As the sun set and evening fell, weary birds returned to their nests, and the green mountains gradually grew quiet. Suddenly, a young man with a distorted face and a furious expression due to the hardships he suffered in life ran up to a high hilltop, shouting wildly as if to vent his anger.
His outburst startled the Zen master, who was meditating nearby. The old monk, with a kind expression on his face, slowly walked up to the young man, gave him a kind smile, and began to talk to him. Throughout the conversation, the wise man kept his eyes half-closed and a calm expression as he listened to the young man’s confessions. He had come from a remote town to this bustling metropolis to make his way in life. After years of hardship, he had finally risen to a mid-level management position in a company and had a girlfriend he had known for several years.
Now, however, everything was ruined. The boss was planning to fire him for various reasons, and he was currently training a new employee to replace him. Every day at the company was extremely oppressive. When his girlfriend learned that he was about to lose this well-paying job, she also proposed breaking up. Her explanation was simple: She couldn’t allow her future children to have a father who couldn’t provide them with a stable and prosperous life.
“I’ve been loyal to my boss for eight whole years! He just let me go with one sentence! When my girlfriend first came to this city, she had no one to rely on. I helped her find a job and took care of her with all my strength, but now she’s leaving me at my most difficult time!” The young man nearly shouted out his story, his angry eyes blazing with fury. The elderly Zen master gently patted him on the shoulder, then took his hand and began strolling leisurely uphill.
The cool mountain breeze gradually calmed the young man’s restless heart. At that moment, the old Zen master suddenly stopped, reaching out to catch a floating willow catkin. The catkin was light and playful, slipping away from the Zen master’s palm each time. The young man watched the old monk in silence, his expression filled with confusion. “Haha, I’m old now; I can’t catch these willow catkins anymore.”
After saying this, the wise man looked up at the young one and said: “In this world, there are many beautiful and wonderful things, but we can’t always catch them. Since we can’t have them, why not let them go, allowing them to live more beautifully and freely, and gaining peace and openness for ourselves?” After speaking, the Zen master gently raised his hand holding the willow fluff upward. The fluff flew even more lightly under the blue sky.
After the monk finished speaking, the young man stood motionless for a long time. Suddenly, a serene smile appeared on his face. He bowed deeply, then turned and walked down the mountain.
After returning to the city, he diligently shared all his work experience with the newcomer who was about to take his place. The boss watched this unfold and was surprised that, despite having been wronged, he was still willing to contribute so much to the company.
When he left, the boss emotionally gripped his hand and said: “I’m sorry for what happened. I never thought you could still be so loyal to me! Firing you was a difficult decision, but I will remember your friendship. If you ever need anything, come and find me.” He smiled and bid farewell to his employer, then walked out of the company’s main gate with a confident stride, under the lingering gazes of his office colleagues.
When he farewelled his girlfriend, he gave her a special gift — a box of ointment for rheumatism. The woman was suffering from rheumatism, and every time the pain struck, she would writhe in agony on the bed. When she saw the present, she cried so hard she almost fainted. After comforting her, he turned and left with a flourish.
In the days that followed, he adhered to a principle: Those he could hold on to and the connections he could cultivate, he cherished dearly; those he couldn’t keep, he let go with a smile. This mindset earned him the respect of many people, and he received rewards and help, which gradually made him overcome his difficulties.
Later, after much searching, he found the monastery where the Zen master resided and wanted to thank him in person. To his great surprise, though, the master’s disciple told him that the Zen master had passed away, exactly the day after they had met. The monk’s disciple also said to him that his master had been in very poor health at the time, and despite sweating profusely from the pain, he continued to live with a smile on his face. Although the old Zen master had known for some time that his days were numbered, he still lived with calmness and optimism.
After hearing this, he forced a smile onto his face, using it to push away the tears at the corners of his eyes. At that moment, he finally understood that when they had met, the old Zen master had been enduring immense physical pain to help him find liberation from his troubles.
At that moment, the monk already knew he had only a short time left to live, yet he used his last ounce of strength to guide him onto the right path. He bowed several times at the place where the Zen master had passed away, then smiled and walked down the mountain. The wise monk taught him a lesson: One must always live with a smile, strength, optimism, and openness — that is the meaning of this existence. Since one cannot hold on, why not send them on their way?
Translated by Eva and edited by Laura Cozzolino
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