Only by Calming Down Can You See Yourself

舒心Jiangxi People's Publishing House2014

Rating 3.0
Word count
155K words
Chapters
10
ISBN
9787210054788

Tags

Personal Growth Emotions and Spirit Emotion ManagementEquanimitySpiritual InspirationSolitudeLife PhilosophySelf-AwarenessSelf-AwarenessMindfulnessPersonal Essays

Summary

The book centers on calming the mind and reflecting amid a fast-paced life. It begins with knowing oneself, drawing on ancient Greek temple maxims, the riddle of the Sphinx, a chef adding salt, and Cao Cao's Battle of Guandu to show how hard it is to see oneself and the world when restless. It then discusses simplifying material desires, settling the inner self, giving the mind time to think, and letting emotions settle in solitude. It advocates facing gains and losses with an ordinary mind and treating life with love and gratitude, ultimately seeing oneself anew through quiet observation and solitude.

Editor's review

This is a typical light inspirational spiritual reader, rich in stories and allusions, written in plain, warm language about letting go of obsessions, slowing down, and making peace with oneself. It suits casual reading when stressed or restless; each short piece stands alone, so order doesn't matter. Its weakness is that the ideas are mostly common feel-good wisdom with limited depth or originality, and readers seeking systematic psychological knowledge may find it unsatisfying.

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Reading tips

  1. No need to read cover to cover; pick chapters by the theme you need most right now
  2. After each piece, briefly reflect on your own situation or take reading notes
  3. Read a few pages when restless or before bed, and practice the book's suggestions such as walking and solitude

About the publisher

Jiangxi People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1951

Jiangxi People's Publishing House is a comprehensive local publisher based in Nanchang, with publishing directions covering philosophy and social sciences, politics and economics, history and culture, education, and the collation of ancient texts. Judging from its books in the database, the house offers Chinese translations of world classics such as Ulysses, Les Fleurs du mal, and Letter from an Unknown Woman, while continuing to publish Eastern philosophical classics including The Analects, the Dao De Jing, and the fully translated and annotated edition of Chuanxilu, forming a parallel structure of Chinese and foreign literary and intellectual classics. Translators such as Xiao Qian, Wen Jieruo, and Zhang Qiuhong support its foreign literature translations, while authors such as Confucius, Laozi, Wang Zengqi, and Hai Zi reflect its accumulation in traditional classics, prose and miscellany, and modern poetry. Its common categories include world classics, Eastern philosophy, prose and miscellany, literature, foreign literature, and modern poetry, showing a publishing character that balances academic popularization with general reading.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1 Set Down Your Burdens and Begin the Journey of Calm
  2. Chapter 2 Clear Away Worldly Worries and Find Your Original Heart
  3. Chapter 3 Savor the True Meaning of Life with a Calm Mind
  4. Chapter 4 The Charm of a Slower Life
  5. Chapter 5 Watch the World Change and Listen to the Gentleness of Time
  6. Chapter 6 Always Keep a Serene State of Mind
  7. Chapter 7 Only a Calm Mind Can Gain
  8. Chapter 8 A Simple Heart, a Quiet Presence Like a Chrysanthemum
  9. Chapter 9 Seek Peace and Composure of the Heart
  10. Chapter 10 Fine Weather for One

FAQ

Is this book a novel? No, it is a collection of spiritual inspirational essays that use stories and lessons to discuss calm reflection.
Does it need to be read in order? No, the chapters are relatively independent and can be read by interest or current mood.
When is a good time to read it? When you are restless, tired, or at leisure, for relaxation and self-reflection.

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About the author

舒心 Author

Shu Xin is an author about whom little public information is available, and details such as real name, nationality, and dates of birth and death have not been clearly recorded. Four works by this author are held in the collection, including Love Story, Oliver's Story, Only by Calming Down Can You See Yourself, and 36 Stratagems of Equity. The subjects span a considerable range, covering foreign literature and world classics as well as inspirational growth and management. Judging from these works, Shu Xin's writing is not confined to a single genre: in the literary works the author focuses on emotional narrative and the presentation of classic texts; in the inspirational works the emphasis falls on inner calm and self-understanding; and in the management work the discussion touches on issues related to equity. Because verifiable biographical material is lacking, it is difficult at present to trace the author's creative background and full trajectory. Readers may, through the diversity of these subjects, further explore this author's writing across literature, personal growth, and management.