HARMONY OF FOLLOWING OUR HEARTS

As a bonus after all this beauty that I experienced, on Saturday I have visited my ex-student and his family. Stephen was my student during the first year in China. He is 22 now, studying in Canada, but spent a few weeks of his summer vacation back home. He lives in Nanhai, which is a part of Foshan city, where Yip Man was born. It is about 2 hours subway ride away, cca 90 km northwest of Nansha. And thus, we agreed that now, after years we will meet up.

Foshan is very famous for ceramics and factories, where ceramics have been produced for many many years. Thus, we went to visit several of them, and then we had a lunch together in the old city where we talked for two hours about the new knowledge both of us gained in the past years and about the changed perspectives. I was very interested how Stephen lives now, how he thinks, how he perceives the things. He is the only child, as his parents have followed one-child policy, to avoid losing their jobs. I also got very interested in the story of his grandparents, around 80-years old folks, who had no chance to learn how to write. Grand-mom from his dad side even does not speak mandarin; instead she is using only the local dialect of cantonese. Another story about the name of his younger cousin reminded me how ridiculous is to prefer the sex of a boy, as boy means something more in the society (still…). Since she was the first born to her parents, they named her Cheng Zi, what in translation might also mean: “be followed by a son.” And since siblings of Stephen’s mom lived in the village, they had more children than officially allowed and the second one born was really son.

Later we went to visit our old school, where we have met for the first time four years ago. It was a very interesting feeling. It was like coming back from the future looking at our own past. I have felt a strange, but interesting feeling. How one decision, which we made in what is now the distant past, can move us forward and how far… To the place, about which we had – at that moment we have been making the very same decision – not a slightest clue…

At the end we went to visit his home. His parents were incredibly welcoming, and this time – speaking a bit of Chinese – I felt much better, as I could say at least a few sentences and make a little talk with them. We have been sitting outside on the balcony, on the roof, drinking a freshly brewed tea talking about Life. Stephen’s family had a little reunion during that weekend and since mom and dad have each three siblings, the house was full. I was getting to know them, one by one, including grand mom from Stephen’s mom side. She was very nice, smiling and I could feel her peace, but the true hurricane came after about five minutes. A short, hunched, very cute old babushka, mother from dad-side, grandmother Nai-Nai. She jumped out of the hall and almost was roller-skating towards me repeating the sentence, from which – since she spoke the local dialect of cantonese – I understood only two words – Teacher, Teacher, Teacher, thank you, thank you, thank you… And she was still laughing, smiling and so cheerfully repeating her sentence looking at me with her beautiful eyes, which were decorating her old wrinkled face. When Stephen told her that we should take a picture together, she objected it saying: “Oh my God, I only wear my home clothes ☺” But at the end she has agreed, and a beautiful picture captured this precious moment…

After the family have left for a dinner, for which they invited me repeatedly maybe ten times, we have walked with Stephen towards the subway station and went for dinner together. I have been so excited and thrilled to spend such a beautiful day. At the dinner we continued discussing things we encountered in the past few years, comparing our views, experiences, perspectives, seeing how both of us have progressed and grown. At the end Stephen looked at me and wearing a thankful, humble smile he said: “You know, in my Life only two teachers influenced me deeply. One Canadian professor and you…”

After the dinner, we have slowly walked to the subway station. We looked at each other, and from his eyes I felt his joy and satisfaction. I also felt so blessed for a chance to experience this extremely beautiful and fulfilling day. We hugged each other. Stephan has quietly said: “See you again my good friend.” And I added: “Without a doubt, Stephan. Sometimes, somewhere in this beautiful World.” 

When I have got back home after two hours long journey, Stephen has sent me the pictures and added beautiful words: “Richard, I appreciate tremendously that you have come to visit my family so far away. This is the day I will remember for the rest of my Life!”

Far or close, the distance is relative. Even if it was at the end of the world, because of this kind of days I would not hesitate to go; not a minute. Because days like these are the essence of our Lives. I have been incredibly thankful, that we have met and that I could feel welcomed and felt at home. I will also remember this day till the end of my time on Earth, together with the energy, which I felt when Stephan’s grand-mom was moving quickly as an avalanche towards me repeating over and over – Laoshi, Laoshi, Laoshi, while happily laughing cha cha cha… It was as her pure Love of her heart was talking to us and to me ♥ Even when I was writing these lines, I could still feel that energy. 

When I have contemplated that night upon the words of my new students after they have had a chance to hear the whole story hidden behind my Soul, I felt my intuition from earlier Life is correct – how extremely hungry we Humans are; hungry after knowing, knowledge, after touching the purpose, after experiencing the fulfillment… Every human being does desire that, and when someone openly shows and shares that, he attracts people, who also want to taste Life in its colors and beauty.

Does that mean we don’t do mistakes? No. Of course not. We do them and some of them are very painful… But they give us a chance to grow and to understand the relations, connections and to learn, so that next time we can make better decisions, based on the previously lived experience. That forms us and moves us forward.

Does that mean, that once when we reach these feelings of happiness, joy, fulfillment or purpose, they will always stay with us? That we never fall again? Certainly not. They evaporate very quickly; but those feelings leave us with an incredibly beautiful memory. Memory that will always be deeply delightful or delightfully deep and we will be able to recall those feelings so vividly like lucid dreams; feelings of fulfillment, meaning and joy. Faith in opportunities, thankfulness and our rebounded longing after this experience and its depth will always provide enough energy on journey to regained and deepened touch of our purpose, meaning of our Life, carefully saved in the very centre of our Soul.

Lastly – does that mean, that we always need logical reasons for everything? No. That is the biggest lesson for my analytical and logical mind. It is like with me and learning mandarin in Taiwan or my second adventure in Southern China… I do not know exact reasons, why I do what I do right here and right now. Why do I study a language, when I could live here comfortably ten or even twenty years without saying a word? Maybe because I do believe that this is the exact difference between living and surviving – missing out on the depth of existence or knowing. Why am I at the same place, where I have already been? I do not know, I do not have any rational explanations, only the hope, that my Soul can deeply benefit from it, and in the meantime someone else can benefit from my Soul, or ideally, they can mutually enrich each other.

Sometimes we do not need logical, rational reasons; it is enough when we do follow our Heart. As we follow our Heart, we are doing things from the most beautiful and the simplest reason, which does not require any other explanations: because it makes us happy…

(RB, 25. 8. 2018; Foshan, Guangdong, China)