A journal of learning, cultivation, and ordinary life.
SECTION
EDITION
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JUNE 2026
21
JUN
№ 012·1 MIN READ
Yonder Shining Light, and a Few Faithful Friends
I am deeply grateful to have a few friends walking alongside me.
SELF-AWARENESS
MAY 2026
19
MAY
№ 011·3 MIN READ
Living Simply After Seeing Abundance
Recently, through certain experiences and reflections, I began to realize that perhaps I could become even more frugal, simple, and appreciative of what I already have.
CULTIVATING THE VIRTUAL I ASPIRE TOSELF-AWARENESSSELF-DISCIPLINE
17
MAY
№ 010·2 MIN READ
True Friendship
Recently, a friend came to stay at my home for a short period of time. During those days, I deeply felt the joy behind the saying, “Is it not a delight to have friends coming from afar?” from The Analects.
SELF-AWARENESS
11
MAY
№ 009·3 MIN READ
Keeping the Heart Clean in a Noisy World
In ordinary worldly life, the mind is easily pulled by old habits and conditioning.
SELF-AWARENESS
JANUARY 2026
17
JAN
№ 008·2 MIN READ
What Stayed with Me After Reading
Recently, I have been reading The Lunar Night Talks. From the moment I opened the book, beginning with its preface, a vivid scene unfolded before me. In the opening preface, the author writes:
CULTIVATING THE VIRTUAL I ASPIRE TOSELF-AWARENESS
ARCHIVE
2025
PAST ENTRIES ↓
DECEMBER 2025
31
DEC
№ 007·1 MIN READ
Between Self-Control and Self-Acceptance
I often feel a sense of helplessness. My mind longs for a life that is orderly and whole, yet my body feels heavy, unable to carry it out day after day. I am tempted by short videos on my phone, by snacks, by the bed itself. This brings to mind the Buddhist concept of the Six Roots — eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
SELF-AWARENESS
NOVEMBER 2025
26
NOV
№ 006·1 MIN READ
A Quiet Return to My Own Rhythm
I’ve been looking back on the past four years of my life—especially the most recent three, when I lived and worked closely with a group of friends. They were incredibly disciplined: waking up early at the same hour every day, reading and studying in the morning, cleaning and tidying in the early morning and late evening, always keeping themselves vigilant and attentive, all while fulfilling their regular responsibilities.
SELF-AWARENESS
22
NOV
№ 005·1 MIN READ
A Bowl of Soup, A Quiet Kind of Warmth
Eastern soups are quite different from Western ones. Western soups are often made by blending vegetables into thick purees, while Eastern soups are mostly clear broths slowly simmered over time.
SELF-AWARENESSORIENTAL AESTHETICS
14
NOV
№ 004·2 MIN READ
A quiet pursuit of balance, rhythm, and just-enough
The place I live in isn’t big—28 square meters. You can see the end of it as soon as you open the door, but for me, it’s enough for daily life. Now that I’ve lived here for over three months, the space has gradually begun to change.
CULTIVATING THE VIRTUAL I ASPIRE TOSELF-DISCIPLINE
8
NOV
№ 003·1 MIN READ
Seeing Mountains as Mountains Again
After many years, I stepped into a museum once more. This time, standing before the many exhibitions and artworks, I was no longer a wanderer drifting from piece to piece. I had my own sense of choice — a quiet discernment that seemed to arise from within. As I walked through the galleries of Chinese calligraphy and painting, I found myself drawn to certain forms more than others. In that moment, I suddenly realized: while I have lost count of how many seasons have passed in the mountains of time, I have grown more composed — and perhaps, more mature.
SELF-AWARENESSORIENTAL AESTHETICS
7
NOV
№ 002·1 MIN READ
On the Cultivation of Character
Tonight, I read The Cultivation of the Chinese People by Cai Yuanpei. It feels like a guide for life — a manual for self-cultivation. In his plain yet elegant classical prose, Cai explained how one might live a life worthy of Heaven’s expectation. He broke down self-cultivation with remarkable clarity — taking physical health as its foundation, small daily habits as the reflection of virtue, diligence as a harmony with cause and effect, frugality and self-restraint as beauty, and independence as an expression of courage.
CULTIVATING THE VIRTUAL I ASPIRE TOSELF-AWARENESS
6
NOV
№ 001·1 MIN READ
The Season of Time
On the balcony of my home, I’ve been growing a sweet potato that once sprouted beautifully. Its leaves used to stretch toward the sunlight, full of quiet vitality. But lately, because of my neglect, they began to dry and curl. In the past, a little water was all it needed to come back to life. But this time, nothing happened.