Chen Jiru (1558 – 1639 AD), artistic name Meigong, was an artist, calligrapher and writer during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD). He published the following couplet in Notes by a Quiet Window.
 
"Unmoved by honor or disgrace,
watch the flowers as they bloom and droop outside your door;
Unfazed by retention or dismissal,
observe the clouds fold and spread in the sky."
 
The poem implies that when a person treats people and events around him as everyday occurrences like flowers blossoming and withering, one will not be surprised when treated favorably or humiliatingly. Only when one views maintaining or losing a position in office as naturally as the clouds fold and unfold, will one not care about gains and losses.
 
In a few simple words the couplet presents the proper attitude one should have regarding people, events, fame, or fortune: If one is unconcerned about acquisitions and not worried about losses, unmoved by honor or disgrace, and unfazed by retention or dismissal, then can one achieve inner calm, take things lightly, and assimilate to the natural order of daily life.
 
Xiang Minzhong (949 – 1020 AD), a poet in the Northern Song Dynasty (960 – 1127 AD), was a gentleman known for his integrity and not being swayed by fame or fortune. He served as Prime Minister under Emperor Zhenzong, who reigned from 997 – 1022 AD.
 
One day Emperor Zhenzong issued the order to promote Prime Minister Xiang to Head of Officials, which put him in charge of all officials in the imperial court. Li Zong'e (964 – 1012 AD) was on duty that day as the Hanlin academic responsible for drafting imperial edicts. Emperor Zhenzong said to Li, "Since the beginning of my reign, I have not appointed anyone to the position of Head of Officials. This is an extraordinary appointment. Minzhong should be very pleased." Li replied, "I have been on duty here the whole day. I was not aware that Your Majesty had issued the order. I am not sure how Minzhong reacted." Emperor Zhenzong said, "There must be a big crowd congratulating him at his home. Go for a visit and report back to me tomorrow. But do not reveal that I sent you there."
 
Li waited until Prime Minister Xiang had finished his official duties for the day and returned home before showing up at his door. Xiang had just said goodbye to some visitors and his courtyard was quiet. Li was on good terms with Xiang, and since there were no other visitors, he immediately entered and congratulated Xiang, "I heard that His Majesty appointed you as Head of Officials today. Everyone in the imperial court is pleased. The entire nation celebrates!" Xiang simply acknowledged that he heard the remarks, but made no comment. Li went on, "His Majesty has never appointed anyone to this prestigious position since the beginning of his reign. It is such a virtuous honor and imperial blessing for you." Xiang did not say much in response.
 
Li was not sure what was on Xiang's mind. He tried listing renowned officials throughout history who had held similar positions and were excellent in merit and morals. Xiang again stayed quiet, giving only simple responses. Li ended his visit and left. On his way out, he asked his followers to check with the staff in Xiang's kitchen to see if they were preparing a banquet to entertain family and friends to celebrate Xiang's new title. It turned out that Xiang was having a simple dinner as usual.
 
The following day, Li was again on duty. Emperor Zhenzong asked, “Did you meet Xiang yesterday? How is his mood?” Li gave a full description of his visit. Emperor Zhenzong smiled, "Xiang Minzhong is really someone who attaches little importance to an official title. Neither favor or humiliation move him."
 
Since ancient times, people have considered rising in the ranks or accumulating wealth something to celebrate. However, Xiang took it lightly and stayed calm despite the prestige and honor the new position gave him. Achieving fame and be promoted cannot compare with giving one's life on the battlefield to defend a country. Only when one always puts his own interests after others can he take things lightly and expand his realm. It could be that Xiang cared little about his personal gains and losses so that he would not be burdened by fame and titles.
 
Many people live under stress nowadays. We tend to wonder why, as society progresses, we have become more burdened, less fulfilled, and easily frustrated. Indeed, society moves forward and it looks like civilization is advancing. However, humans get further separated from nature and development often comes at a cost of irreparable damage to the environment. One gets trapped in the materialistic world, unable to escape, chasing after superficial etiquette, and forgetting what is true beauty. The attraction of money, the struggle for power, and the ups and downs of one's career, are truly debilitating. Rights and wrongs, successes and failures, gains and losses bring joy, sadness, shock, surprise, worry, and fear. When one's wishes cannot be granted, he or she may become depressed or even pay the cost of life.
 
Fan Zhongyan (989 – 1052 AD) a renowned prose master of the Northern Song Dynasty, wrote in Note on Yueyang Pavilion,
 
"One does not feel pleased about material gains, nor does he feel sorrow about his own fate. When he works in the imperial court, he worries about people in faraway places. When he sails in remote rivers and lakes, he worries about the Emperor. So he is worried when he is promoted, and he is still worried when he is demoted. Then when will he feel joy? The answer is he always worries before the entire world is worried, and he is only joyous when the entire world is joyous."
 
When a person thinks about the entire world, and when he or she shoulders the well-being of all sentient beings, personal gains and losses no longer matter.
 
宠辱不惊　去留无意
 
《幽窗小记》中有这样一幅对联：宠辱不惊，看庭前花开花落；去留无意，望天空云卷云舒。这句话的意思是说，为人做事能视宠辱如花开花落般平常，才能不惊；视职位去留如云卷云舒般变幻，才能无意。一幅对联，寥寥数语，却深刻道出了人生对事对物、对名对利应有的态度：得之不喜、失之不忧、宠辱不惊、去留无意。这样才可能心境平和、淡泊自然。
 
北宋真宗朝宰相、诗人向敏中就是不受富贵名利左右的君子。真宗皇帝时，向敏中被任命为右仆射，诏书下达那天，李宗谔为翰林学士，那天他正当值。皇上对他说：“朕自即位以来，未曾任命仆射，今天以这个官职任命敏中，这是非同寻常的任命，敏中应该很喜欢。”，李宗谔回答：“臣今天从早就在宫里当值，也不知道宣布了诏书，不知道敏中现在怎样？”皇上说：“敏中家里，今日贺客必定很多，你去他家看看，明日再来汇报给我。不要说这是朕的意思。”
 
宗谔等著丞相回家了，才去拜见。丞相刚辞别了客人，相府门前静悄悄的没有一个人。宗谔与向敏中亲近，直接进入府中见丞相。然后祝贺道：“今日听说下达了任命您的诏书，士大夫无不欢喜欣慰，举国欢庆。”向敏中只简单的答应著，不置可否。宗谔又说：“从当今皇上登基以来，未曾任命过仆射，这是非同寻常的任命，若非德高望重、皇恩深厚怎能有这样的宠信？”向敏中还只是简单的应答著，宗谔始终不能揣摩出向敏中的心思。宗谔又历数前代做过仆射之人的功劳美德之辉煌、皇恩之深重，向敏中还是只简单的应答著，最终也没说一句话。宗谔从堂屋退出来后，又派人到厨房中，问今日相府中有没有亲戚宾客宴饮，厨房中的人也说相府今日寂静无人。
 
第二日宗谔又当值，皇上问：“昨日见过敏中没有？”宗谔回答说：“见过他了。”皇上又问“敏中的心情如何？”宗谔把所见到的详细的汇报了。皇上笑著说：“向敏中真是宠辱不惊，不把官位放在心上。”
 
古往今来，大凡升官发财，均被视为可喜可贺之事。可向敏中面对升迁却喜惕不形，处之泰然。由来功名输勋烈，心中无私天地宽。我想大概是因为他心中没有过多的私欲，所以才能不为官所累吧。
 
现在的人大多觉得活得很累，不堪重负。许多人也在想，为什么社会在不断发展，而人的负荷却更重，精神越发空虚，思想异常浮躁。的确，社会在不断发展，好像更加文明了。然而社会发展的一个缺点就是造成人与自然的日益分离，人类以牺牲自然为代价，其结果便是陷于世俗的泥淖而无法自拔，追逐于外在的礼法与物欲而不知什么是真正的美。金钱的诱惑、权力的纷争、宦海的沉浮让人殚心竭虑。是非、成败、得失让人或喜、或悲、或惊、或诧、或忧、或惧，一旦所欲难以实现，一旦所想难以成功，一旦希望落空成了幻影，就会失落、抑郁，有人甚至为此付出了生命的代价。
 
北宋的范仲淹在《岳阳楼记》中亦阐述了为官做人之道：“不以物喜，不以己悲。居庙堂之高则忧其民；处江湖之远则忧其君。是进亦忧，退亦忧，然则何时而乐耶？其必曰：‘先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐’乎！”当一个生命胸怀天下、以天下苍生为己任时，他决不会再为自己的官位和名利患得患失。