Before my narration about this memorable journey, I need to identify a theme firstly, then I can make my words simple and logical. Because there are too many memories in my mind to keep my dispassionate.
After the grand gathering to celebrate Hempel's 100th birthday, I wrote an article in memory of the great ceremony. I am appreciate that some of my friends like it. The name of the article is " 不忘初心, 方得始终 ", eight Chinese characters, and in English it means " Back to your heart, then achieve yourself ". So, this article that I am going to write has a eight characters' Chinese name too, " 不辱使命，有始有终 "，and in English it means " Missions are accepted, then get committed to playing your part".
大道即人心 万古未尝改
长生在求仁 金丹非外待
谬矣三十年 于今吾始悔
——王守仁（阳明）
Principle in everybody's heart, perpetually exist
Benevolence lead to immortality, religion can not
Mistakes with me thirty years, now I awaked
by Wang Yangming
Words above have become famous after the "Longchang Awakening" of Master Yangming in his 30 years old. Same to me, that's just my realization after coming back from Vietnam. Master Yangming is one of the greatest philosophers and sages in Chinese history, in my mind, maybe greater than Confucius. In his theory system of " 心学 (Hsin Hsüeh) ", means " Theory of Heart ", Master Yangming emphasized the unity of knowing and doing , or the pursuit of human synderesis. Correlation on what I said, " Back to your heart " means " innate knowing " or " synderesis ", and " playing your part " means " doing ".
I think it is luckiest that you meet someone or learn someting who or which can changes your whole life, at some defining moment. The moment for me, is just the day I encountered Master Yangming, almost 500 years after his death. Once upon a time, Iife was very tough for me. It's not about money, love, or dream, quite the reverse, since I almost got everything that I had dreamt from youth, however, anything just couldn't make me happy. Confusion, frustration, desperation, three bad companions that I was not able to get rid of, could't stop whittling away my passion, my morale, giving me sleeplessness and headache. By chance, I became an adherent of Master Yangming, and I finally found the essential and significance of life----Find your inner peace and follow your yeart.
I am unlucky, for all the bad memories and awful experiences in the past; I am also a lucky man, since I was awaked earlier than many people.
I will always remember the conversation between me and Bente, our team leader, a elegant and beautiful Danish lady
(Here I need to beg her forgiveness for putting such private talk to public, just for conscience sake, pls let me do that)
.
Me：Bente，I have a little question for you, maybe sound like a bit serious, so, answer it or not, it depends on yourself.
Bente (smiling)：It's ok. Please
Me：I heard some psychologists were used to ask other psychologists for help, since they received too many patients and accepted too many negative feelings to standing up all the pain and suffering from their clients. These years you do charity, have been in a lot of countries, and seen innumerable people, you know, sometimes the scenes you saw just like tragedies. How could you stand up all of those things.
Bente (Long thinking)：That's true, I had similar feelings.
Me：Do you mind...？
Bente (a heavy sigh)：No, I will tell you. Two years ago, I got those feelings——feel lonely, helpless, and sad. I usually couldn't find right people to do charity with me, as well as the understanding from some of my friends and relatives. Sometimes I felt geting alienated by them. Maybe they were not meant to, however, this is the reality.
Me：nodding and mute
Bente (tears in her eyes)：I can understand, and I have to accept my fate---it's my choice, and there is nothing you destined to do without paying the price. I got a lot of misunderstanding, far more than praise. People said, look at Bente, always smiling and shaking, always elegant and unconventional, always under the spotlight, etc. Nobody knows When I went back to the hotel room, how the unspeakable feeling is.
After a short silence, I stood up and took one thing from my backpack, then gave it to Bente. It's a card with the most important scriptures of Buddhism on one side and some significative words written by my hands on the other side, like an amulet and always kept well in my wallet. I think this little card can bring me luck and protect me on my business trip. I told Bente, she is a really good person, and what she engaged in is great. Misunderstanding always exist, as well as understanding and support. And I am one of those people do understand and support----Believe me, we will always right here, in your side.
曾虑多情损梵行
入山又恐别倾城
世间安得双全法
不负如来不负卿
---仓央嘉措
Once going with you, my love
I have to renounce my belief
Following flammule is my dream
as well as your supple lips
How can I find a path to both
for Budda and for you, my love
by Tsangyang Gyatso