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A years-ago epiphany, current gems of wisdom make for wonderful inspiration
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DEAR Yong,
I enjoyed your column about your encounter with the woman in Yangzhou (“Chance encounter prompts musings about conscientious ways to act for a better world,” February 6, Shanghai Daily.)
It reminded me of the way in which users of the ubiquitous site Facebook “friend” others and indicate how they “like” sayings of events involving their “friends.” While I admit to having 320 such “friends,” also, it is true that the vast majority are people I know very little.
There are, however, many of these who are family, true friends and former work associates, and a number of artists and poets whom I have encountered among the world-wide users of Facebook and with whom I occasionally check in to see their latest work or posting.
Wisely used, this kind of medium can do much to bolster inter-cultural understanding and appreciation.
I also admit to not having heard before of Wang Yangming and his teaching of Zhi Xing He Yi (Editor’s note: it means acting on conscience).
This concept now joins other favorite ethical/moral/spiritual teachings from which I rely for insight. Thank you!
Your remarks on her shallow understanding (really, misunderstanding) of this teaching reminds me of how so many people who call themselves “Christians” in this country so often speak and behave in ways startlingly at odds with what Jesus actually taught.
I guess it is part of human nature to think that most of what we think and do is OK, even “good,” while harboring more suspicions about our neighbors’ beliefs or motives underlying their actions.
Many evangelical fundamentalists in the US, for example, have embraced an aspect of Calvinism that equates one’s own status in life — very much including one’s own wealth and “success” — as proof that they are in a good relationship with Jesus/God!
They also believe its corollary: that if one is troubled, poor, unemployed, addicted, etc, then this is also proof that this person is morally and spiritually flawed.
I am amazed that people can believe such nonsense, but I do understand the human desire to be affirmed and the all-too-common wish to be comfortable.
Moveable goalposts
Personally, I have found that the great teachings of wisdom actually function — at least for me — as a form of “moveable goalposts.”
That is, as I strive to be more conscious of how I am behaving and work to be more focused on the needs and concerns of others, while I make progress I also become aware of how much more I have yet to grow.
Or, perhaps, another image might be better: It is as if my goal were to reach a great mountain far away. Even though I walk many days, and I can clearly see that I have covered a lot of ground, it still seems both huge and a long way off.
I find that your columns are often gems of wisdom that are approachable and easily “digested.”
However, as the “digestion” process continues, the “fruit” of your story emerges more clearly. That is really a remarkable storytelling gift, Yong, and I hope you realize you have it!
An old story
Along the lines of always growing in spiritual understanding, permit me to share something that occurred to me about 10 years ago.
It was in December of either 2004 or 2005 (I had retired in June of 2004), when I was carrying a basket of laundry downstairs. A very interesting thing happened. Just before I stepped off the stairs, this phrase suddenly appeared in my mind: I want you to be holy.
There was certainly no accompanying “vision” or “sound” or anything unusual about this except the sudden clarity of this phrase. In any case, something caused me to remember this phrase at this moment, and I have no idea to this day how that might have happened.
For several months before this incident, I had been praying for some direction as to what I should now “do” since my retirement and move to Bellevue. After all, since my early 20s I had always been working. Like most American males, a lot of my own self-worth was tied up in my work.
What is most interesting about this incident is that I was being told what I should be rather than do.
The idea of my having any chance of being “holy” struck me as so ludicrous that I said out loud, “You might as well tell me to walk across the Mississippi!” All of this took just seconds to happen.
Well, as I turned to look out at the wintry December landscape I realized that I could, indeed, walk across the river as it was frozen solid.
That day, and in many ways, for every day thereafter, I have thought about this incident. Whatever the cause or origin of that phrase in my mind, it was “right on” with respect to what I really did need in my life, both for myself and for others.
It was shortly after this that I purchased my first course from the Teaching Company, a 48-lecture course on “Yao to Mao: 5,000 Years of Chinese History.” Not all that long after this, I began reading Shanghai Daily on my Kindle and, within months, you and I had begun our correspondence.
Greg Cusack has been a college teacher of American history and political science and the director of the US National Catholic Rural Life Conference. He served as a member of the Iowa State House of Representatives and retired from public service in the Iowa executive branch in 2004. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
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