1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,020 What's in your cup? 2 00:00:02,140 --> 00:00:02,600 One day, 3 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:04,941 an old Buddhist monk asked his disciples a question. 4 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:05,940 He said, " 5 00:00:05,940 --> 00:00:07,900 If you're holding a cup of coffee and 6 00:00:07,900 --> 00:00:09,779 someone accidentally bumps into you, 7 00:00:09,779 --> 00:00:11,519 why does the coffee spill?" 8 00:00:11,580 --> 00:00:14,099 All the disciples thought the question was too simple and 9 00:00:14,099 --> 00:00:16,640 answered in unison, "Because someone bumped into me!" The 10 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:18,000 old monk shook his head and 11 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:18,761 said, "No, the 12 00:00:19,199 --> 00:00:19,980 coffee spills 13 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,719 not because someone bumped into you, 14 00:00:21,719 --> 00:00:23,481 but because your cup contains coffee. 15 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:25,879 If your cup contained water, what 16 00:00:25,879 --> 00:00:27,100 spills is water; 17 00:00:27,100 --> 00:00:28,269 if it contained tea, what 18 00:00:28,269 --> 00:00:29,240 spills is tea." The 19 00:00:29,719 --> 00:00:30,501 disciples were stunned. The 20 00:00:30,980 --> 00:00:33,719 old monk continued, "When life hits you, 21 00:00:33,719 --> 00:00:34,979 it's inevitable 22 00:00:34,979 --> 00:00:36,100 and happens often. What 23 00:00:36,579 --> 00:00:38,910 you carry in your heart will be poured out. 24 00:00:39,460 --> 00:00:42,960 If your heart is filled with fear, jealousy, anger, and greed, 25 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:44,320 then what spills out is these. 26 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:48,420 But if your heart is filled with love, compassion, gentleness, and kindness, 27 00:00:48,420 --> 00:00:50,059 then what spills out will also be these." When 28 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:51,960 I first saw this story, I 29 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:53,040 stood there for a long time, 30 00:00:53,619 --> 00:00:54,979 not because it was complicated, 31 00:00:54,979 --> 00:00:56,140 but because it was so accurate. 32 00:00:56,719 --> 00:00:58,359 It used a very simple metaphor to 33 00:00:58,359 --> 00:01:00,701 answer a question that had troubled me for many years. Hello 34 00:01:01,259 --> 00:01:01,500 35 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:01,939 everyone, 36 00:01:01,939 --> 00:01:02,540 I'm Wang Lijie. 37 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:03,899 Today's episode 38 00:01:03,899 --> 00:01:06,480 is the first in a series I've wanted to do for a long time. The 39 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,561 series is called "Stories About Spiritual Practice." 40 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:09,760 Before we begin... 41 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:11,070 I'd like to start by saying a few words from the heart. 42 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:12,680 Those of you following this channel 43 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,459 might have clicked on a macroeconomic analysis episode, been 44 00:01:15,459 --> 00:01:18,698 drawn in by a title like "Quantum Mechanics and Buddhism," 45 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:22,439 or perhaps stumbled upon a video about the nature of consciousness late at night and couldn't 46 00:01:22,439 --> 00:01:23,521 sleep after watching it. 47 00:01:24,099 --> 00:01:25,799 Regardless of your entry point, 48 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:29,359 you'll eventually ask the same question: What exactly does this channel want to do? Why does 49 00:01:29,420 --> 00:01:30,760 an angel investor 50 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:32,299 sometimes talk about the Federal Reserve, 51 00:01:32,299 --> 00:01:33,519 sometimes about Yogacara, and sometimes 52 00:01:33,519 --> 00:01:35,900 combine AI with the Diamond Sutra? 53 00:01:35,939 --> 00:01:36,701 The answer is simple: 54 00:01:37,219 --> 00:01:39,159 I have a persistent curiosity about three things: 55 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:43,171 macroeconomics and investment, AI and cutting-edge technology, and the nature of consciousness. 56 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,859 These three lines seem vastly different, 57 00:01:45,859 --> 00:01:47,280 but in my cognitive map, 58 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:48,519 they all point to the same question: 59 00:01:48,519 --> 00:01:51,700 What rules govern the underlying workings of this world? The 60 00:01:51,709 --> 00:01:55,161 main series of has always been doing one thing: building a map. What are the classics? What are the 61 00:01:55,659 --> 00:01:56,759 62 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:57,840 mechanisms? 63 00:01:57,840 --> 00:01:59,959 Where do Buddhism and neuroscience meet? At 64 00:01:59,959 --> 00:02:02,740 what level of the same thing are Yogacara and predictive coding talking about? 65 00:02:03,299 --> 00:02:04,021 That's mapmaking work. 66 00:02:04,599 --> 00:02:06,459 But there's always a distance between the map and the real terrain. The 67 00:02:06,459 --> 00:02:07,460 68 00:02:08,038 --> 00:02:10,538 series aims to 69 00:02:10,538 --> 00:02:11,721 take you into that terrain. The 70 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,229 material consists of real stories of people's experiences on their spiritual journey. It 71 00:02:15,659 --> 00:02:17,759 might be an ancient Zen koan, an 72 00:02:17,759 --> 00:02:19,460 autobiography of a practitioner, a 73 00:02:19,659 --> 00:02:22,300 fragment of a historical figure's life, 74 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:24,561 or the inner growth experience of an ordinary person. In 75 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:25,599 each installment, 76 00:02:25,599 --> 00:02:28,340 I will use the cognitive framework established by the main series to 77 00:02:28,340 --> 00:02:29,580 dissect these stories. 78 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:32,900 Why did that person react that way at that moment? 79 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:34,379 What is the underlying mechanism? 80 00:02:34,479 --> 00:02:35,319 81 00:02:35,319 --> 00:02:37,659 How does that have to do with your and my daily lives? 82 00:02:37,879 --> 00:02:39,200 I must first clarify my position: 83 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,760 I am not a preacher of any religion, I have 84 00:02:42,319 --> 00:02:43,721 not converted to any sect, I have 85 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:45,239 no master, and I 86 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:45,841 have no Dharma name. 87 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,840 I am an explorer full of curiosity about the underlying mechanisms of consciousness, 88 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,900 still struggling in the mundane world, 89 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:52,820 far from "attaining enlightenment." 90 00:02:53,259 --> 00:02:54,800 My interest in Buddhism is 91 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,340 very simple—among all the knowledge I have access to, 92 00:02:58,340 --> 00:02:59,460 I believe Buddhism, 93 00:02:59,580 --> 00:03:00,759 especially Yogacara, 94 00:03:00,759 --> 00:03:03,340 is one of the most sophisticated theoretical frameworks for explaining the nature of consciousness and the workings of the universe. It's 95 00:03:03,340 --> 00:03:05,581 96 00:03:06,159 --> 00:03:07,139 not the only one, 97 00:03:07,139 --> 00:03:08,580 but in my cognitive map, 98 00:03:08,580 --> 00:03:10,581 it is the most fitting piece of the puzzle. 99 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,060 Therefore, this series is not about the miraculous experiences of spiritual practice, 100 00:03:14,060 --> 00:03:17,361 but about the things that every person who lives earnestly will encounter. 101 00:03:17,979 --> 00:03:18,180 Okay, let's begin. Let's 102 00:03:18,180 --> 00:03:18,700 103 00:03:19,099 --> 00:03:19,861 return to this story. On the 104 00:03:20,419 --> 00:03:23,400 surface, it is a short story about "self-cultivation." 105 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,280 But I believe it touches on the core of three completely independent fields: 106 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:28,620 neuroscience, Buddhist philosophy, 107 00:03:28,620 --> 00:03:29,681 and investment psychology. 108 00:03:30,180 --> 00:03:32,979 These three fields start from completely different directions, but 109 00:03:32,979 --> 00:03:34,599 ultimately arrive at the same answer, 110 00:03:34,599 --> 00:03:35,681 pointing to the same place. 111 00:03:36,219 --> 00:03:39,740 Let's start with the most counterintuitive question: When someone bumps into you, 112 00:03:39,740 --> 00:03:41,159 what is your first reaction? Not the 113 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,319 reaction you think you "should" have, 114 00:03:43,319 --> 00:03:45,639 not the version you tell others afterward, 115 00:03:45,639 --> 00:03:47,721 but your true, initial first reaction. For 116 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:49,159 most people, their bodies have already reacted before they even 117 00:03:49,159 --> 00:03:51,039 realize what they are thinking. 118 00:03:51,039 --> 00:03:52,441 119 00:03:53,060 --> 00:03:53,659 Angry people are 120 00:03:53,659 --> 00:03:54,521 already glaring; 121 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:55,740 anxious people are 122 00:03:55,740 --> 00:03:56,661 already apologizing; 123 00:03:57,219 --> 00:03:57,800 wronged people have already 124 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:58,920 reddened their eyes. 125 00:03:59,719 --> 00:04:03,400 This "reaction that happens before you even realize what you are thinking" 126 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,270 is what the old monk meant by "the thing in the cup." 127 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,801 Neuroscience has a concept called "amygdala hijacking." The 128 00:04:09,479 --> 00:04:12,539 amygdala is a walnut-sized structure in your brain. 129 00:04:12,539 --> 00:04:14,300 Its job is to process emotions, 130 00:04:14,300 --> 00:04:15,640 especially fear and threat. 131 00:04:16,259 --> 00:04:17,598 It operates extremely fast, 132 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,260 about 200 milliseconds faster than your rational thinking cortex. 133 00:04:20,879 --> 00:04:21,660 In other words, 134 00:04:21,660 --> 00:04:22,699 when someone bumps into you, 135 00:04:22,699 --> 00:04:25,519 before your brain has time to "rationally think," the 136 00:04:25,519 --> 00:04:27,779 amygdala has already assessed the threat level 137 00:04:27,779 --> 00:04:29,661 and sent chemical signals throughout the body. 138 00:04:30,139 --> 00:04:31,800 This is a gift from evolution, an 139 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,260 instinctive mechanism that allowed humans to survive in the jungle. 140 00:04:34,759 --> 00:04:38,420 But the problem is: what signals does the amygdala actually send out? 141 00:04:38,420 --> 00:04:39,240 What does it 142 00:04:39,519 --> 00:04:41,290 depend on? It depends on what it has "learned" before. 143 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,920 Your amygdala is an experiential learning system. 144 00:04:44,319 --> 00:04:47,160 It constantly searches for patterns in your past experiences 145 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:51,800 and then judges whether the current stimulus is a threat or an opportunity, a danger or a safety, based on these patterns. A 146 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:52,980 147 00:04:53,540 --> 00:04:56,660 person who grows up in a safe and secure family 148 00:04:56,660 --> 00:05:00,680 and a person who grows up in an environment full of violence and uncertainty will 149 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,959 interpret the event of "being bumped" in their amygdala 150 00:05:03,959 --> 00:05:04,840 completely differently. It's 151 00:05:05,439 --> 00:05:07,019 not because their willpower is different, 152 00:05:07,019 --> 00:05:08,899 not because their character is different, 153 00:05:08,899 --> 00:05:10,519 but because what's in their amygdala is 154 00:05:10,519 --> 00:05:11,280 different. Do 155 00:05:11,879 --> 00:05:13,740 you understand what the old monk was saying now? 156 00:05:13,759 --> 00:05:15,920 He wasn't saying "you should have a better mindset." 157 00:05:16,339 --> 00:05:19,920 He was talking about a deeper mechanism - what you spill 158 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,158 is what you usually put in the cup, 159 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,400 not what you "decide" to spill at that moment. At that 160 00:05:24,879 --> 00:05:25,620 moment, it's too 161 00:05:25,620 --> 00:05:26,661 late to decide. 162 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:27,500 Okay, 163 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:28,640 that's the scientific level. 164 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:30,661 Now let's go deeper. The Yogacara 165 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:32,800 school of Buddhism has a concept 166 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:34,218 called "Alaya-vijnana," which 167 00:05:34,220 --> 00:05:35,879 literally means "storehouse consciousness" 168 00:05:35,879 --> 00:05:36,661 or "storehouse consciousness." 169 00:05:37,180 --> 00:05:40,439 This is the core concept of Yogacara school describing the structure of human consciousness. The concept was 170 00:05:40,439 --> 00:05:44,480 proposed by Vasubandhu, a Mahayana Buddhist philosopher from the 4th or 5th century AD, 171 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:45,800 nearly 1,600 years ago. 172 00:05:46,339 --> 00:05:47,519 What is Alaya-vijnana? 173 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,420 It's described as the deepest "seed storehouse" of human consciousness. 174 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,180 Every action, every thought, every 175 00:05:52,180 --> 00:05:53,120 176 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:54,300 emotion 177 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,070 leaves a "seed" in Alaya-vijnana. 178 00:05:56,500 --> 00:05:57,319 These seeds, 179 00:05:57,319 --> 00:05:59,879 under suitable conditions, will sprout again, 180 00:05:59,879 --> 00:06:02,080 growing into corresponding behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. 181 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,019 Simply put: what you planted before, what grows 182 00:06:05,019 --> 00:06:06,360 when stimulated. 183 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:07,260 184 00:06:07,899 --> 00:06:09,699 When I first learned this concept, 185 00:06:09,699 --> 00:06:11,000 my first reaction was, is 186 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:13,920 n't this just "synaptic plasticity" in neuroscience? 187 00:06:14,079 --> 00:06:15,560 Synaptic plasticity refers to how 188 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,320 your neural connections strengthen through repeated use. The more 189 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,819 you use a certain response pattern, the 190 00:06:20,819 --> 00:06:23,160 stronger the neural pathway of that pattern becomes, and the 191 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:24,780 higher the probability of it being triggered again. The phenomenon described by the 192 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:27,459 Yogacara philosopher 1,600 years ago 193 00:06:27,459 --> 00:06:29,660 using the metaphor of "seeds" 194 00:06:29,660 --> 00:06:33,779 and the phenomenon described by modern neuroscience using the term "synaptic plasticity" 195 00:06:33,779 --> 00:06:35,100 are the same underlying phenomenon. 196 00:06:35,620 --> 00:06:37,439 This convergence across millennia 197 00:06:37,439 --> 00:06:39,180 always amazes me. 198 00:06:39,660 --> 00:06:41,339 I've been an angel investor for over a decade, 199 00:06:41,339 --> 00:06:43,199 investing in more than 300 early-stage projects, and I've 200 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:45,160 seen countless instances where "things everyone thought were 201 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:46,770 unreliable later changed the world." 202 00:06:47,259 --> 00:06:50,060 This makes me naturally wary of mainstream consensus 203 00:06:50,060 --> 00:06:53,000 and particularly sensitive to things ignored by the majority. 204 00:06:53,759 --> 00:06:55,120 Buddhist explorations of consciousness are considered 205 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,160 "unreliable" by many, 206 00:06:57,699 --> 00:07:01,199 but I sensed the same fervor I felt when investing in early-stage AI companies. There 207 00:07:01,199 --> 00:07:02,600 's something real in it. The 208 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,019 Yogacara school's description adds a crucial dimension, one that 209 00:07:06,019 --> 00:07:08,839 modern neuroscience hasn't fully covered yet. 210 00:07:09,319 --> 00:07:11,000 It not only describes the mechanisms 211 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,860 but also the directions 212 00:07:12,860 --> 00:07:13,920 and paths that can be changed. 213 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:15,319 Yogacara says the 214 00:07:15,319 --> 00:07:17,200 essence of practice is "transforming consciousness into wisdom," transforming the 215 00:07:17,779 --> 00:07:20,660 seeds of suffering in the Alaya consciousness into 216 00:07:20,660 --> 00:07:22,180 seeds of liberation. 217 00:07:22,699 --> 00:07:25,879 The method is to continuously and consciously plant new seeds 218 00:07:25,879 --> 00:07:27,920 until their power surpasses the old ones. 219 00:07:28,439 --> 00:07:29,780 This isn't about "thinking more positively"; it's about 220 00:07:29,879 --> 00:07:30,759 221 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:34,160 continuously and practically planting new behavioral patterns 222 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,080 until they dominate your mind. 223 00:07:37,819 --> 00:07:38,699 This takes time, 224 00:07:38,699 --> 00:07:39,959 deliberate practice, and 225 00:07:39,959 --> 00:07:43,180 repeatedly choosing new behaviors where old patterns might resurface. 226 00:07:43,180 --> 00:07:44,040 227 00:07:44,759 --> 00:07:46,340 Here's a common misunderstanding: 228 00:07:46,699 --> 00:07:47,759 we often assume that 229 00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:50,100 a person's reaction under pressure 230 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:51,540 reflects their "nature," 231 00:07:51,540 --> 00:07:52,610 their "true self." 232 00:07:53,060 --> 00:07:55,560 So, when someone seems fine normally... 233 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,240 When someone breaks down, loses their temper, or becomes cowardly under pressure, 234 00:07:58,240 --> 00:07:59,240 we might say, "Oh, 235 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:00,200 so that's the kind of person he is." 236 00:08:00,579 --> 00:08:01,520 But that's inaccurate. A 237 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:04,819 more accurate way to put it is: at that moment of pressure, what 238 00:08:04,819 --> 00:08:06,920 he had in his cup was these things—things 239 00:08:07,319 --> 00:08:09,620 he had accumulated over the years, 240 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:10,760 not things he was born with. These things 241 00:08:11,139 --> 00:08:12,240 can be changed, 242 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,779 but change isn't achieved through willpower during a moment of pressure; it's achieved 243 00:08:15,779 --> 00:08:17,360 244 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,750 through deliberate practice day after day before that moment of pressure. 245 00:08:20,439 --> 00:08:21,540 That's why it's said that 246 00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:22,920 true skill lies beyond the surface. A 247 00:08:23,500 --> 00:08:25,779 general who remains calm on the battlefield is 248 00:08:25,779 --> 00:08:28,120 n't necessarily braver than others at that moment, 249 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:29,939 but because his training has filled his cup with 250 00:08:29,939 --> 00:08:32,081 muscle memory for remaining composed under pressure. 251 00:08:32,759 --> 00:08:36,938 An investor who can maintain calm judgment during huge market fluctuations is 252 00:08:36,940 --> 00:08:39,059 n't necessarily unafraid of losses, 253 00:08:39,059 --> 00:08:41,500 but because he has experienced enough fluctuations and 254 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:44,038 handled each one rationally. 255 00:08:44,038 --> 00:08:44,779 Slowly, 256 00:08:44,779 --> 00:08:47,441 those seeds of rationality take root in his warehouse. 257 00:08:48,159 --> 00:08:49,019 Speaking of investing, 258 00:08:49,019 --> 00:08:50,860 I can't help but say a few more words here 259 00:08:50,860 --> 00:08:53,500 because this story is so valuable to investors. 260 00:08:54,039 --> 00:08:55,179 What is the market? The 261 00:08:55,299 --> 00:08:57,360 market is that person who bumps into you from time to time. It 262 00:08:57,899 --> 00:08:59,698 doesn't care if you're prepared or not, 263 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:01,799 it doesn't care if you're in a good mood this week; 264 00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:04,900 it just gives you a big shock at the most inopportune time. The 265 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:06,860 2008 financial crisis and the 266 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,100 March 2020 COVID-19 crash— 267 00:09:09,759 --> 00:09:11,179 every sharp market drop, 268 00:09:11,179 --> 00:09:13,980 every 30-50% loss in account value—was a 269 00:09:13,980 --> 00:09:15,140 "blow." 270 00:09:15,639 --> 00:09:16,559 At that moment, 271 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,220 what spilled from most investors' cups was 272 00:09:19,379 --> 00:09:20,340 panic, the 273 00:09:20,340 --> 00:09:22,259 anxiety of "this time is different," the 274 00:09:22,259 --> 00:09:24,480 impulse to liquidate assets, and the cry of 275 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,480 "it'll be too late if I don't run now." But what spilled from the cups of a 276 00:09:27,179 --> 00:09:28,419 very small minority was 277 00:09:28,419 --> 00:09:29,200 278 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:30,659 279 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:31,799 research, 280 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:33,039 logical analysis, 281 00:09:33,039 --> 00:09:36,259 calculations of "how much cheaper is this price than six months ago," and the 282 00:09:36,259 --> 00:09:37,961 exploration of "where are the opportunities?" 283 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:38,578 Note that neither of 284 00:09:38,580 --> 00:09:39,620 these reactions was 285 00:09:39,620 --> 00:09:41,520 "decided" at that moment. At 286 00:09:42,019 --> 00:09:42,840 that moment, the 287 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,860 amygdala of the brain had taken over. 288 00:09:44,860 --> 00:09:46,420 You didn't have time to make complex decisions; 289 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:48,940 you simply poured out what you had previously stored up. The 290 00:09:48,940 --> 00:09:49,500 291 00:09:50,159 --> 00:09:51,000 first type of person, 292 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:51,700 in normal times, 293 00:09:51,700 --> 00:09:53,080 when the market is calm, 294 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,799 what was in their cup? Most 295 00:09:54,940 --> 00:09:57,419 likely, it was a constant focus on paper profits and losses, a 296 00:09:57,419 --> 00:09:59,479 pursuit of the "next hot trend," and a 297 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,680 cognitive habit of equating price fluctuations with changes in value. 298 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:04,600 So when the crisis came, 299 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:06,890 these things spilled out in the form of "running away." The 300 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:08,339 second type of person, 301 00:10:08,340 --> 00:10:08,860 in normal times, 302 00:10:08,860 --> 00:10:10,620 what was in their cup? An 303 00:10:10,639 --> 00:10:12,299 understanding of the essence of business. 304 00:10:12,299 --> 00:10:15,759 It's a study of the recovery after every crisis in history. 305 00:10:15,759 --> 00:10:17,960 306 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,020 It's about the deeply ingrained belief that "cheap, good things are more worth buying than expensive, good things." 307 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:21,860 So when a crisis comes, 308 00:10:21,860 --> 00:10:24,980 these things spill out in the form of "the more they fall, the more excited they become." 309 00:10:25,659 --> 00:10:26,860 310 00:10:26,860 --> 00:10:29,759 Many people have heard Buffett's famous quote: "Be fearful when others are greedy, and 311 00:10:29,759 --> 00:10:31,300 greedy when others are fearful." 312 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:34,440 Everyone treats this as a trading suggestion, 313 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,519 but few ask: How can he be greedy when others are fearful? Is it 314 00:10:38,580 --> 00:10:40,279 just willpower? 315 00:10:40,379 --> 00:10:40,680 No, it 316 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:42,599 's because his cup is 317 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,240 filled with a profound understanding of the intrinsic value of companies, 318 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,740 decades of firsthand experience with countless crisis recovery cycles, and a fundamental understanding that 319 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,360 "whether this company will still exist next year" is more important than "whether this 320 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,000 stock will rise tomorrow." 321 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:55,679 That cup was 322 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,480 filled over decades. 323 00:10:58,139 --> 00:10:59,940 So when the market "bumped him," what 324 00:10:59,940 --> 00:11:00,659 spilled out 325 00:11:00,659 --> 00:11:01,321 were those things. 326 00:11:02,039 --> 00:11:03,000 This isn't genius; 327 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:03,581 it's accumulation. 328 00:11:03,940 --> 00:11:04,279 Okay, 329 00:11:04,279 --> 00:11:06,360 now I want to upgrade this question 330 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:07,860 because there's another dimension here, one that 331 00:11:07,860 --> 00:11:09,201 many haven't considered. The 332 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:10,480 old monk said, what 333 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:11,279 spills out 334 00:11:11,279 --> 00:11:12,120 is what you put in. 335 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,820 This establishes a very clear cause-and-effect relationship: what you put in, you spill out. 336 00:11:15,820 --> 00:11:16,120 337 00:11:16,580 --> 00:11:20,200 But there's a deeper question: why did you put those things in in the first place? The 338 00:11:20,299 --> 00:11:21,379 answer to this question... This 339 00:11:21,379 --> 00:11:23,960 points to how your upbringing shaped you—the 340 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:28,460 history of your parents, teachers, culture, traumas, rewards, and punishments. It 341 00:11:28,460 --> 00:11:31,039 's those early experiences you may not even remember, 342 00:11:31,039 --> 00:11:33,380 quietly planting seeds in your cup. 343 00:11:33,980 --> 00:11:34,799 In other words, 344 00:11:34,799 --> 00:11:37,559 not only was what you spilled not decided at that moment, but a large part of what 345 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:38,759 you put in was 346 00:11:38,759 --> 00:11:41,060 n't intentionally chosen either. Does 347 00:11:41,759 --> 00:11:42,740 this mean 348 00:11:42,740 --> 00:11:44,059 everything is fate and 349 00:11:44,059 --> 00:11:45,320 change is impossible? Quite the opposite. 350 00:11:45,460 --> 00:11:46,060 351 00:11:46,500 --> 00:11:47,340 Acknowledging this 352 00:11:47,340 --> 00:11:48,480 is the starting point for real change. 353 00:11:48,980 --> 00:11:49,600 Why? 354 00:11:49,639 --> 00:11:51,860 Because when you don't understand this mechanism, 355 00:11:51,860 --> 00:11:53,730 you do something incredibly energy-draining. 356 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,559 After spilling your coffee, you 357 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:57,040 hate yourself, 358 00:11:57,519 --> 00:11:59,259 saying, "Why did I do this again?" " 359 00:11:59,299 --> 00:12:00,480 I just can't control myself!" " 360 00:12:00,539 --> 00:12:01,591 Why am I so terrible?" 361 00:12:02,059 --> 00:12:03,279 This self-attack 362 00:12:03,279 --> 00:12:05,399 not only doesn't change what's in your cup, but it also fills it with 363 00:12:05,399 --> 00:12:08,200 more seeds of self-negation, 364 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:09,800 making the next outburst even more intense. 365 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,240 But when you understand this mechanism, 366 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,570 you can face it more efficiently. Instead of 367 00:12:14,570 --> 00:12:17,360 blaming yourself the moment you spill your coffee, 368 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,099 369 00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:20,360 calmly see afterward—"Oh, 370 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,220 so this was in my cup. 371 00:12:22,220 --> 00:12:23,879 I didn't realize it before"—and then 372 00:12:23,879 --> 00:12:26,821 consciously replace the old seeds with new ones. There 373 00:12:27,740 --> 00:12:30,139 's a saying in Buddhism: "It's not the arising of thoughts that's worrisome, 374 00:12:30,139 --> 00:12:30,900 but the slowness of awareness." This 375 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:32,299 means that it's okay for thoughts to 376 00:12:32,299 --> 00:12:33,960 arise; 377 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:35,620 the key is whether you're aware of them. 378 00:12:36,159 --> 00:12:37,701 Awareness itself is a power. 379 00:12:38,179 --> 00:12:40,179 Neuroscience has a corresponding finding: 380 00:12:40,659 --> 00:12:43,000 when you can name an emotion, 381 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,279 such as "I feel anger right now," the 382 00:12:45,279 --> 00:12:46,840 act of naming itself 383 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,600 reduces the activation level of the amygdala. The Yogacara school of 384 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,039 Buddhism from 1600 years ago 385 00:12:51,039 --> 00:12:52,600 and modern neuroscience 386 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,980 point in the same direction once again: awareness is the first step, 387 00:12:56,460 --> 00:12:57,360 but awareness alone 388 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:57,920 is not enough. 389 00:12:58,299 --> 00:12:59,100 After awareness, 390 00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:01,620 you need to plant new seeds with new behaviors. 391 00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:03,599 This isn't something that can be done overnight; 392 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:04,800 it's a time-consuming process. 393 00:13:05,340 --> 00:13:05,820 So, 394 00:13:05,820 --> 00:13:07,740 what do you want to fill your cup with? 395 00:13:07,820 --> 00:13:08,179 Note that 396 00:13:08,179 --> 00:13:09,879 this isn't an abstract question, 397 00:13:09,879 --> 00:13:12,821 not a wish list like "What kind of person do I want to be?" 398 00:13:13,299 --> 00:13:15,840 This is a very specific question: Today, 399 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,720 in those moments you have the choice, 400 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:19,659 what did you choose to fill your cup with? Did 401 00:13:19,700 --> 00:13:23,740 you choose to spend your time and attention on truly understanding a problem 402 00:13:23,740 --> 00:13:26,080 or on being bombarded with superficial information? Did 403 00:13:26,179 --> 00:13:30,099 you choose to practice truly listening in a conversation that makes you uncomfortable 404 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:32,179 or to react quickly? Did 405 00:13:32,340 --> 00:13:36,120 you choose to check your investment logic during market fluctuations 406 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,279 or stare at account numbers and let your emotions run wild? 407 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:40,340 Every choice 408 00:13:40,340 --> 00:13:41,201 is filling your cup, 409 00:13:41,799 --> 00:13:42,800 whether you realize it or not. Finally, 410 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,780 I want to say something that might seem counterintuitive. 411 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,539 This story might evoke anxiety in some people – "Oh my god, 412 00:13:49,539 --> 00:13:52,639 I have to constantly be aware of what I'm putting into my cup, 413 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:53,341 that's so tiring!" 414 00:13:53,799 --> 00:13:55,000 If you feel this way, 415 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,159 please note: this anxiety itself 416 00:13:57,159 --> 00:13:58,360 is what's in your cup. 417 00:13:59,080 --> 00:13:59,938 Maturity in spiritual practice 418 00:13:59,940 --> 00:14:01,360 isn't about becoming more alert, 419 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:02,461 but about becoming increasingly relaxed. 420 00:14:02,899 --> 00:14:06,639 When your cup is filled with truly internalized values, 421 00:14:06,639 --> 00:14:08,759 refined judgment, 422 00:14:08,759 --> 00:14:10,779 genuine compassion and openness, 423 00:14:10,779 --> 00:14:12,759 then you don't need to constantly remind yourself; 424 00:14:12,759 --> 00:14:14,920 your reactions will naturally be there. 425 00:14:15,519 --> 00:14:19,200 This is called "acting spontaneously" – acting naturally according to your nature. 426 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:20,179 No coercion, 427 00:14:20,179 --> 00:14:21,240 no force is needed 428 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,581 because your nature is already like that. 429 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:25,419 Therefore, the goal of spiritual practice is 430 00:14:25,419 --> 00:14:29,720 never to build a stronger willpower system to control your reactions, 431 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,299 but to fundamentally change what's in your cup. 432 00:14:31,299 --> 00:14:32,240 433 00:14:32,659 --> 00:14:34,279 This is a long-term, lifelong endeavor, 434 00:14:34,279 --> 00:14:35,201 435 00:14:35,740 --> 00:14:36,559 but you can begin every day. 436 00:14:36,559 --> 00:14:37,441 437 00:14:37,919 --> 00:14:38,500 Finally, what impresses me most about 438 00:14:38,899 --> 00:14:40,320 this channel so far 439 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,220 isn't the number of views or subscribers, 440 00:14:43,220 --> 00:14:44,040 but the comments section. 441 00:14:44,759 --> 00:14:46,960 Several friends with STEM backgrounds said they 442 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:48,639 used to think Buddhism was too abstract, but 443 00:14:48,639 --> 00:14:50,160 this channel gave them an entry point. 444 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:52,179 A long-time practitioner 445 00:14:52,179 --> 00:14:55,259 shared his profound experience in the comments section, which 446 00:14:55,259 --> 00:14:56,721 left me speechless for a long time. 447 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,759 Another viewer said something I've always remembered: 448 00:14:59,759 --> 00:15:00,220 449 00:15:00,220 --> 00:15:03,519 "The words of Buddhist scriptures have been crushed in this flood of information. 450 00:15:03,519 --> 00:15:05,340 To defend the Dharma in the world, 451 00:15:05,340 --> 00:15:07,039 first learn from the Buddha and 452 00:15:07,039 --> 00:15:09,660 explain your Dharma in language that ordinary people can understand. 453 00:15:10,110 --> 00:15:11,519 " This channel has reached where it is today 454 00:15:11,519 --> 00:15:13,059 not because of how well I speak, 455 00:15:13,059 --> 00:15:14,400 but because of your resonance. 456 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:15,840 Many comments 457 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:17,701 have exceeded the depth of my videos. 458 00:15:18,259 --> 00:15:19,299 You are not just viewers; 459 00:15:19,299 --> 00:15:20,520 you are co-creators. 460 00:15:20,940 --> 00:15:21,759 This new series 461 00:15:21,759 --> 00:15:22,880 is my response. 462 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:24,629 Starting with today's episode, 463 00:15:24,639 --> 00:15:26,760 will be continuously updated. 464 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:28,309 For this episode, what's 465 00:15:28,309 --> 00:15:29,779 in your cup? What are 466 00:15:29,779 --> 00:15:31,039 your feelings? 467 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,100 What do you most want to replace in your cup? In the 468 00:15:34,259 --> 00:15:34,840 next episode, 469 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,059 we will delve into a more complex, more real, 470 00:15:37,379 --> 00:15:40,120 and more impactful story – 471 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:41,740 472 00:15:41,740 --> 00:15:44,680 the collapse, failures, and ultimate blossoming experienced by a real person on their more than twenty years of spiritual practice. 473 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,020 Feel free to tell me your thoughts in the comments section. 474 00:15:47,379 --> 00:15:47,919 I'm Wang Lijie. See you 475 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:48,960 next time.