Life as the Sea, living as the Boat

“Life as the Sea, living as the Boat” is an original oil painting by artist Chau Ming Beck. The composition is simple, yet its philosophy runs deep. Life is a vast and boundless ocean—unpredictable, shifting between illusion and reality. The rights and wrongs of the world flicker like fleeting reflections, entangled in chaos, much like a grand dream. When the tide rises, all things shimmer in its brilliance, and the waves glisten in the sun; when the tide recedes, hidden undercurrents flow in the depths, unfathomable and mysterious. And we, adrift in this vast expanse, are but a solitary boat, tossed and turned amidst tempestuous waves, navigating the undulating journey of existence.

This ocean, at times, is gentle—a mirror-like surface reflecting the sky, caressed by a soft breeze, with dawn’s golden glow igniting hope in the heart. Yet, at other times, it is ferocious gales arise, dark clouds devour the light, and waves surge like wild beasts, swallowing direction and nearly drowning the soul. Life is a voyage through these unpredictable waters, where moments of tranquil stillness intertwine with trials of raging storms.

This boat, at times, carries dreams, slicing through the waves, setting sail toward an unattainable shore. At times, it is a drifting vessel with broken oars, pushed by the currents toward the unknown, left to the mercy of fate, beyond control. Some, with unwavering eyes, press forward even as the winds howl, gritting their teeth and rowing with all their might, carving a path with sheer will. Others, carried by the tide, rise and fall with the waves, surrendering to fate until they vanish into the horizon. Some lose themselves in the storm, battered by the gales, their vision consumed by endless darkness. Yet, there are those who, amidst thunder and lightning, catch sight of a distant, faint lighthouse—despite the perilous journey ahead, they choose to sail against the current, forging onward.

But the sea never ceases. Its waves rise and fall in endless cycles, much like the impermanence of life. Some desperately chase the distant shore, believing it to be a haven, only to realize that beyond it lies yet another vast, uncharted ocean. A lifetime is spent drifting upon these waters—setting sail, stumbling, searching, and wandering—until the final journey’s end. And through it all, the waves are the trials that ferry us forward. Be it smooth sailing or turbulent storms, each stroke of the oar is a choice in life, and each crashing wave, a baptism from time itself.

As my mentor once said, “Life’s rights and wrongs are tangled like a dream; in this lifetime, we row a boat through its twists and turns.” Since the world’s truths and falsehoods are inherently intertwined, and fleeting life is but a dream, why burden us with gain and loss, or cling to illusions? Why not drift with the tide, yet not be swallowed by it? Why not steer our vessel through it all—crossing the fleeting troubles of the world, traversing our own confusion, and sailing toward inner peace?

Perhaps, there is no true shore, no ultimate destination. The only truth lies in the journey itself—the act of rowing, the voyage unending, the courage forged through storms, and the eyes that, even amidst raging waves, still lift toward the distant horizon. If so, why not cast aside fear and set sail? Even if the winds howl and the waves roar, even if the stars fade and the sea stretches into infinity, we can still carry a flickering light within, rowing through the tides, awakening from the dream, and crossing the ocean of life.