心如止水 Heart like still water
Explanation
形容内心平静如水，没有一丝波澜，通常指一种平和、淡然的心态，不受外界的干扰。
Describes a state of inner peace and calmness, comparable to still water; usually understood as a peaceful, unperturbed state of mind.
Origin Story
一位隐居山林的禅师，每日打坐修行，他的心境如同山间清澈的溪流，平静而深邃。即使面对猛兽的袭击或暴风雨的侵袭，他的内心也波澜不惊，始终保持着心如止水的境界。一日，几个弟子来到他面前，诉说着世间的纷扰与争斗。禅师微笑着，向他们讲述了一个古老的故事：很久以前，有一个国王，他拥有无上的权力和财富，但他却并不快乐，总是被欲望和烦恼所困扰。有一天，他遇见了一位智者，智者告诉他，真正的快乐不在于拥有多少，而在于内心平静。国王听后，深受启发，开始学习禅修，最终摆脱了烦恼，获得了内心的平静。弟子们听了禅师的故事，都明白了心如止水的真谛，并开始认真修行，追求内心的平静。
A Zen master who lived in seclusion in the mountains practiced meditation every day, his mind as calm and profound as a clear stream in the mountains. Even when faced with attacks from wild animals or violent storms, his heart remained unperturbed, always maintaining the state of "stillness of mind." One day, several disciples came before him, speaking of the troubles and conflicts of the world. The Zen master smiled and told them an ancient story: A long time ago, there was a king who possessed supreme power and wealth, but he was not happy. He was always plagued by desires and anxieties. One day, he met a wise man, who told him that true happiness lies not in possession but in inner peace. The king was deeply moved by this lesson, and he began to practice Zen meditation, eventually freeing himself from anxieties and gaining inner peace. The disciples, having heard the master's story, understood the true meaning of "stillness of mind," and they began to practice earnestly, pursuing inner peace.
Usage
用于形容人内心平静、淡泊名利的状态，常用于褒义。
Used to describe the state of inner peace and detachment from worldly desires, often in a positive sense.
Examples
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面对突如其来的变故，他依然心如止水，泰然处之。
miànduì tūrú'ér lái de biàngù, tā yīrán xīn rú zhǐ shuǐ, tài rán chǔ zhī.
Faced with sudden changes, he remained calm and composed.
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经过多年的磨练，他的心境已如止水，不再为琐事烦扰。
jīngguò duō nián de molìan, tā de xīnjìng yǐ rú zhǐ shuǐ, bù zài wèi suǒshì fánrǎo。
After years of training, his mind is as still as water, no longer disturbed by trivial matters.