人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全
--水调歌头
"Lives have sorrow and joy; they part and meet again. The moon is bright or dim; it waxes and wanes. Nothing in history has ever been perfect."
In essence, the verse is a beautiful and comforting acceptance of imperfection as a natural and universal law. It teaches us to find peace by understanding that change, loss, and imperfection are not personal failings but are part of the very fabric of existence.
人间有味是清欢
--浣溪沙
"The true happiness of life is a kind of mild joy."
In essence, Su Shi is saying that the most authentic and lasting happiness in life is not found in grand feasts or wild celebrations, but in the quiet, simple, and pure moments of peace and contentment. It is a spiritual and mental joy, rather than a purely physical or material one.
天涯何处无芳草
--蝶恋花·春景
"Is there anywhere in the world where you can’t find fragrant grasses? Today this expression is often used to comfort people nursing broken hearts, meaning 'There are plenty of fish in the sea.'"
The line comes from a poem by Su Shi called "Butterfly Loves Flowers: A Spring Scene" (蝶恋花·春景). In its original context, the meaning is broader and more philosophical. The poem describes the fleeting beauty of spring—faded flowers and disappearing willow catkins. After observing these specific losses, the poet consoles himself with this line. Here, the meaning is: Even though specific beautiful things may fade and disappear, beauty itself is not lost. The world is vast, and life and beauty (the "fragrant grasses") are abundant everywhere. It’s an encouragement to not fixate on a single loss but to appreciate the broader, ever-present beauty and opportunity in the world. It’s a message of resilience and optimism in the face of any kind of loss, not just romantic.
人生到处知何似，应似飞鸿踏雪泥。
泥上偶然留指爪，鸿飞那复计东西
--和子由渑池怀旧
"What is life like? It should be like wild geese stepping on snow and mud. Their footprints are occasionally left on the mud, but how can the wild geese know where they are flying?"
Su Shi is teaching a lesson in non-attachment. He suggests that we should not be overly defined by our past accomplishments or failures (the footprints), nor should we be paralyzed by anxiety about the future. Life is a continuous, forward-moving journey. The real meaning is found in the journey itself, not in the traces we leave behind or the destination we are trying to reach. It’s a call to live with a sense of freedom, purpose, and presence, accepting the transient nature of all things.
莫聽穿林打葉聲，何妨吟嘯且徐行。
回首向來蕭瑟處，歸去、也無風雨也無晴。
--定风波
"Listen not to the rain beating on the trees, Why not chant and walk slowly as you please? Looking back at the path where the wind and rain did blow, As I go home, There is neither storm nor clear sky, only peace in my soul."
The verse is a powerful lesson in mental fortitude. It teaches that while we cannot control the "storms" that life throws at us, we have absolute control over our inner response. True resilience and freedom are found when our sense of well-being is not attached to whether things are going well or poorly.
Strategies to Thrive in Adversity by Su Shi:
1: Build survival skills (literally): Dongpo Pork 东坡肉
2: Reframe setbacks as adventures: Why Curse the Storm That Broke Your Sail? It is the Wind That Will Carry You to an Undiscovered Shore 破帆之风，亦是渡我之舟
3: Embrace wu wei—flow with life’s currents: In a straw coat, I let the misty rain of my life be 一蓑烟雨任平生. 任 (rèn) means "to allow," "to let be," "to yield to." It is the perfect verb for wu wei.
4: Cultivate unshakable emotional support: Find Joy in the Mundane 凡物皆有可观, Recognize the Trap of Desire 人之所欲无穷, The Solution: Go Inward 自得于心 to find contentment within one's own heart. You become your own source of support.
高处不胜寒
--水调歌头·明月几时有
"It is overwhelmingly cold in a high place. It’s lonely at the top."
The phrase is a powerful metaphor for the isolation, pressure, and vulnerability that come with great success, power, or authority.
横看成岭侧成峰，远近高低各不同。
不识庐山真面目，只缘身在此山中。
--题西林壁
"From the front it looks like a range; from the side, a single peak. Far, near, high, low, no two perspectives are alike. Why can’t I tell the true shape of Mount Lu? It’s because I am in the mountain."
When we are deeply enmeshed in a situation, our view is inevitably partial and subjective. We are too caught up in the details (the trees, the rocks) to see the whole picture (the forest, the mountain range). To truly understand something, one must step back, detach, and consider it from multiple viewpoints.
腹有詩書氣自華
--和董傳留別
"One who is filled with knowledge always behaves with elegance."
When a person truly immerses themselves in knowledge and culture (詩書), it doesn't just make them smarter; it fundamentally refines their character and spirit (氣). This inner refinement then manifests as an effortless grace, poise, and dignified presence (華). It’s an elegance that comes from the soul, not from the tailor.
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金剛經 Diamond Sutra 應無所住而生其心
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