Insights and Updates

On August 19, after getting up, I went and worked for a while in the vegetable garden at the foot of Fragrant Hills, and that bouts-of-sadness mood did not recur. Before me there was still a heap of things to handle: work, life, family, emotion,…

A monk asked the Buddha: What is the greatest strength? What is the clearest light? The Buddha said: Forbearance bears the greatest strength, for it harbors no evil and adds tranquility and vigor; he who forbears has no evil and is sure to be respected…

Yesterday, after I published the article "I Have Mild Depression; I Need to Adjust My Way of Living," I received greetings from many friends, and I was truly moved. But I am not in a state to be disturbed right now, so I will not…

The death of an organism occurs because its exhausted tissues cannot continue self-renewal, and because the capacity to maintain proliferation and tissue renewal through cell division is limited. — August Weismann, biologist, 1881 The first philosophy lesson of my life was given to me unwittingly…

On August 11, I saw on the webcam that my father was acting strangely, as though searching for a door but unable to find it. Within five minutes I made up my mind: I would immediately buy a high-speed rail ticket back to my hometown…

Zhongfeng Huichun Tablets (Stroke-Recovery Tablets) are recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Volume I, 2005 edition. Their composition is: Danggui (Angelica Root, wine-processed) 30 g; Chuanxiong (Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, wine-processed) 30 g; Honghua (Safflower) 10 g; Taoren (Peach Kernel) 30 g;…

Huajiao (Sichuan pepper) is the dried ripe fruit of the Rutaceae plants Zhujiao (Zanthoxylum schinifolium) or Huajiao (Zanthoxylum bungeanum). It contains volatile oil, terpenoids, amino acids, minerals and protein. The volatile oil of Sichuan pepper is the main source of its aroma, and contains chiefly…

Chaihu Bieji Decoction (Bupleurum and Turtle Shell Decoction) is recorded in the Shengji Zonglu (General Records of Divine Assistance). It is composed of Chaihu (Bupleurum Root) and Zhi Biejia (processed Turtle Shell), each 1 liang (30 g); Digupi (Lycium Root-bark) 1.5 liang (45 g); and…

West of Haidian is Shijingshan, and west of Shijingshan is Mentougou. Mentougou is a large swathe of mountainous country in western Beijing; there the mountain ridges rise and fall, and between the mountains there are many rivers, with mountains, rivers and streams crisscrossing one another.

Over the past week, I have been traveling with my family. For our family, this was a rare grand reunion. I took my father to visit my older brother, sister-in-law and nephew; my little nephew is only a bit over a year old, and it…