On Wednesday morning, I was watching the snow from my dorm window.
In this week’s lecture, Professor Inouye mentioned the relationship between success and failure. This shows another way of understanding of evanescence: both success and failure won’t last. It’s quite interesting to think about them as closely connected, like sunshine with different reflections at different times of day. The belief of mujō gives you hope when you feel frustrated, and warns you not to be too conceited about your achievement. Life is like the stock market (Inouye, 45), fluctuate every day, and no one can ever make a precise prediction for tomorrow. Investors care about how stocks trend minute to minute, just like people fight for ups and downs in life. No one can ensure a lifetime success. Notable people in Japanese history like Kiyomori, didn’t have a happy ending. He died of frightening fever, which marked the end of Taire. His fame and power had shocked Japan, but his bones survived briefly before becoming one with the earth, indistinguishable from the sands of the beach (Tale of Heike, 212). Nobody in the history can be regarded as a perfectly person, so should we care a lot when we are unsuccessful? Everything eventually changes for everyone, even the powerful (Inouye, 47). In a floating world where nothing is really “true,” we should try to live a simple life, and always think about propriety and tact (Inouye, 47). Be humble and sturdy.