I've been thinking about a word these days: "epiphany."

Have you ever seen someone around you experience an "aha moment"?

Let me first share my understanding of this issue: the state of "epiphany" can occur, but it does not happen to ordinary people. Those who experience such epiphanies are either naturally inclined to think or have a "heavenly connection."

The phoenix must undergo nirvana to be reborn. Wang Yangming attained enlightenment in Longchang, and Yuan Liaofan was also guided by a high monk to achieve a sudden awakening during meditation, altering his fate and writing "The Four Teachings of Liaofan."

Epiphany is a turning point in a person's life, a moment that can change one's destiny, but it requires opportunity.

We may find that among our former classmates, there are occasionally one or two who had very poor grades in the past, and suddenly one day, it's as if they've turned on a cheat mode; they understand everything and their grades soar to the top, jumping from behind to the front. This is more common among high school boys.

Sometimes, a math problem that I couldn't understand no matter how hard I tried suddenly clicks, and once I figure it out, everything else becomes easy as if a mechanism in my mind has been unlocked. From then on, I can solve all the problems effortlessly. Similarly, when I was learning English, there were moments when it felt impossible to learn, but then suddenly it was as if I had an epiphany, and I realized that English is actually quite simple, making it no longer a challenge.

In these situations, we may have heard about them, encountered them, and in the future, we may also hear about people having similar experiences regarding their religious beliefs. During meditation, when one enters a certain state, they may perceive many things that they had not understood before, and suddenly realize things that they previously could not comprehend, instantly feeling relaxed and finding the path ahead to be much broader.

People who have not experienced this cannot understand what it feels like. Some think it is superstition, some think it is madness, some say it is nonsense, and some say it is simply impossible to be a scam.

However, what you do not understand, or what is beyond your own cognitive scope, cannot negate their real existence. Just because you live on Earth and have never known how vast the universe is, you cannot deny the existence of extraterrestrial life.

In simple terms, how small is the Earth in relation to the universe, and what about humans in relation to the Earth, and oneself in relation to all living beings? How narrow is human cognition!

Perhaps I am someone who has had a "Buddha affinity" since childhood, or perhaps I did not cultivate enough in my last life and did not achieve the ultimate fruit (I have always thought this way). In this life, I seem to be destined to have a glorious cover, and to some extent, I have some "immortal affinity." I do not say this out of superstition, nor do I disbelieve in science, or as some people might think, out of being pedantic. I simply believe that it is precisely because human cognition is limited that we should never deny the unknown or the eternally passed-down things.

Many things are hard to explain, and with our current understanding, we cannot clarify certain things. Why do people have moments of enlightenment? Why is it him and not me? Why does enlightenment only occur at the right moment?

There is a saying that goes well: everything is the best arrangement! Some people do not believe it, some complain about it, and some always feel it is just a comforting phrase, but I tell you, this saying is absolutely true. I do not know what the first person who said this went through, or how they came to realize this truth, but sometimes I feel there really is an "invisible hand" controlling people's will and life experiences.

The further you go in life, the deeper you will understand this sentence, or the more experiences you have, the more you will realize its correctness.

No matter what you encounter at every stage of this life, even if it is the worst outcome or the unluckiest events that happen, it is the best arrangement for yourself, for your loved ones, for the people around you, and for the entire family!

You might ask, why say this? What reason is there to say it? These things can be understood by insightful people, but they cannot be expressed in words. Some things may be clear in thought, but once spoken, they become incorrect.

You might think that I am getting more and more off-topic as I say this, wondering why discussing insights leads to these matters. This is because only by understanding these can you grasp why some people have insights while others do not; how strongly insights can impact a person's life, and the relationship and direction of a person's fate in connection with insights.

For me personally, whether there is an epiphany or not, there is and there isn’t. There are moments after going through certain experiences that suddenly make you change your mind, guiding me towards a different way of living, generating immense interest in things I previously didn’t care about, and fostering a sense of reverence for everything; what isn’t there, upon careful reflection, seems to be certain things that are destined since birth, making you follow this path without the ability to shift based on your own will.

This is where the magic of "Wu" lies. Without understanding, one cannot experience or perceive this, but once one gains insight, everything can be sensed, yet it cannot be communicated to others.

Generally, epiphanies are not trivial matters; they are significant events that can greatly change your life. They do not happen at any time; some people may only experience them once in their lifetime. Moreover, they usually occur after you have gone through major events, triggering a new way of living or the beginning of rebirth, much like what I mentioned about the phoenix rising from its ashes.

Is enlightenment good or bad? Of course, it's excellent, but unfortunately, it's not something you can just obtain if you want it.

Everyone wants to have their own epiphany; this is a matter of gaining wisdom. If you truly gain wisdom, then all the problems that were difficult for you before will no longer be problems. You will realize that it was actually so simple. Why did you struggle and feel like there was no way out back then?

Everyone wants to seek wisdom, which is a higher and more useful pursuit than simply seeking wealth. Once wisdom is unlocked, it is not just about wealth.

Some say that perhaps practicing cultivation can help one achieve all that has been mentioned above. Maybe, sincerity brings spiritual efficacy, and there is certainly some truth to that. However, how sincere and how reverent one is cannot be measured; only one's own heart can know.