Letting Go: Wisdom, Cultivation, and a State of Living Beyond the Mundane

Each person’s life is like a thick book. The cover represents our dreams, the table of contents is the path we’ve walked, the content is the colorful ups and downs, and the postscript is our reflection. On this journey, there is a concept that transcends all frameworks and attachments: Letting Go. Letting go is not an act of avoidance or indifference, but a spiritual liberation—a state of living characterized by wisdom and cultivation.

The great thinker Laozi once said, “He who knows he has enough is rich.” This saying, in a way, embodies the spirit of letting go. It’s not something that can be learned from books, but a moment of enlightenment, a sublime elevation of the soul when we see through and understand the true nature of all things.

Letting Go is a Form of Wisdom

Life constantly presents us with countless choices, and sometimes, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too.” A person who truly practices letting go can “see through the red dust,” gaining a clear perspective and a wisdom that allows them to live in the world without being enchanted by it. As the famous Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Simplicity of the soul is the foundation of the wisdom of letting go.

This wisdom helps us recognize when to act and when to let go. If we are stubborn and persistent, we will forever be trapped in the cycle of gain and loss. When we are not yet able to seize an opportunity, letting go is sometimes the way to open another door for ourselves. A person with the wisdom of letting go knows that everyone on the stage of life needs to find their rightful place, play their role well, and walk their chosen path with composure and ease.

Letting Go is Liberation

Liberation is the feeling of having a heavy burden lifted. For those with a soul inclined to let go, they view all gains and losses lightly. Once things have passed, they no longer feel regret or remorse. By learning to be liberated, we are no longer bound by a single thing; instead, we allow events to unfold naturally. This is similar to the advice of the famous writer Nguyen Tuan: “Once you know, you need to know how to forget to move on lightly.” Life requires the spiritual elevation of serenity. Those who truly understand know how to let go, those who are sincere know how to sacrifice, and those who are happy know how to let go.

There are many ways to find liberation. Whether a person is a deep thinker or not, the answer is never fixed. The key is to be able to put down the burdens in your heart, allowing your soul to be at ease and free. If a person holds onto a person or a situation, unable to forgive or understand, they will never achieve liberation. In that moment, they are both a sufferer and a fool, and all their actions become clouded.

Letting Go is a Form of Cultivation

As President Ho Chi Minh once said, “A person with both virtue and talent is a person who is useful to society.” Letting go is a form of self-cultivation that helps us become useful people. A person who practices cultivation knows how to control their mind when alone and, when with others, will always think of others, live with kindness, and speak with wisdom. This cultivation is also like the ancient saying: “Think seven times before you speak.” Living by what is right, acting with flexibility, and being calm to reach far, with self-reflection, everything will be resolved smoothly and with peace of mind.

Many people are unable to let go because they don’t know how to release and cleanse their souls. When we learn the art of letting go and cleansing ourselves, we will see a completely different landscape. “Forgetting is a cultivation of the soul that knows how to let go; letting go is the elevation of the soul.” Forgetting is a beautiful quality, a wonderful attitude toward life.

Letting Go is a State of Being

Different states of living bring different life experiences. Letting go is not selfishness or negative escapism; it is a higher state of being. Possessing a heart that knows how to let go helps people live serenely, with an open mind, happily accepting their destiny. The greatest happiness in life is knowing how to let go. In life, knowing when to hold on is courage, and knowing when to put down is generosity.

For those who have been through life’s storms, they have a true sense of self-awareness. This state is similar to the spirited verses of the famous general Nguyen Trai: “Steadfast as a boulder in a thousand mountains, regardless of the east, west, south, or north wind.” It is a steadfastness that is unshakeable in the face of temptation and societal trends.

How to Cultivate a Heart That Knows How to Let Go?

To achieve the state of letting go, we need to practice three things: simplicity, calmness, and detachment.

1. Live Simply (Thanh Đạm): A happy person is not one who possesses a lot but one who knows they have enough. They know how to appreciate and find the good things in life. Possessing a heart that knows how to let go helps you live more simply, with an open mind, and happily accept your destiny. Living environments may differ, but good and bad fortune always go hand in hand; suffering and joy are intertwined. As long as we live with ease, take gain and loss lightly, and actively seek good things, happiness will come.

2. Live Calmly (Bình Tĩnh): The saying by the poet Lin Yutang: “The ocean holds a hundred rivers and becomes great; a thousand-foot cliff has no desires and becomes firm” is a perfect explanation of calmness. Calmness is an attitude toward life, a reflection of years of ups and downs, a return to one’s true self, and a new step forward.

3. Live with Detachment (Đạm Bạc): If detachment can make a person’s character noble, then serenity can allow a person to handle everything with ease. The state of detachment helps us see through the truth of life, understand the universal principles, and realize the true meaning of human life. It is also like the poem by the poet Tan Da: “How can one measure the high mountains and wide rivers? / Where the clouds drift, only I know!” This is an internal freedom, not bound by external vanities. Living with detachment, we will not be swept away by the pursuit of fame and fortune; we won’t be overly happy with gains or overly sad with losses.

4. Live Serenely (Thanh Tĩnh): The ancients said: “In stillness, the mind is clear, seeing the true nature of the heart; in leisure, the spirit is at ease, knowing the true opportunity of the heart; in detachment, the meaning of letting go is found, tasting the true flavor of the heart.” Living serenely, life is like brewing tea: it goes through a lively period, ups and downs, and finally returns to simplicity and tranquility, leaving only a light, pure fragrance.

Life doesn’t need to be too noisy. Learn to keep a serene heart, enduring temptation and loneliness. Only by enduring loneliness can we calm our minds and find peace. This is something everyone should learn and grasp. A person who truly knows how to control the rhythm of life and grasp its meaning can always find serenity in their soul. Peace and tranquility are the most primitive forms of life.