Life is ordinary, and in this lifetime, no one can escape the seven emotions (qi qing) and six desires (liu yu).
The “seven emotions” in Buddhism refer to “joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire”.
Human emotions are innate. We instinctively smile when we encounter happy events; we get angry when our limits are tested; we feel sad when faced with troubling matters; we fear when confronted with insurmountable issues; we love those who reciprocate our feelings; and we desire what we like.
Later, the philosopher Gao You of the Eastern Han Dynasty commented on the “six desires” mentioned in the “Lüshi Chunqiu: Gui Sheng” as: “The six desires are life, death, ears, eyes, mouth, and nose.”
It is the desires within our hearts that fill us with curiosity about the world and anticipation for life.
· Joy ·
“Ru Meng Ling”
【Song】Li Qingzhao
Often remember the creek pavilion at dusk, intoxicated and unaware of the way back.
After the excitement, returning late by boat, mistakenly entering the depths of the lotus flowers.
Struggling to cross, struggling to cross, startling a flock of gulls and egrets.
Sometimes, the simplest things are also the happiest. For no reason, with no demands, everything done should just follow the heart’s desires, and joy can ripple from the heart to the eyebrows.
· Anger ·
“Man Jiang Hong: Writing My Feelings”
【Song】Yue Fei
Anger rises to the crown,
Leaning on the railing, the rain has stopped.
Looking up, I howl to the sky,
My passionate heart is intense.
Thirty years of fame is dust and dirt,
Eight thousand miles of road, clouds and moon.
Do not wait idly, turning white the youth’s head,
Only to feel sorrow.
What kind of hatred can make one so furious? Internally, family is humiliated; externally, the country is invaded. Although one should not easily get angry, when one can no longer endure, there is no need to endure further.
· Sorrow ·
“Short Song”
【Han】Cao Cao
To drink and sing, how much is life! Like morning dew, the past days are bitterly many. With a sigh, I feel sorrow, hard to forget. How to relieve sorrow? Only with Du Kang. The green collar, my heart is long. But for you, I have pondered until now. The deer call, eating wild apples. I have honored guests, playing the zither and blowing the sheng. Bright as the moon, when can it be picked? Sorrow comes from within, cannot be severed. Crossing fields and paths, uselessly trying to stay. Contracted and parted, remembering old kindness. The moon is bright and the stars are few, the crows fly south. Circling the tree three times, which branch can I rely on? The mountain does not disdain to be high, the sea does not disdain to be deep. Duke Zhou regurgitates, the world returns to the heart.
As one grows older, worries seem to increase with the passage of time. Those things that were not considered before now flood the mind. Give yourself a chance to relax, warm a pot of wine and raise a glass to the bright moon, and let tonight’s self temporarily forget those worries.
· Fear ·
“Again Presenting to Wu Lang”
【Tang】Du Fu
The front hall slaps the jujubes for the neighbor, with no food, no children, just a woman. Is it not for poverty that there is this? Only because of fear must one be close. Even if the distant guests are numerous, inserting a sparse fence is very real. I have told of the poverty to the bone, just thinking of the tears of war filling the handkerchief.
People fear because they face the unknown. And the hardest thing to understand in this world is the human heart, and whether a person is sincere to others requires time to discern.
· Love ·
“Qiao Qiao Xian: Delicate Clouds Play Tricks”
【Song】Qin Guan
Delicate clouds play tricks, flying stars convey hate,
The silver river stretches darkly.
Golden wind and jade dew meet,
Surpassing countless in the world.
Soft feelings like water, beautiful dates like dreams,
Reluctantly looking back at the return path of the magpie bridge.
If love is long-lasting, why care about morning and evening?
Love is a wonderful emotion; it not only warms the loved one but also satisfies the lover. True love does not seek security from the other but supports each other and progresses together. Such love is not built in a day but is nurtured over time, moment by moment, for a lifetime.
· Hate ·
“Longing for Li Bai at the End of Heaven”
【Tang】Du Fu
Cool wind rises at the end of heaven, what is the gentleman’s intention? When will the wild geese arrive, the rivers and lakes are full of autumn water. Articles hate fate reaching, demons delight in passing. Should speak with the wronged souls, throwing poems to the Miluo.
Talented and unruly people are always easily hated by some ill-intentioned individuals. We are powerless against reality and can only do our best to maintain our integrity.
· Desire ·
“Shui Diao Ge Tou: When Will the Bright Moon Appear?”
【Song】Su Shi
When will the bright moon appear? I raise my glass to ask the blue sky.
I do not know the heavenly palace, what year is it tonight?
I wish to ride the wind back, yet fear the cold at the high palace,
It is too cold at the heights.
To dance and play with the clear shadow, how is it like in the human world?
Turning the vermilion pavilion, lowering the ornate window, shining on the sleepless.
There should be no hatred, why is it always round when parting?
People have joys and sorrows, the moon has its phases,
This matter has been difficult to achieve since ancient times.
But I hope people last long, sharing the beauty of the moon from afar.
Being human in this world is of value, even if one has lost everything once owned, as long as one is still alive, one can start anew.
· Life ·
“Jiang Cheng Zi: On the Night of the 20th Day of the Second Month, Remembering a Dream”
【Song】Su Shi
Ten years of life and death, both are vague.
Not thinking, it is hard to forget.
A lonely grave a thousand miles away, no place to speak of sorrow.
Even if we meet again, we should not recognize each other,
Dust on the face, frost in the hair.
Last night, a quiet dream suddenly returned home.
In the small window, just dressing up.
Looking at each other in silence, only tears flow like a thousand lines.
Guessing the place where the heart breaks year after year,
On the bright moon night, the short pine hill.
In this world, apart from life and death, everything else is trivial. Do not waste too much energy on meaningless matters. Please cherish every day, and also cherish everyone around us, do not wait until we lose them to regret.
· Ear ·
“Diao Bai Juyi”
【Tang】Li Chen
Stringing jade and pearls for sixty years, who taught the dark road to become a poet immortal. Floating clouds do not bind the name of Bai Juyi, creation is effortless, the character is Le Tian. The boy knows how to chant the long hate song, the Hu child can sing the pipa piece. Articles have filled the ears of travelers, once thinking of you, one feels sad.
Excellent works not only enter the ears but also touch the heart.
Image | Visual China
· Eye ·
“Climbing the Stork Tower”
【Tang】Wang Zhihuan
The white sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea.
To see a thousand miles, one must climb another floor.
As the saying goes: “Standing high, one sees far.” When a person reaches a certain height, their vision becomes broader than before. One must make progress; otherwise, one is regressing.
· Mouth ·
“What I See”
【Qing】Yuan Mei
The cowherd rides a yellow cow, the singing voice shakes the forest and grove. Wanting to catch the singing cicada, suddenly closing the mouth and standing still.
The cowherd’s singing is crisp and bright because children do not have so many worries. He sings out loud because he is happy and wants to sing, and he closes his mouth because he sees the cicada on the tree and wants to catch it. It is so simple and pure, yet many people yearn for it but cannot achieve it.
· Nose ·
“Shang Tang Kai Shi Song”
【Tang】Huang Nuo Zen Master
Dust and labor are far from extraordinary, tightly holding the rope to make a scene. Without experiencing a bone-chilling cold, how can one obtain the fragrance of plum blossoms?
The fragrance entering the nose can intoxicate and bring joy. The scent of plum blossoms is obtained after enduring the harsh cold; if one can withstand trials, they can also become more excellent.
Life’s journey is long,
We are like a white canvas,
Slowly filled with various colors through contact with society.
Life is also very short,
Looking back at the scenes of the past,
It seems to have happened just yesterday.
If tomorrow is the next life,
Today, you,
Which of the emotions among the seven emotions and six desires,
Will you use to spend today?
Or which desire will you satisfy?
This article is sourced from: Daily Poetry Reading WeChat Official Account
