Dungdanji

 When encountering things and affairs of the world, understanding them, judging them, making decisions, and acting upon them, we must possess the right standards. This is a principle that we must invariably uphold as we navigate the world.  The standards held by most people are shaped by their own desires or ideals. The right standards exist within the very things and affairs of the world that we must judge and decide upon—that is, within what exists.

 It is really difficult to have faith in hope, yet quite easy to have faith in ideals.  It is so easy for faith in hope to be shattered, yet incredibly difficult for faith in ideals to be broken.

 Today, most human beings abandon the hope to make themselves better and live consumed by desires and ideals. In particular, ideals are the worst factor which ruins both individuals and human society. An ideal refers to something that does not exist, is not true, or cannot be achieved. In the world, there are religious ideals, political ideals, ideological ideals, ideals regarding people, and many other kinds of ideals.  Things that do not exist, are not true, or cannot be achieved—in other words, ideals—arise and spread due to blind and misguided belief.

 Human beings have to have the hope to get a better self. By the way, because it is really difficult and hard to achieve the hope, an unyielding spirit and unceasing efforts are necessary. The belief in hope can keep will and effort alive.

Human beings have to be able to know what exists properly. In order to do math properly, we have to know numbers and formulas correctly. To obtain a desired color, we have to know colors and which colors are created when mixed. Human beings can only know what will happen to them when they know who they are, what surroundings they have, and what happens if they and their surroundings meet and react. When determining what they desire, human beings have to know who they are, what surroundings they have, and what is made if they and their surroundings meet and react. Things which cannot happen will not happen, no matter how desperately they desire them.

If we refrain from doing what we should not do and keep what we should keep, we can prevent ourselves from deteriorating.