Malignant unrestrained power | Lee Yee
The Hong Kong police issued a statement the night before yesterday quoting the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department’s response to the arrest of the 12 Hongkongers. The short communication was full of loopholes. If these 12 people are still under investigation, how can the authorities be sure that they will be approved by the procuratorate for arrest later? One of the 12 people was the skipper, is he a member of the smuggling organization? If he is indeed part of a smuggling group, why was he escaping to Taiwan? Why was there no mention of the arrest of the skipper? What happened to the speedboat? Did the 12 people buy the boat hence it was confiscated?
It has been more than a month and they still could not spin a better story. The power has become so domineering to the point where they say what they want without regard for whether it is believable or not anymore.
Chinese state media reported that, at the recent Third Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work held in Beijing, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to “uphold efforts to sinicize religion, sinicize Islam and forge the collective consciousness of a common Chinese identity.” Following Xi’s “sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism,” this is another one of his latest sinicization campaigns with requirements explicitly put forward.
Both Tibetan Buddhism and Xinjiang Islam are religions based on beliefs in God or divine inspirations, while in other parts of China, most religious believers just pray to gods and buddhas for blessings. Very few people truly believe in gods, reincarnation, or life after death. If “One China” means China under the dictatorship of the atheist Communist Party, then the “sinicization of religion” denotes a false and bogus religion. A leader who can come up with the idea of sinicization of religion under atheism is enough to show that there is nothing believable about this regime, including the woven tale for the 12 arrested Hongkongers.
In the era of ancient China’s absolute monarchy, although there was no real religious belief, ancient Chinese emperors at least paid respect to ancestors and held ceremonies to worship heaven. Dictatorship began from as early as the Qin dynasty to the Han Dynasty during which Dong Zhongshu proposed the rule to respect the emperor. However, he also proposed to restrict the emperor and respect heaven; the emperor would be called the son of heaven, meaning the heavenly father was watching over. The occurrence of a catastrophic natural disaster would be the wrath of heaven; the emperor would often issue a rescript for penitence, and reflect and review to improve governance.
The atheistic CCP not only does not believe in gods but also disbelieves in heaven. Mao Zedong claimed to be a “monk holding an umbrella,” meaning that he was above the law and above heaven. He also said, “Battling with heaven is endless joy.” Therefore, under the guidance of the idea of “Humans will triumph over the sky,” the Great Leap Forward brought about a situation of “endless suffering” for the Chinese people.
However, the CCP regime before Mao the second at least would not, on the one hand, claim to believe in Marxism-Leninism, and on the other hand, bludgeon itself with such absurd theories as the “sinicization of religion.” Perhaps Mao 2.0 now possesses absolute power such that no one dares to tell the truth, resulting in comments of all illogical nonsense.
Recently, the Chinese education department was so preposterous that it blatantly falsified the Bible. The story of Jesus and the Adulteress from the New Testament was cited in textbooks but the ending of the story was distorted. In the original passage of the Bible, Jesus said to the adulteress, “I, too, do not condemn you; Go and sin no more!” The Chinese textbook, however, presents the story as: “When the crowd disappeared, Jesus stoned the sinner to death saying, ‘I too am a sinner. But if the law could only be executed by men without blemish, the law would be dead.’” Forcing words to justify the Chinese leaders into the mouth of Jesus.
Of course, anyone who enforces the law in any society will not be a flawless person, but in a normal society, at least the law enforcers know that they are either guilty, or that regardless of religion or even non-religion, they believe that “there is a deity watching over them.” In addition to believing that “a deity is watching,” law enforcers are also restrictive in their power by the separation of powers with mutual checks and balances, as well as the supervision of the Fourth Estate. Nearly 300 years ago, the French Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu said, “Every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go. Power is naturally expansive and has a tendency to turn malignant. As long as there are insufficient restraint and supervision, any power will give rise to corruption. To prevent this abuse, it is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.”
The power we face and its extension in Hong Kong may be the most extreme power in human history. It has no restraints nor any checks and balances, and without the constraints of “heaven” from the dark ages of ancient China and the Western Middle Ages. Its “expansion and malignancy” can exceed all human imagination. Therefore, normal people can only completely and absolutely distrust this absolute power.
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【玳瑚師父佛學論】 《相聚與分離皆是緣》
Gatherings & Farewells Are Just Affinity At Play (English)
有首歌的歌詞,相當有意思,特恭錄之以勉勵大家,早日看清這「緣」字,打開心門讓陽光照進來,雨過天晴,清清朗朗。歌中唱到:別管以後將如何結束,至少我們曾經相聚過。吾認為這兩句歌詞,實足以撫平親朋戚友的「離去」,以及夫妻與情侶,緣盡分離的內心創傷。利益眾生的方法,就是佛法。這首歌的作詞人,在不知不覺中,也就行了「菩提」。大家不妨仿效之,創作一首解壓的歌曲,比如,當我們同在一起,真快樂無比.......
生離死別,是世間的眾苦之一。吾,玳瑚師父,早已「領教」過這一苦。那是不是從今以後,吾再也不會經歷這種苦呢?答案是,不是的。我們祇要一天還有世緣,依然還是會碰到這種苦。就拿吾來說吧!時至今日,吾也還不是得飽受徒弟與學生的叛離。這其實也是一種「生離死別」啊!走過某間咖啡屋,走過某間餐館,走過某個地方,似乎有隻形影不離的榔頭,欲悄悄地敲痛吾的心,痛苦一般可見。但還好,吾是一位實修的行者,除去七情六欲,是吾一生的功課。傷過、痛過、哭過,更能引領廣大眾生,邁進康莊大道。
妳你與三兩好友,正想合資做生意,什麼時候開業,什麼時候結業,在妳你們的八字裡,已有「伏藏」的密碼。當中當然不祇這些八字裡的「伏藏」,亦含蓋身體的健康指數,富貴與貧賤,丁貴與否,夫妻有否百夜恩,等等。那為何一個人的八字能夠「顯示」這麼多的資訊呢?有句成語說得極是,那就是:若要人不知,除非己莫為。我們所做的一切,就是一因子,因緣俱足下,就成了果。
在真正學佛人的眼裡,來討債的也好,來報恩的也好,善緣也好,逆緣也罷!隨她他來,隨她他去,這樣心才能普空寂,一切的因因果果,亦才能停止。心即是明鏡台,此時就如《金剛經》裡的無我相、無人相、無眾生相、無壽者相,一切明明白白,正如大日照破無明。但,現今的妳你,必需要有相聚與分離皆是緣的基礎心念。
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There is a verse in a song which I find particularly meaningful, and I would like to share it with everyone as a form of encouragement. I hope you will finally see clearly the true meaning of affinity and open up your heart to let in the rays of the sun, forming a clarity as clear and bright as the after-rain. In the song, one verse reads, "It does not matter how it might end in the future, at least we were together once." In my opinion, this verse is fully capable of soothing any grief and hurt from the departure of a family member or friend, as well as the emotional pain and sorrow from the breakup of a marriage or relationship. The Dharma is present in all things beneficial for the sentient beings. The lyricist of this song has inadvertently performed a deed of compassion. Everyone can learn from him, and compose similar songs that relieve sufferings. For example, "When we get together, how merry we all are..."
Separation between loved ones in life or death is one of the sufferings for all sentient beings. Master Dai Hu has long experienced this suffering. Does it mean that from now on, I am not going to live through this suffering again? The answer is NO. As long as we are still connected by affinity to this world, we are bound to encounter this suffering. Take myself for example, I had to live through the agony of the betrayal of disciples and students. This is also a kind of separation suffering! Walking past a certain coffee house, a certain restaurant, a certain place, there seemed to be an invisible hammer hitting my heart silently and painfully. Fortunately, I am a true practitioner, with a lifetime mission to rid myself of the seven emotions and six desires. After the hurt, pain and tears, I am more equipped to lead all sentient beings and forge ahead, onto the glorious Path.
When you and a couple of friends strike upon a new business idea, the key to the crucial questions of when to start the business, when to exit, etc, are already hidden in the birth charts of your partners and yourself. Of course, there are more hidden information in a birth chart: indicators concerning your health, wealth, descendants, marriage, etc. Why is it possible that a birth chart can reveal so much about oneself? I would like to share a well-said Chinese saying, "The best way to hide a misdeed is not to commit it." Our every action is like a planting a seed which, under adequate conditions, shall ripen into the fruit.
In the eyes of a true Buddhist practitioner, it makes no difference if a karmic debtor or a karmic benefactor appears, be it a kindred affinity or a difficult one, let it all rest! They can come and go as they like. Only in this state of mind can the mind be unbound and unattached. Only this enlightened state can put an end to the unrelenting causes and effects. When enlightened, your heart is like a mirror, as put forth in the Diamond Sutra, that do not abide in the notion of self, person, sentient being and life span. Everything becomes crystal clear, like the rays of the Sun that have fully penetrated the darkness of ignorance. But at this moment in time, you must have this basic foundation to realise that all gatherings and farewells are just but affinity.
In the eyes of a true Buddhist practitioner, it makes no difference if a karmic debtor or a karmic benefactor appears. Be it a kindred affinity or a difficult one, let it all rest! They shall come and go as they like. Only in this state of mind can the mind be unbound and unattached. Only this enlightened state can put an end to the unrelenting causes and effects. When enlightened, your heart is like a mirror, as put forth in the Diamond Sutra, that does not abide in the notion of self, person, sentient being and life span. Everything becomes crystal clear, like the rays of the Sun that have fully penetrated the darkness of ignorance. But at this moment in time, you must have this basic understanding that all gatherings and farewells are just affinity at play.
www.masterdaihu.com/gatherings-farewells-are-just-affinity-at-play/
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【為什麼「別擔心錢了,去旅行吧」是個蠢到不行的建議
Why “Don’t Worry About Money, Just Travel” Is the Worst Advice of All Time】
(Sources: Rob@flickr, girllostinthecity.com)
(Time.com, Jul. 1, 2015) —by Chelsea Fagan
I have an internet acquaintance that I’ve been following on social media for a little over two years now, an all-around nice, smart girl who blogs and does odd jobs and has recently decided to go back get a Master’s. In Europe. For a degree that, by all reasonable accounts, is probably not going to lead to a great job. And she knows this, I think, because she talks about it as “an opportunity to learn and expand her mind,” more than any sort of preparation for a future career. Which is fine, but the truth of the matter is that she is able to enjoy such freedom — to be a wanderer of sorts who enjoys travel, study for the sake of study, and long conversations over good dinners — because she comes from a good bit of wealth and, if not subsidized entirely, never has to worry about her safety net. She won that particular bit of genetic lottery, and it’s useless to begrudge her the freedom that fate bestowed on her.
我有個網路上認識兩年多的女性友人,是個在社群網站上人緣頗佳且聰明的女孩,只做些打工、寫寫部落格過日子,最近又決定回去修個碩士學位。那是個位於歐洲,且是個無論怎麼合理的解釋也肯定對未來找到好工作一事永遠派不上用場的學位。而且我想這位女網友也知之甚詳,因為她描述起這學位時,只提到說「想有個機會擴展心靈」,而非是要用來準備將來就業所需。乍看之下這女孩的一切令人稱羨,但上述中她之所以能夠享有這樣的自由,像是漫無目的的出國旅行、為了念書而念書、花費很多的時間討論美味晚餐…,這些全因她來自有錢的家庭。這女孩就像是中了基因的樂透一樣,她的自由自在是投對胎所致的,所以一般人對其毋需羨慕也毋需妒恨。
But it is useful — important, even — to begrudge her the attitude that comes with it, one that is all too prevalent amongst young people who do not have to worry about the foundations of their future financial security: This idea that you must travel, as some sort of moral imperative, without worrying about something as trivial as “money.” The girl in question posts superficially inspiring quotes on her lush photos, about dropping everything and running away, or quitting that job you hate to start a new life somewhere new, or soaking up the beauty of the world while you are young and untethered enough to do so. It’s aspirational porn, which serves the dual purpose of tantalizing the viewer with a life they cannot have, while making them feel like some sort of failure for not being able to have it.
但真正有用甚至可說必須的是,去妒羨像這個女孩背後代表的這種生活態度。在美國就有一大群奉行這樣教條式信念卻又衣食無憂的年輕人,他們認為:趁年輕就要出國旅行、不必擔心金錢這種小事。這女孩在自己飲食作樂的照片上面,寫滿了膚淺的勵志小語貼文,像是:「拋下所有束縛,逃脫一切吧!」;「辭去妳討厭的工作,去另一個新天地展開新的人生吧!」;「趁著妳依舊年輕且無拘無束的時候,就該沉浸在世界的美麗之中」。這種意識型態活脫就是「夢想生活的情慾賁張」,且在其背後隱藏著雙重意涵,一是要去誘惑、折磨那些過不起這種生活的人們,而其二就是要讓他們自責受挫,認為自己為何不能像那些人一樣「想走就走」。
It’s a way for the upper classes to pat themselves on the back for being able to do something that, quite literally, anyone with money can buy. Traveling for the sake of travel is not an achievement, nor is it guaranteed to make anyone a more cultured, nuanced person. (Some of the most dreadful, entitled tourists are the same people who can afford to visit three new countries each year.) But someone who has had the extreme privilege (yes, privilege) of getting out there and traveling extensively while young is not any better, wiser, or more worthy than the person who has stayed home to work multiple jobs to get the hope of one day landing a job that the traveler will assume is a given. It is entirely a game of money and access, and acting as though “worrying about money” on the part of the person with less is some sort of trivial hangup only adds profound insult to injury.
「為了旅行而旅行」只不過就是上層階級彼此自我標榜的行為,不過他們卻沒有意識到這只不過是另一項「只要有錢就能做到」的事情。出國旅行本身稱不上是成就,也不保證會讓你變成更有文化、更與眾不同的人(有些最駭人、最有聲名的遊客也就是那種每年都有辦法去三個新國家觀光的族群);同樣的,趁年輕出國旅行並不表示你更有智慧、更成功、更高人一等,那只代表你有錢有優勢、有資源這樣做而已。那些非常努力、身兼數職才能得到那些經常出國旅行的人覺得理所當然屬於他們的工作的那些人,就真的較低下嗎?出國旅行完全就只是個金錢跟門路的遊戲,卻有人把實質上深深困擾多數人的經濟問題,講成「瑣碎不重要的小事」,這只會加深社會的貧富傷口。
I was able to travel, and even though I paid for my life abroad with my own work, it was still a result of a healthy amount of privilege. I was from a middle-class family who I did not need to support or help financially, I knew that I could always slink back to their couch if things didn’t work out, and I had managed to accrue a bit of savings while living at home for the few months before I left. There are millions of people who have none of these things, and even if they wanted to pay for travel on their own, would simply not be able to because of the responsibility or poverty they lived with. For even my modest ability to see the world, I am eternally grateful.
我曾經出國旅行,但即使我是自食其力的工作賺旅費出遊,我知道這一切終究還是一種特權,這都是因為我來自一個中產階級的家庭。我不需要在金錢上去資助或協助家裡,就算狀況再怎麼壞,我至少都有爸媽家的沙發可以回去依靠,況且我外出旅遊前我也能藉由住在家裡擠個月來利用利息累積身上的存款。可是這世界上有成千上萬的人沒有我所具備的上述條件,而且即便是他們想要自費出國「見見世面」,也會因為他們與生俱來的責任感或窮困而裹足不前。因此對於能夠出去見識這個世界的小小能力,我一直心懷感激。
And what’s more, I understand (perhaps even better after having traveled a good amount) that nothing about your ability or inability to travel means anything about you as a person. Some people are simply saddled with more responsibilities and commitments, and less disposable income, whether from birth or not. And someone needing to stay at a job they may not love because they have a family to take care of, or college to pay for, or basic financial independence to achieve, does not mean that they don’t have the same desire to learn and grow as someone who travels. They simply do not have the same options, and are learning and growing in their own way, in the context of the life they have. They are learning what it means to work hard, to delay gratification, and to better yourself in slow, small ways. This may not be a backpacking trip around Eastern Europe, but it would be hard to argue that it builds any less character.
更甚者,我了解到(也許是在經歷了好一些旅行之後變得更加了解),一個人有沒有出國旅行的經驗,根本就跟你是什麼樣的人沒有關連。不論是否天生如此,有些人就是肩負著更多的責任和承諾,以及較少能自由分配的收入。而且也是有人因為要養家活口、或是還學貸、還是要盡早達到經濟獨立,所以選擇留在自己可能不喜愛的工作崗位上,不去旅行。這並不表示他們想要學習跟成長的渴望輸給那些常旅行的人。這只不過是他們沒有相同的選擇,而改用他們所擁有的生命型態自我學習與成長而已。他們學習的課題是努力工作的意義,學習先苦後甘,慢慢地,以細微的方式讓自己變更好。這聽起來固然不像東歐背包行一樣酷炫,但是無法否認這樣做也能形塑同等的人格特質。
Encouraging that person to “not worry about money,” or to “drop everything and follow their dreams,” demonstrates only a profound misunderstanding about what “worrying” actually means. What the condescending traveler means by “not worrying” is “not making it a priority, or giving it too much weight in your life,” because on some level they imagine you are choosing an extra dollar over an all-important Experience. But the “worrying” that is actually going on is the knowledge that you have no choice but to make money your priority, because if you don’t earn it — or decide to spend thousands of it on a trip to Southeast Asia to find yourself — you could easily be out on the streets. Implying that this is in any way a one-or-the-other choice for millions of Americans is as naive as it is degrading.
在鼓勵別人「別擔心錢」或是「拋開一切,來去追夢」的行為背後,表現出來的是一種對於為了金錢「擔心」的深刻誤解。那種居高臨下的旅遊鼓吹者說出「別擔心」的同時,意味著「別把錢排在第一位,或是在生活中別把錢看得太重」,因為在他們某種程度的想像裡,你是因為想多省一些錢而放棄了重要的人生體驗。但是對於「真正在擔心錢」的人來說,這其實代表著他們別無選擇而必須把錢擺在第一位,因為要是他們真的狠下心灑錢來去東南亞進行一趟尋找自我之旅,接下來就很有機會流落街頭。把這種真正的「擔心」拿來當成一種這樣也好那樣也好的個人價值觀選擇,不僅是想法太過天真而且還相當地侮辱人。
Everyone needs to forge their own path to financial independence and freedom. And perhaps you are lucky enough that your path involves a lot of wandering around, taking your time, and trying a bunch of new things — because you know that security will be waiting for you at the end of the rainbow. That’s fine, and there is no need to feel guilt or shame over your privilege, if only because it’s unproductive and helps no one. But to encourage people to follow your very rare path, because you feel it is the only way to spiritual enlightenment or meaning, makes you an asshole. It makes you the person who posts vapid “inspirational” quotes that only apply to a tiny percent of the population who already has all the basics covered. And God forbid anyone who needs the money actually does follow that terrible advice, they won’t be like you, traipsing around South America and trying degrees for fun. They will, after their travels are over, be much worse off than when they started. And no souvenir keychain is going to make that reality sting any less.
每個人都需要打造自己通往經濟獨立與自由的前程。也許有些幸運的人們是可以在自己的路途上繞來繞去,好整以暇,還是嘗試些新玩意兒,因為他們知道在彩虹盡頭處也是一片康莊祥和的安全道路在等待著。反正沒有關係,擁有優勢不必感到有罪惡感或深以為恥,就算是這種優勢被利用成並無生產力也沒有對他人產生助益。但是鼓勵別人也走上他們這條稀罕至極的道路,只因為他們認為這是唯一可以通往精神啟蒙、發現人生意義的路,那就真的混帳加三級了。這種心態讓他們淪落成那種發表乏味枯燥勵志小語的人,只能跟一群本來就已經夠有錢的人相互取暖。再說上帝有知也會禁止那些真正需要擔心錢的人聽從這些糟糕的建議,他們可不比有錢的傢伙們,能去漫步遊蕩全南美洲找著各式各樣的樂子。他們在旅程的最後會發現,從另一個地方回來之後,一切變得比出發時還更糟。道時再多的紀念鑰匙圈都拯救不了現實椎心的殘酷。
高雄人 學習英文 請找 多益達人 林立英文
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