A Wisdom that Sees through Everything: Embracing Simplicity

After walking through half a lifetime and experiencing countless voyages, I finally understand that it's okay to be a little "stupid". Heaven forbids perfection, and humanity dislikes excess. A true master is someone who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness is guarding diligence. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness possesses the awareness of "the clumsy bird flies first, and the foolish person practices diligently". Those who are clever tend to be lazy in their efforts, always seeking ways to bypass difficulties. They may appear to be taking shortcuts, but their foundation is weak. Throughout history, many of those who achieved great success were exemplars of guarding their clumsiness. Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty practiced calligraphy to the point where he accidentally used a steamed bun to dip into the ink, turning it into a small mountain of ruined brushes. The water basin for cleaning brushes and inkstone became a pool of black water. Day after day, year after year, he eventually became the "saint of calligraphy". Zeng Guofan in the late Qing Dynasty adhered to the principle of "only by embracing clumsiness can one surpass cleverness". He dedicated his life to learning and self-cultivation. In this world, regardless of difficulty, what matters most is the attitude of "taking things seriously". Progress through clumsiness, achieve through clumsiness, excel through clumsiness, advance through clumsiness. Hide your brightness with clumsiness, aim low but strive for progress, and reach success. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness is guarding sincerity. A person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness appears "foolish" but is truly sincere in their actions and treatment of others. Guarding clumsiness is a form of self-cultivation and the highest level of being a good person. Throughout history, wise individuals referred to their works as "clumsy creations" and their opinions as "clumsy views". It is rare to understand, and even rarer to be naive; it is rare to be mature, and even rarer to be pure and genuine. It is rare to be cautious, and even rarer to be casual. In life, one doesn't need to be too clever, and more importantly, should not show off cleverness. We should not only hide our wisdom but also nourish it. Adopting an attitude of "not arguing about right or wrong" allows for individual perspectives; having a demeanor of "not losing sight of boundaries" means adhering to one's responsibilities; cultivating depth without revealing sharpness means being understated. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness often has the most sincere approach to being a genuine person, doing real things, and taking action. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness is guarding prudence. A person who possesses abilities and accomplishments, yet remains modest and cautious, will surely succeed steadily. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness does not get lost in the temptations of the world, always maintaining a simple and open-minded nature. They are worldly-wise yet not corrupted, mature but not tainted, and possess the highest level of wisdom. Cultivating oneself in obscurity, accumulating strength in silence, benefiting others while achieving personal growth. Laozi once said, "The water that benefits all things and does not contend is the best." We should learn the modest nature of water and use "not contending" to benefit others and ourselves. In life, taking shortcuts and relying on cleverness is like walking on a balance beam. While it may help you cross a cliff faster, one misstep can be irreversible. The person who can hide their wisdom behind clumsiness is guarding prudence. They tread slowly and steadily on the path of life, reliable and steadfast. Reaching middle age, the highest level of cultivation is to learn to guard clumsiness.

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