It means: plum blossoms can't smell fragrant without freezing cold.

Source: Ode to the Opening of the Class

Original:

Ode to the Opening of the Class

Author: Zen Master Huang Bo? In the Tang dynasty, it was very difficult to get rid of dust and labor, so we had to do it tightly.

how can plum blossom smell fragrant without freezing?

translation? :

It's unusual to get rid of dust and labor, so you must make great efforts. Without freezing cold, there is no fragrant plum blossom.

Extended information:

Ode to the Opening of the Class is an untitled poem written by the famous Buddhist monk Huang Berberi (bò) in the Tang Dynasty. The poem uses plum blossoms to open against the wind and snow, giving off fragrance, which is a metaphor for the situation of hard exploration and epiphany, thus expressing the poet's idea of urging the world to do things with plum blossoms.

Appreciation:

These are two aphorisms that encourage people to overcome difficulties and aspire to achieve their careers by taking advantage of plum blossom's proud snow to welcome frost and cold ling's solitary character. The author uses plum blossom to symbolize a spirit, which itself contains some philosophy;

If we give causal hints about the "freezing cold" and the "fragrant smell" that it experienced, the "plum blossom" as a vehicle will contain another profound truth.

The author is a generation of eminent monks of Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. He used this poem to express his determination to achieve the results of steadfast practice, and to state the correct attitude that people should adopt in dealing with all difficulties. This is also the main reason why these two poems are very famous and often quoted, and they have changed from Zen poems to secular famous sayings.