Finding Serenity in Transient Appearances
See through life’s fleeting illusions and discern the essence of inner tranquility
In Part 2, I explored the themes of regret and guilt. and how we might confront them. Now, as we navigate a world of constant change and uncertainty, it becomes clear that cultivating a psychological order or a stable state of mind is essential to guide us through external challenges. This post draws inspiration from the concept of attachment to appearances (or external characteristics 相) from the Diamond Sutra and Chuang Tzu's idea of “tranquility amidst disturbances” to examine practices that can help us endure turbulent times.
In today's society, we are constantly bombarded with allure and distractions that seem to suggest it is acceptable to succumb to our desires. In following this way of life, we instinctively chase anything that promises immediate satisfaction.
We take instant gratification for granted. After all, everyone seems to be indulging in it, so engaging in activities that offer quick pleasure with seemingly minor consequences appears harmless. Similarly, society has conditioned us to believe that seeking accomplishments, status, wealth, and power is entirely acceptable because these things can elevate us to new heights of experience.
At first glance, this pursuit of happiness through material success seems justified—after all, history shows that human actions have often been driven by such desires. But is this the only path to happiness? And perhaps more importantly, does happiness even matter?
There is nothing inherently wrong with using our creativity and agency to pursue material well-being and accomplishments. The drive to innovate and improve our social conditions has been a fundamental force behind human evolution and social transformation. The problem arises when this pursuit becomes an unconscious endeavor fueled by societal conformity.
But what if, suddenly, everything we’ve achieved at a particular stage in life is taken away? Do the losses of material possessions, status, and power necessarily equate to the loss of a happy life? Or the loss of our ability to regain happiness?
Resilience in the face of uncertainty
Living in the world, we cannot escape external disturbances and troubles. Often, our sense of happiness is disrupted by the constant pressures and unease these disturbances bring.
We tend to believe that happiness will come once all potential problems are resolved, but such an attitude can lead us to a bigger problem: illusion.
The universe is in a state of constant flux, as is the society in which we live. If we confine ourselves to what we have grown accustomed to, we only end up shackling ourselves. This is the predicament of our human condition: clinging to specific things, objects, or appearances.
Moments of joy and episodes of pain are simply part of life. They arrive unexpectedly, often generating emotional turmoil.
Yet, instead of being overwhelmed by these emotional storms, we can still cultivate inner strength in the face of the unexpected. As Chuang Tzu explains:
…to him, the destruction of life did not mean death, nor the prolongation of life an addition to the duration of his existence. He would follow anything; he would receive anything. To him, everything was in destruction, everything was in construction. This is called tranquillity in disturbance. Tranquillity in disturbance means perfection.”1
We cannot always prevent unwanted incidents, surprises, or even misfortunes from occurring, but we can control how we respond to them. We can choose not to be devoured by them.
Attributes vs Reality
On an existential level, we often perceive something as a source of disturbance or joy because our perceptions and emotions are attached to that external object or pursuit. In other words, we are captivated by the appearance of things.
