them.
I spent the entire weekend scrolling through Douyin. The longer I scrolled, the more I began to dislike the person I was becoming.
The feeling of being constantly swept along by a rapid stream of information was deeply incompatible with my nature. It all felt too shallow and too ostentatious.
Then I began thinking about friendship.
The people I would most like to befriend include Zhuangzi, Wang Yangming, Shakyamuni Buddha, and many others I have not listed here.
I want to form friendships with those whose wisdom has endured the test of time.
So I have now adopted a new approach: there are seven days in a week, and each day I will devote myself to befriending one particular person.
For example, today I want to befriend Shakyamuni Buddha, so I will read The Diamond Sutra.
As adults, we can shape our own environment. It does not have to be determined by the people, events, and things around us.
I believe that human beings are capable of attaining freedom of the heart, mind, and spirit.