Success comes from the matchless wisdom
of cultivating a proper attitude towards others in our daily affairs
and towards the whole circumstances of our life. The wise man (or
woman) that is able to overcome all obstacles and make a success of
living is one whose spontaneous attitude “resembles the three friends
in winter” – these are the pine tree, the plum blossom and the bamboo.
“Like the pine tree, the sage hopes to
achieve longevity. Like the plum blossom, he flowers in adversity. And
like the bamboo, he bends to accommodate the prevailing winds of
circumstance before springing back with effortless resilience.”
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The
dignity of the pine tree - Fairness Brings Good Fortune
The wise person stays calm, relaxed, unruffled by circumstances and works at
being pleasantly accommodating irrespective of the weather or the nature of the
situation. He or she strives never to take offence, but instead cultivates good
humour and is rarely, if ever, overwhelmed either by small hiccups in life or by
major adversity. This attitude is what attracts the matchless blessing of good
health and long life. Such an approach resembles the upright pine tree, which
stand erect and tall, regardless of the time of year. Pine tree, are perceived
as being equally happy and amazingly evergreen throughout the year. In the
sunshine of summer or the intense cold of winter the pine stands unperturbed. It
is regarded as the first friend of winter.
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The
wisdom of the plum blossom - Tranquillity Leads to Determination
The wise person also cultivates the ability to bloom in the midst of misfortune,
resembling the plum blossom, whose crimson petals gleam brilliantly against the
white snows of winter. The plum blossom demonstrates beauty and serenity and is
supremely unaffected by the chill of cold and dreary weather. This suggests a
tranquility of mind that is said to lead to an attitude of forbearance, so that
even in difficult times and circumstances the ability to survive, to perform and
even to shine stays intact. The plum blossom is the second friend in winter.
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The
endurance of the bamboo - Flexibility Means No Hostility
The most important attitude for success, however, is the one that is
characterized by the third friend in winter – the bamboo, which is soft and
supple, yet at the same time strong and hardy. The bamboo is a friend because it
is flexible, able to bend according to the prevailing winds, capable of adapting
to circumstances and never hurt by adverse conditions. Far from being broken,
the bamboo has the resilience to bounce back from bad times. This attitude leads
to a flexible disposition, which introduces goodwill into every potential
situation of conflict or hostility.
The highest technique of survival strategy is always to win without fighting;
this is because in every confrontation situation all sides stand to lose
something. There can be little peace of mind or good health when one’s attitude
is aggressive. Far better to be like the bamboo and adjust naturally to the wind
of the moment, conserving your energy and waiting for a less hostile situation,
before springing back from a position of strength.
Implied in this morsel of wisdom is that it is better to ride with the flow and
swim with the current than move against them. Energy is conserved when you do
not battle against the tide. It is easier to go round a stone than bash your
head against it and wiser to circumvent something than press on against
insurmountable odds. The true hero is the one who looks for the line of least
resistance. This does imply a surrender of your objective, or abandonment of
your goals or principles – it is just that it is far wiser to preserve your
energy and resources than try to fight an impossible war of adversary.
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