人啊，永遠活在矛盾中。
這些矛盾，不見得是壞事，有時反而成為老天給我們的智慧考驗。它讓我們學會取捨、鍛鍊判斷，學著在左右為難中找到一個屬於自己的平衡點。
只是再怎麼找平衡，命運還是會依照你的命盤與因果，不斷丟出試煉。人生總有很多難以拿捏的事，唯有靠智慧與膽識，勇敢做出選擇、承擔後果，才能真正跨過心中那道坎。
今天和一位師兄論道，感觸特別深。
他聊起剛創業時的往事，阿爸曾叮嚀他：「穿著一定要整齊，展現專業與尊重。」他也真的照做了，但沒想到，同行竟因此排擠他，背後議論他肯定不會做生意，甚至聯手封殺他在業界的發展。
可笑的是，現實往往打臉最兇的那些人。師兄不僅沒被打倒，反而越做越好，成為業界的翹楚。那些曾封殺他的人，後來紛紛回頭想與他合作，還稱兄道弟、假裝過去什麼都沒發生過。他苦笑著說：「最難的不是經營事業，是應對人性。」
你若不主動聯絡，別人覺得你驕傲；
你若主動拜訪，又覺得你別有目的，是不是想賣飼料、要參股、或是來搶資源。
這讓我想到我們身為神職人員的處境。
有時回台灣探望門生，若沒去某些人家中看看，對方可能心生誤會，覺得我們看輕他；但若主動去拜訪，又有人會懷疑我們是不是想要他燒化、想要什麼。這種人性矛盾的心態，大家都懂，只是不說罷了。以前我也會在意，現在我學會放下了。因為祖師說過：每個人與祖師之間的因緣深淺，並不是我們能勉強或掌控的。能同行就珍惜，不能深交就隨緣自在。
正如我們修行中所學——「能見天地之道，必能閱眾生之相。」
金闕祖師也說過一句話我永遠記得：「連老天都無法讓每個人滿意，你們又何必勉強自己？」走好自己的路，守住本分，剩下的是非功過，就交給老天爺去評判吧。
〈Contradictions〉
People are always living in contradiction.
But sometimes, these contradictions are life’s way of teaching us wisdom—how to choose, how to find balance. Yet no matter how hard we try to stay balanced, Zu Shi will still test us through the challenges written in our destiny. Life is full of difficult decisions. Only by facing them with wisdom and courage can we move forward without regrets.
This reflection came after a meaningful conversation with a Chin Chueh disciple today.
He shared with me his early days of starting a business.
Back then, Aba reminded him: “Always dress neatly. It shows professionalism and respect.”
He followed that advice faithfully. Ironically, this caused others in his industry to gossip—saying he must be all appearance and no ability. Some even tried to blacklist him completely.
But reality is often the best rebuttal.
He didn’t just survive—he thrived. His business became a leader in the industry, shocking those who doubted him.
And as success came, those same people who once rejected him suddenly wanted to collaborate. They’d pretend nothing happened, calling him “brother,” acting like it was all just a misunderstanding. He laughed and said, “The hardest part of doing business isn’t the work itself—it’s dealing with people.”
If you don’t reach out, people think you’re arrogant.
If you do reach out, they suspect you want something—maybe a deal, an investment, or to take over their resources.
That really struck a chord with me.
As a spiritual practitioner, we face the same paradox.
When we visit disciples, some wonder if we have an agenda—maybe trying to convince them to burn spirit money.
But when we don’t visit, others feel overlooked and assume we’re looking down on them.
These contradictions always exist; most people just don’t say them out loud.
I used to worry about these things, but not anymore.
The depth of each person’s connection to Zushi and to us is beyond our control.
If we can walk the path together, let’s cherish that. If not, then let things flow naturally.
As we learn to “see the Way of Heaven, we begin to understand the faces of all beings.”
As Chin Chueh Zushi once said:
“Even Heaven cannot please everyone—how could a human possibly do so?”
All we can do is stay true to ourselves, fulfill our role, and leave the judgment of right or wrong to God’s choice.
