Venerable Hongyi once said, "Whatever you want to control, you control." This sentence may confuse many people, but in fact, it contains a rich philosophy of life. Each of us has things we want to control, only to find that what we try to control becomes our constraints.
In life, we always try to control a lot of things, including work, relationships, wealth, and many more. However, when we become too attached to controlling these things, we can make them a burden to us. For example, a person who is passionate about his work may work overtime in pursuit of perfect results, which will eventually lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Another example is that if a person cares too much about what others think when dealing with interpersonal relationships, he may lose himself and fall into endless anxiety.
This quote from Venerable Hongyi reminds us to learn to let go of our desire to control things. When we are no longer obsessed with being in control, we are better able to cope with life's challenges. So, how do you let go of the desire to control things?
First, we need to recognize that there are many things in the world that are beyond our control. As Venerable Hongyi said, "Whatever you want to control, you are controlled." "The more we try to be in control, the more we become bound by things. Therefore, learning to accept the uncertainty of things is our first step towards freedom.
Second, we need to learn to adjust our mindset. When faced with things that we can't control, we tend to have negative emotions such as anxiety and fear. However, these emotions don't change the status quo. On the contrary, they only drain our energy and make us more tired. Therefore, we need to learn to adjust our mindset, accept the impermanence of things, and face the challenges of life with a peaceful mind.
Finally, we need to learn to cherish the present moment. There are many beautiful moments in life that we miss unconsciously. When we are too obsessed with controlling the future, we tend to neglect the happiness of the present. Venerable Hongyi told us, "Whatever you want to control, you have control." This means that we should focus on the present and cherish every moment in front of us, rather than trying to control the unpredictable future.
In short, this sentence of Venerable Hongyi reminds us to learn to let go of the desire to control things. We need to recognize that many things in the world are beyond our control and learn to accept the uncertainty of things. At the same time, we need to adjust our mindset and face the challenges of life with a peaceful mind. In addition, we should cherish the present moment and live in the present, rather than being too obsessed with controlling the future. Only in this way can we be free from the shackles of things and live a free and happy life.