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
Laozi (Lao Tzu) – 《道德经》
- Original: 致虚极,守静笃。
Translation: “Attain the utmost emptiness; hold fast to stillness.”
- Original: 静为躁君。
Translation: “Stillness is the master of agitation.”
- Original: 万物芸芸,各复归其根。归根曰静,静曰复命。
Translation: “All things flourish, but each returns to its root. Returning to the root is stillness; stillness is returning to destiny.”
- Original: 为学日益,为道日损。损之又损,以至于无为。
Translation: “In pursuit of knowledge, something is added every day. In pursuit of the Tao, something is dropped every day. Less and less is done until there is no action.”
- Original: 大音希声,大象无形。
Translation: “The greatest sound is silent; the greatest form is formless.”
Confucius (Kongzi) – 《论语》
- Original: 知者乐水,仁者乐山。知者动,仁者静。
Translation: “The wise find joy in water; the virtuous find joy in mountains. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil.”
- Original: 学而不思则罔,思而不学则殆。
Translation: “To study without thinking is futile; to think without studying is dangerous.”
- Original: 君子泰而不骄,小人骄而不泰。
Translation: “The noble person is calm but not arrogant; the petty person is arrogant but not calm.”
- Original: 内省不疚,夫何忧何惧?
Translation: “When you look within and find no guilt, what is there to fear or worry about?”
- Original: 默而识之,学而不厌,诲人不倦。
Translation: “Silently reflect on what you have learned; study tirelessly and teach without weariness.”
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) – 《庄子》
- Original: 至人之用心若镜,不将不迎,应而不藏。
Translation: “The mind of the sage is like a mirror—it grasps nothing, refuses nothing, receives but does not keep.”
- Original: 心斋坐忘。
Translation: “Fasting of the heart and sitting in forgetfulness.”
- Original: 无为而无不治。
Translation: “Through non-action, all things are governed.”
- Original: 逍遥游。
Translation: “Wandering in absolute freedom.”
- Original: 天地与我并生,万物与我为一。
Translation: “Heaven and Earth are born with me; all things are one with me.”
Mencius (Mengzi) – 《孟子》
- Original: 养心莫善于寡欲。
Translation: “The best way to nourish the mind is to reduce desires.”
- Original: 万物皆备于我矣。反身而诚,乐莫大焉。
Translation: “All things are complete within us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on oneself and find sincerity.”
- Original: 学问之道无他,求其放心而已矣。
Translation: “The way of learning is none other than finding the lost mind.”
- Original: 尽其心者,知其性也。知其性,则知天矣。
Translation: “He who fully develops his mind knows his nature. Knowing his nature, he knows Heaven.”
- Original: 君子所性,仁义礼智根于心。
Translation: “The nature of the noble person is rooted in benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom.”
5 Classical Chinese Poems on Meditation and Stillness
1. 《静夜思》 by Li Bai (李白)
Original:
床前明月光,
疑是地上霜。
举头望明月,
低头思故乡。
Translation:
Before my bed, the bright moonlight gleams,
Like frost upon the earth, it seems.
I lift my head to gaze at the moon,
Then lower it, thinking of home, soon.
2. 《山居秋暝》 by Wang Wei (王维)
Original:
空山新雨后,
天气晚来秋。
明月松间照,
清泉石上流。
Translation:
After rain, the empty mountain stands fresh,
Autumn air fills the evening, cool and lush.
Bright moonlight shines through the pines,
Clear springs flow over stones in lines.
3. 《题西林壁》 by Su Shi (苏轼)
Original:
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。
Translation:
Viewed horizontally, a ridge; sideways, a peak,
Far or near, high or low, perspectives vary.
The true face of Mount Lu remains unseen,
Because I am within the mountain, it’s clear to me.
4. 《寻隐者不遇》 by Jia Dao (贾岛)
Original:
松下问童子,
言师采药去。
只在此山中,
云深不知处。
Translation:
Beneath the pines, I ask the boy,
“Where is your master?”
“He’s gone to gather herbs,
Somewhere in these mountains,
Where clouds are deep, I cannot say.”
5. 《禅诗》 by Hanshan (寒山)
Original:
吾心似秋月,
碧潭清皎洁。
无物堪比伦,
教我如何说。
Translation:
My mind is like the autumn moon,
Clear and bright over a jade-green pool.
Nothing compares to its purity—
How can I explain it to you?
These quotes and poems reflect the deep connection between meditation, stillness, and the natural world in ancient Chinese philosophy and poetry. They emphasize the importance of inner peace, self-reflection, and harmony with the universe.