How to Read “Hardship and pleasure are lifelong traveling companions”
くらくはしょうがいのみちづれ
Meaning of “Hardship and pleasure are lifelong traveling companions”
This proverb means that hardship and pleasure always accompany each other in life. In other words, just because you’re enjoying good times now doesn’t mean they’ll last forever.
Similarly, just because you’re going through hard times now doesn’t mean they’ll continue forever either.
People use this proverb when they want to show a mindset that accepts life’s ups and downs. It conveys a balanced view of life.
You shouldn’t become careless during smooth times. You shouldn’t lose hope during difficult times.
Even today, people widely understand this saying as a life truth. Some people stay humble during success by remembering “Hardship and pleasure are lifelong traveling companions.”
Others encourage themselves during difficulties with the same words. The proverb shows a realistic and positive life view.
It reminds us that no life consists only of joy, and no life consists only of suffering.
Origin and Etymology
No clear records remain about the exact origin or first appearance of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from how the words are structured.
The word “kuraku” (hardship and pleasure) likely shows strong influence from Buddhist thought. Buddhism views life as containing “suffering.”
At the same time, it recognizes the joy that exists within that suffering. These two aspects have been treated as two sides of the same coin.
After Buddhism came to Japan, this way of thinking deeply penetrated the everyday sensibilities of common people.
The expression “michizure” (traveling companion) also carries deep meaning. During the Edo period, people sought traveling companions when they journeyed.
They did this for safety and to ease loneliness. A traveling companion wasn’t just someone who walked alongside you.
They were someone who shared both difficulties and joys with you. This proverb personifies hardship and pleasure as traveling companions on life’s long journey.
By using the word “shōgai” (lifelong), the proverb shows a universal truth. This truth continues from birth to death, not just during certain periods.
The saying teaches us that hardship and pleasure exist alternately, or sometimes simultaneously, throughout our entire lives.
Interesting Facts
The word “kuraku” actually has meaning in placing “ku” (hardship) first. Many pairs of opposites place the pleasant word first.
For example, “kido-airaku” (joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure) or “zen-aku” (good and evil). But “kuraku” places suffering first.
This likely reflects Buddhist philosophy like “shiku-hakku” (the eight sufferings). It shows the importance of facing suffering in life.
The word “michizure” originally carried a deep meaning of “companions who share fate.” Travel in old times was life-threatening.
So a traveling companion wasn’t just someone walking with you. They were someone you entrusted your life to.
By expressing hardship and pleasure as traveling companions, this proverb shows an important recognition. Both suffering and joy are essential, unavoidable parts of life.
Usage Examples
- Things are tough now, but “Hardship and pleasure are lifelong traveling companions,” so good things will surely come
- We need to stay alert especially during smooth times, because “Hardship and pleasure are lifelong traveling companions”
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years. It perfectly captures the gap between a fundamental human desire and reality.
We all wish to “stay happy forever.” But when we look back on our lives, we realize there were never days filled only with joy.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t say “eliminate suffering.” Rather, it stands on the premise that “suffering will definitely come.”
This isn’t resignation. It’s wisdom based on deep human understanding. Humans live in changing environments.
Those changes always include both good and bad things. Just as seasons cycle, life has its natural rhythm too.
The proverb also teaches the harsh truth that “pleasure isn’t eternal either.” But this is also a message of hope.
Why? Because even if things are hard now, that won’t continue forever. Pleasure always comes after suffering.
By understanding this cycle, people can live without falling into despair.
Our ancestors didn’t see life as a straight line going up or down. They saw it as a wave-like repetition.
This perspective was the secret to maintaining peace of mind in any situation.
When AI Hears This
Human emotional systems work with the same mechanism as “attractors” in physics. An attractor is like the position where a pendulum finally comes to rest.
It’s the state that a system is inevitably drawn toward. Surprisingly, both our happiness and unhappiness levels always return to an individual’s unique “baseline” over time.
Studies tracking lottery winners show interesting results. Their happiness spikes right after winning. But one year later, it returns to almost the same level as before winning.
Conversely, people who became paraplegic in accidents report unexpectedly high happiness levels two years later. This phenomenon is called “hedonic adaptation.”
The brain resets the new situation as “normal.” In other words, life is a vibration system that swings between the extremes of hardship and pleasure.
It’s constantly pulled back to a neutral point. Happiness doesn’t last not because of bad luck, but because of the system’s design specifications.
At the same time, it’s a safety feature ensuring that no suffering lasts forever either.
From this perspective, hardship and pleasure don’t just alternate. They’re built in as essential elements for maintaining emotional dynamic equilibrium.
They truly are lifelong traveling companions. We need the contrast with suffering to feel joy. This vibration itself creates the sensation of “being alive.”
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the importance of flexibility in accepting life’s waves. Look at social media and everyone seems happy.
You might feel like you’re the only one suffering. But that’s an illusion. Every person’s life has waves of hardship and pleasure in places you can’t see.
What matters is not becoming arrogant during good times and not despairing during bad times. No matter how painful today is, it’s just one page in the long story of your life.
The next chapter is always waiting. Conversely, no matter how wonderful today is, don’t cling to it too much.
Don’t fear change. Instead, understand that change itself is the essence of life. This understanding brings peace of mind.
If you’re in the midst of difficulty now, remember these words. Suffering isn’t eternal.
And if you’re in the midst of happiness now, treasure that moment. But don’t expect it to last forever.
Life is a repetition of hardship and pleasure. Having both makes life rich and meaningful.
Comments