narrativeautumn

“What the blind spot is of keep on working hard to achieve good academic performances all the way from primary school to university?” this was the question regarding educational purpose which was raised by my professor of Educational Philosophy.

I then spontaneously raised my hand up and answered, “The good academic performances—straight A’s, high average marks and ranking will become the only value of education. This will causes many students to feel inferior and discouraged for not being able to do well in examinations. The ‘mainstream’ social value will keep on telling them that they will only have bright future if they are doing well academically. Some students are likely to focus on their weakness—‘Oh no, I don’t know how to do well in exams, I am stupid’. They will consciously and sub-consciously think that they are nobody. Some of the Chinese parents and elders at home will keep on reminding them that they will become a useless person if they can’t study well. This makes them feel bad about themselves. They may not be likely to develop their talented skills when they keep on feeling inferior and discouraged.”

For me the word ‘useless’ is rather too strong. Actually everybody has his or her own talent. We don’t need to evaluate someone from only one angle. Let me share with you a story of Zhuang Zi（莊子）. Zhuang Zi’s good friend—Hui Shi（惠施） told Zhuang Zi that he has a big tree but he thinks the tree is really useless. “What? Useless? Why is it so?” Zhuang Zi asked. “It is useless because the tree is so big and its branches are bent. Carpenters just don’t want to cut it to make furniture and rulers (大而無用，衆所同去也).” Hui Shi answered. Zhuang Zi pointed out his blind spot by telling him, “Hey brother, you know what? You can plant the tree in countryside, and take an afternoon nap under the tree during summer, or reading under the tree, it is so useful if you use it this way! （何不樹之於無何有之鄉，廣末之野，彷徨乎無為其側，逍遙乎寢臥其下）You must know how to use it wisely. This is the philosophy of Zhuang Zi, he teaches us how to dissolve the theory of single usage.（打破定用）

I think that will this grade-is-education（分數就是教育）will discourage someone who is a genius in other fields. Why must the public think that a well-educated or successful person must be professors, doctors, lawyers, accountants and engineers?
Why can’t we recognise the talents in those who are not able to do well academically? They indeed have many A’s in other fields, it is just that we have already blinded our eyes with the A’s in academic, not that of the other fields. For instance, Wu Bai flunked four subjects in senior high school, but he is able to do well in rock music and became a rock poet. Education should be helping everybody to realise his or her dreams, not to destroy it. Nobody is qualified to say that someone is stupid or useless just because they are not doing well in exams. We must break down this single-usage theory.

Always think from another angle so that you can have different perspective when you are observing something. Always try to break the theory of single usage and learn how to appreciate everybody’s talents in every field. I wish that I have given my fellow members a clear way of dissolving the single-usage theory under the guidance of Zhuang Zi philosophy.

Can you imagine what can you do with this one US Dollar? According to BBC news website, there are more than 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa living on less than $1 a day.

Today’s world is rather materialistic, and most people always mistaken that living out a happy life means that we must have a lot of money, good reputation and enjoy nice foods by going to the most luxurious restaurant in town. Think, do we really need that much money and resources for our survival? Our father of Chinese philosophy—Confusion has already taught us “飯疏食飲水，曲肱而枕之，樂亦在其中矣。” this means that even though we only have simple foods to eat, and we bend our arms in order to use as a pillow, we can still be able to obtain happiness. When I think that I need more nice-looking clothes or going for buffet-dinner in the hotel, I always stop myself by thinking of this theory and I usually ended up spending money on buying books. I walked pass a bookstore when I was on the way to indulge myself in dinner buffet, and I realised “ahh! that’s where my happiness lies in!” Do you know where my happiness is? My happiness lies in the books and my simple life.

Human nature is always greedy. We always think of getting something that we don’t have. After getting a new laptop, I may want to get a new guitar, a trip to England and so on. But we are living in a realistic world, how can we get everything that we want? Nobody will get all the things that he or she wants. When you are thinking of buying a pair very expensive Nike sport shoes, please kindly think of the poor Chinese, Indian, Iraqi and African children who don’t even have a pair of slippers to put on. When you already have a good partner, stop looking at the beautiful girls and handsome guys out there. Sung Dynasty poet 蘇軾told us “苟非吾之所有，雖一毫而莫取”. If something doesn’t belong to you, it is just meant not to be yours; you just can’t take it even though it’s only a penny. Treasure everything and every person that are with you now. Always remind your partner, “Honey, you are the best in the world.”

Everybody needs a hobby to make their life happy. My hobby is reading. I like to stay in my room during weekends and holidays, sipping a cup of Blue Mountain coffee, and reading my favourite books. Actually I have many girlfriends (show my favourite books); they give me good nutrition for my brain. When I am lazy to read for two days, my brain will keep on remind me, “Hey Keith, I need some vitamin B!” when my brain tells me I need vitamin B(B for books), I will remind myself again by quoting “學而時習之，不亦樂乎？” I strongly recommend my fellow toastmasters friends to keep on reading every day. Books won’t say goodbye to us. Books won’t complain if you just leave them alone in the bookshelves, but your honey will. When I feel sad and helpless, I usually calm myself down by listening to rock music and reading my favourite books. My favourite writers will share with me their great ideas in their masterpieces. The great ideas will give me wisdom and inspires me.

Lastly, please let me share with you why I want to talk about Chinese Philosophy for my second speech. I am very sad to know that some of my friends from the West have misunderstood Chinese philosophy. I realised that there is barrier between the West and the East. I wish that I can practise my English public speaking here so that I can recommend and explain Chinese philosophy to my non-Chinese friends from all around the world. I truly believe that the barrier between the West and the East will eventually crumble.

Always remember these three ways: “飯疏食飲水，曲肱而枕之，樂亦在其中矣”, “苟非吾之所有，雖一毫而莫取”, “學而時習之，不亦樂乎？” to make your life simple and happy. Always feel grateful for you have already had, don’t be greedy and read more. I wish that I have given my fellow toastmasters a clear way of achieving happiness under the guidance of Chinese philosophy.