厚德載物 Carry On With Decency
積德累仁
Virtues Accumulated
「這裡不會有任何人相信必須樂善好施，妳的外國朋友觀察很中肯，台灣人喜歡幫助的人有特定對象。而且，愈有錢的人愈小氣……我所認識的很多人，即便官位再高、成就再多，也一毛不拔。」在業界服務、一同商議與我的國際義務服務工作密切相關事宜的主管級人物，如此跟我說著。
“Over here, there’s no one who really enjoys giving and sharing. Your foreign friend’s observation is quite accurate. People from Taiwan help specific persons only. The richer people are, the stingier they become. I have known so many people whose levels of social status are quite high; however, when it comes to issues of helping the others, they are inactive.” A person working at the corporate world discussing with me about some service-related issues told me.
因為目光如豆，不知天高地厚，從而不了解救困扶危可以帶給自己滿滿的福氣，是其話語間其中一個重點。
One major aspect of our dialogue is how limited individuals’ worldviews can be when assisting the needed is out of their daily routines.
我們坐在其窗明几淨的辦公室中，此人於我對面言談間振振有辭：
「常常有我的同事因為一點雞毛蒜皮之事就抱怨連連，罵這個罵那個，或者去買個東西就遇到自己覺得有問題的店員，馬上客訴……我常想，有必要這樣嗎?」
As we were sitting inside the neat office, this person talked with tones of righteousness.
“Often, I see my colleagues complain about things due to some tiny issues. They whine about every single matter. When they shop in a convenience and when there is something wrong, they file complaints to the customers’ service hotline. Truly, I usually wonder whether all these are necessary at all.”
我望著這位前輩，內心裡所看到的畫面是其一家老小福氣滿盈之狀，一雙兒女完全不需父母操心，一位長於透過外語能力進行理財規畫，一位則長於努力學習而助人助己……相較於因教學之故而必須接觸的各種層面人士，在他們府上找不到父母為子女的擔憂之氣，一團和睦如若祥雲瑞氣般朝他們的方向前行似的。我這樣的思緒，被面對面的發話者拉回到我們足足超過三個小時以上的晤談場景之中：
「我會告誡孩子，濟世救人需要的是自己本身能力雄厚，沒有必要像其他學生那樣一天到晚吃喝玩樂、浪費時間，趁學生時期除了讀書充實自我，也可以多多參與服務性質的社團累積能力，也為未來舖路。」
When I look at this person who is more senior, I see how the kids of this family have led their respective life with pleasure, knowledge, and wisdom: no one needs to push them for anything learning processes. In their adulthood, one of the kids is an expert in managing finance while another dedicated to learning more. The family emits such pleasant, harmonious atmosphere. As I sank into my own thoughts, this person’s words became “vivid” once more during our more-than-three-hours dialogue.
“I would warn my kids that when one wants to assist the others, one has to be quite capable: humanitarian valor comes from within and enough resources. Consequently, in your colleague life, try not to be like the others who fool around, play, eat, have fun and waste time all the way through. Go serve the others in some voluntary groups/clubs while equipping yourself with enough knowledge so that your future can be paved brighter.”
「可是，在物慾橫流的企業界裡面，您為何如此獨樹一格願意開發自己的慈悲之心、又特別大方呢? 應該有家學淵源?」我如此詢問著。
“In the business world where dogs eat dogs and everyone values profit, why do you have the intention to keep developing your kindness? Is your sense of generosity a production of your family education?” I inquired.
前輩點點頭，開始訴說起成長過程中，如何眼見母親予孤苦貧病者，施以援手，歷歷在目之景。
This elderly person from the corporate world began to describe stories of how her own Mom would be assisting the needed when necessary.
這些談話發生在此名極具藝術欣賞眼光的業界前輩，稱讚了我所攜帶的手工鉤織圍巾樣品「每件都很獨特、好看極了」之後。這樣的稱許當然更加增加了我在A、B兩個附件中所提之事的好奇之心。
All the above-mentioned conversation took place after this person with distinguished tastes of artworks praised the scarves brought by me to be “uniquely and exquisitely made.”
Those praises, of course, have added my sense of curiosity listed in Attachments A & B.
德不孤，必有鄰
Those With Virtues Find Themselves Surrounded by Similar Souls
在另一處與另一位業界高人，總是相談甚歡的過程裡面，其人有如下的表示：
At another place, another time, I talked to another outstanding person from the corporate world, as we have often done.
「我跟那位經理說，妳孩子問題不輕，已經三十開外還沒有方向、沒有目標，要給這樣的人一點目標才好!!! 我想在明(2026)年農曆年左右和Hope老師去一趟中南半島，還想帶我孫子去，建議你們一起去開開眼界，給孩子一個不同的視野嘛! 說不定透過這個行程，可以發現什麼志趣，像是精進外語之類……」
“I told that manager ‘Your child is with some serious issues. More than 30 years old but without an aim, this person needs to be given some purposes in life! I will join Hope for a journey to a place where she serves in Southeast Asia, and I’d like to bring my grandson alone. I suggest you come along to offer yourself some different worldview! Through such a journey, perhaps your kid will discover some interests like advancing a foreign language and so on.”
於是我們也話鋒一轉，討論一些旅程相關事宜的細節。話鋒轉向之前，為人處事大大方方的前輩談及量子、能量等等；我們也談其家中孫子輩份孩子們的教育相關事宜。
At such a moment, topic of conversation shifted to details of such journeys, and prior to that, this person and I were discussing about QUANTUM, ENERGY, and so on, as well as issues in relation to the education of this person’s grandchildren.
「這個世界是有能量、有磁場的，做好事的人就有正氣，惡質的事情和人物就無法真正和這樣的人做接觸，而且總有無形的力量幫助著我們。妳和我一樣，都會做一些旁人覺得奇怪的事情，可是心地善良，就會吸引到幫助我們的能量……」
“Energies are all around. You are just like me, quite kind hearted. When we do good things, bad things or people cannot really get close to us. More than that, some invisible energies are helping us which are attracted by us.”
我想著這位前輩的積善之家慶有餘，像是孫子雖然僅僅是個小學生，性情卻特別穩重，願意禮讓及尊重他人的行止，在我與他們接觸的過程中，令人印象深刻，此節，自然也有家學淵源，「有其祖輩便有其孫輩」是也：
I thought about how those who have done good will make their future generations more at ease. Take this person’s grandson for example. Although he’s merely an elementary school student, he has demonstrated such calmness and patience that make the others feel much respected. Such an unforgettable trait stems from his grandparent, the person whom I was talking to.
「我唸中學的時候有一次坐公車，當時我坐在司機後面第二個位子，突然司機轉頭跟我前面的小男生說：小朋友，你到後面去坐! 有個老伯伯要上車，等一下他會要坐這個位子哦!
這個小男生也很聽話，馬上就起來走到後面找位子。那時我在看書，老伯伯上車以後就只有跟我說話，我感覺全車的人都在看我們……我也很有禮貌地回應。老伯伯還叮嚀我以後談戀愛要注意的事情，我就乖乖的點頭。」
前輩說及這段往事，眉飛色舞，中間還有笑料之處。
With much sense of humor, this person described to me about one thing taking place during the time when this person’s a high school student.
“An aged person who’s suffering from mental disorder was taking the same bus I took. After he got onto the bus, I became the only person interacting with him, leading him to be peaceful. I felt the entire crowd on the bus were looking at me when I politely interacted with this old man whom I heard to be incapable to cope with the loss of his father who used to be a general.”
我問：「您有發現他不大正常，但還是裝做沒事，繼續與此人互動，對吧?!」
“You found him to be mentally challenged but carried on to treat him like you’d have treated any other old people, with much respect. Correct?”
「是啊! 我聽人說他是將軍之後，父子感情很好，父親過世後他受不了這樣的打擊，就慢慢地發瘋了……」
“Yes! The story was after his father died, he could not cope with it since they used to be so close…”
我們從日正當中談至漫漫長夜後，回到住處，前輩所言仍然餘音繚繞—
如其人不喜平和處事為人，又怎能在公共場合予以他人尊重?
如其人不喜尊重他人，今日在業界，又如何獲得他人敬重?
From broad daylight to the evening hours we talked. After I got home, I was still thinking about things we’re chatting about. If this person has never enjoyed treating the others as equal, paying the others much respect, how is it possible that this person would win the others’ trust as well as respect, esp. in the very competitive business world?
又在深夜反省之時，思及一事：
In the middle of the night, I was also considering the following issue.
所謂瘋者乃將軍之子的故事，由誰而傳出呢?
Who spread the story of this old man being the descendant of a general?
如何知道是真是假呢?
How possibly do we know whether the story of this old man is true or not?
是否有些善心人士在背後把一位瘋者加以美化，於是眾人對於瘋者將寄予更大的包容之心呢?
Were there any kind ones making the story of this old man more agreeable to trigger the others’ empathy?
校園記實
又在學校被要求進行某項任務、使用廣播儀器對全校放送。經過一位不熟悉的教師身邊時，常常互打招呼的我們又再次默默點頭問安；這位教師卻突然間開口了：
「請問剛剛是您廣播的嗎?」
Once more, I executed another task inside the campus where I utilized the microphone to announce things. Later, I passed through one teacher whom I had never spoken to; as usual, we nodded. All of sudden, she asked,
“Were you the one just announcing now?”
「是啊~~~」我回應著。
I replied. “Yes. That’s me!”
這位老師接下去所說的話，讓我實在又不得不再次折服於自己那源源不絕的好運：
「我在這裡教書二、三十年，從來沒有聽過這麼出色的廣播，我真的好欣賞妳的用字遣詞，令人佩服!」
Next, this very teacher explained something which made me believe I truly have countless blessings.
“I’ve been teaching here for decades. I’ve never heard anyone announcing so beautifully like you. I truly admire the ways you pick words to use and the sound of your voice.”
這樣的話語讓我想起另一位老師曾經這麼對我說：
「怎麼有人可以透過麥克風把英語和國語講得那麼流利! 請問我們要花多少時間才可以練到那個等級啊?!」
These words remind me of some words mentioned to me by another teacher.
“How is it possible that someone one, through the microphone, can be speaking Mandarin Chinese and English with such fluency. May I know how long it will take for us to reach your standard?”
是的，我感到自己無比幸運。
Indeed, I feel extremely blessed and fortunate.
, the noble prize winner said “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”
諾貝爾獎得主史懷哲曾說：「博施濟眾，積善成德，一如煦煦陽日迎向世界大同。」
我時常覺得自己之所以在別人眼中，多多少少有點與眾不同，完全就是為了開發自己的良善，所以算一算，選擇回到中、小學服務一段時間，已經是我的生命裡面不知第幾個旁人口中「大材小用」的歷程，可是我竟愈來愈感到甘之如飴、別致有趣，而這種「有趣」可能具有其獨一無二的感染力，這或許是另一位退休教師所言：
「看學生跟妳打招呼，就知道妳有多受他們的愛戴；這可不是每個老師都能享有的殊榮哦!!!」
Usually, I sense that the reason I am a bit more unique in the others’ opinions would be that I would like to keep digging my strengths of kindness. In the process, to choose to return teaching at high schools and/or elementary schools would be labeled as one of my “too good for the tasks” moments commented by the others; nevertheless, I have found tremendous amount of pleasure working at positions which may belittle my capabilities in others’ opinions. It is so pleasurable that another retired teacher used to explain to me,
“When one notices the ways students greet you, one can state you’re a teacher with much popularity which not every teacher can enjoy.”
是的，殊榮、殊榮，這一生我頂下了太多光環，這些光環如果不跟他人分享，自己留著又能做什麼呢?
Of course, I carry so many gifts that I feel I am gifted. Without sharing with the others these gifts, do I hold them until I reach my tomb?
古今中外無以計數的古聖先賢，曾進行過無以計數濟世為懷之事。
Numerous saints throughout the centuries have done many, many things with much kindness.
行善不是一種比較之心，沒有所謂誰做得好、誰做得不好，更不適合拿來炫耀。
Actions of kindness are not for comparisons or contrasts, nor are they suitable for showing off.
當我們的良知理解自己的所見所聞、種種善行義舉時，我們感到自己的發光發熱無可比擬，而頓時之間免不了對自己的生命力，嘖嘖稱奇，並感到奇也怪哉，何以自己有這樣的好運……
When our actions taken trigger our conscience to understand that our lives have become immortal based on the altruistic deeds we have conducted, we would be in much awe and surprised of our good fortune.
在我提出如A附件的問題之時，我就感到自己的好運簡直爆表，但由於A附件的書寫時間緊湊，時間空間繁瑣，多少讓人摸不著頭緒，所以又出現了B附件的解釋版本；不論哪個版本，都有一些長期以來相識的貴人們，適時給我一些回應，讓我能夠整理自己的思緒。
When I wrote Attachment A, I already felt that my blessings’re countless. Due to time constraint, though, Attachment A missed some points, resulting it hard for some to follow. That made me produce Attachment B for some further, more detailed explanation. During such a period of time, one way or another, people would give me some feedback. These opinions are from people whom I have known for years, people whom I have regarded to be invaluable due to out interactions with one another.
From what I have gathered, I realize that according to them, I am scheduled to do more good things for the others, capable of making items with aesthetically artistic touch, devoted to imbue my spirit into the works I’ve made, and created to deliver touching stories.
根據這些貴人們的見解，我會在未來進行更多亮眼的服務計畫、能夠製作出精美的物品、透過這些物品表達我個人的精神和信念、以及透過這些過程呈現動人的故事。
我想，和這些貴人們相處、與我身邊所有的人事物交流、以及古聖先賢們所學習到的厚德載物，將持續承載我對這個世界的美好觀點，持續以正面而光明的角度，繼續我的義務服務道途。
I trust that to exchange ideas with so many wonderful people, different species and things around me, and to learn the virtues from saints in the historical footsteps of humanity, I have gained so many from this world and my much humble existence has expanded its horizon far and beyond. By being the ways I am, I intend to carry on my path serving the others voluntarily with positive and bright attitudes.
我沒有辦法克制那些自始至終覺得我應該「瘋了」或「閒著也是閒著」的人，停止他們的見解或者幻想，但是，我想我還能夠為自己發聲，表述自我的立場，也算是讓這個原本就令人感到美好的故事，再添幾筆五顏六色的多采多姿?!
I cannot control those who have thought that I must be too crazy or too idled to walk onto this path. On the contrary, I am convinced I can generate my own thoughts on the position I hold onto so that my beautiful personal story can be even more colorful.
後記 AFTERWARDS
這篇文章在陰雨綿綿中成就，一如鉤織一個作品那樣綿密的祝福與祝禱，置入其中。
This piece of work is done during the rainy days, similar to the works of my CROCHET etched with many prayers and best wishes for all.
有好幾個人問：「可不可以變成網紅，讓作品大賣，因為真的蠻美的。」
Several asked "Can you become a you-tuber or something like that to promote these pretty products?" They feel the CROCHET works of mine are elegantly charming.
我說：「沒有成名的欲望，所以不用花心力去做那樣的事情。」
My reply was "I don't have the intention to be well-known; as a result, I don't plan wasting my energy on such things."
重點是將技藝傳輸予他人，使他人的生命力發光發熱，一如我的教學使命與服務使命的環環相扣。
The main point is to let more know how to make such things so that in return, their lives can shine, identical to my missions in teaching and voluntarily serving the others who are materially or psychological devoid.
During all these discussions, I have felt that the reason for people to deem me as being efficient is my attitude towards serving the needed is like some sort of mission boosting me to find ways and solutions to face the situations, which, as can be imagined, cannot be found in textbooks or counselling sessions with anyone, for rarely would a female journey alone to extremely improverished regions of the world trying to discover methods to handle their poverty after many discussions are made with many of them.
這種過程像極了別人不願嚐試、但我卻願意進行的事情一般，例如捨棄某些物事、例如拋下某種可能、例如甘願做一些別人不願意嚐試的事物等等，並不像人們認為「是很快樂才去做」，而是，從運行的過程中看到最困難的焦點、加以面對與解決，從而引發對生活、生命渠道彎彎神秘處處的豐盈滋味，感到深沉滿足，一如一針一線將物品鉤出來的過程裡面，祈願著天下太平，於是，作品的味道就被這樣的我，賦予了不一樣的生命。
Such processes are not what people consider to be "Oh, you are very happy so you do these things."
Rather, going through those things which most of the people do not want to face, I have discovered the essence of satisfactions through finding possible solutions towards those daunting tasks that can reveal the most in-depth, fulfilling tastes life could have offered. It is a bit like sending my prayers to all when I CROCHET those items for world peace and anything as well as everything wonderful: when I think like these, the works are born with their own lives, weaving melodies of their own under my creativity.
Attachment A附件
您好：本文中英對照，方便不同語言的使用者閱讀；本文未經發表，收到訊息之愛心滿滿人士均知悉Hope頗有時日，惠請解惑。
Hello, you’ve received this piece of work because you’ve known Hope for quite some time. It is an unpublished work. My intention is to dig more answers in life. Hence, if you can kindly spare some time to solve the riddle sitting in my mind, I’ll be very grateful.
There is something that really triggers my own imaginations lately and I would like to know what you think based on your understanding of me, Hope, as a person, especially when a discussion with businesspersons whom are picky with their artistic touch but praising the works made mentioning below. Believing that this sense of creativity can carry me a long way on my service work, I want to know in your opinion(s), WHY such can happen.
近日一事讓Hope的靈感源源不絕，尤其在審美方面的業界人士接見、談過成品之後對作品本身讚譽有嘉的情況下，我自己變得想探索，究竟這些藝術品從何而來、將往何處而去，是以，請就您與敝人相處的了解度，替敝人就如下事宜解惑，敝人將無限感激。
In this Chinese New Year (of 2025) around Feb. I began to realize someone, a teacher working in a developing nation where I have served to be skillful at CROCHET—she’s especially skillful at making bags. In order to encourage the local other less fortunate people, I invited that teacher to teach those who are disadvantaged. The teacher replied “I am already busy with my public school work. Besides, I have a family with my daughter and husband whom I need to care for. I do not think I have that willingness to teach people such a skill.”
事情是這樣的：
今年在農曆年期間到東南亞不同國度服務行腳時，發現合作的教學工作者中有一位長於鉤針編織，其所製包包精美無比，由於考量到落後地區人民可以增加技藝長項以及收入來源，我表達了希望延請這樣的教師於當地村落間，教導貧困村民此一技藝，但此名教師誠懇表示其家中有其夫及其女需其照料，加上公校事務繁重，無暇進行此一技藝分享之事。
Because of her truthful reply as above-mentioned, I began to consider ways possible to make things happen as I would like. After all, to develop people’s artistic touches in practical way are what I have focused on through the past years during such service journeys, particularly there’re also talented people artistic enough for the sharing of actual items of such artistic handcrafts like bags donated and brought to Kenya and the rest of the world and so on. I am always in the wish that there can be trustworthy individuals teaching some people living in poverty learning the necessary skills helping them make their livelihood better.
其人所言在情在理，卻也激發我希望繼續找尋其他可能的相關事宜的機會，再怎麼說，提升落後地區人士在專業、在技藝上的水平，始終是我在服務道途上的重點事項之一，但即便有充滿藝術氣息及成就的人士甚至捐贈相關器物(如手製提包多款)等，要趨始一個真正能夠營收的項目的產生，都不是那麼簡單。然而，我還是非常希望有志士能人可以協助我在各地的服務對象們，從事相關文創作品的生產。
Meanwhile, also at the moment of Feb., just this year, personally, I started to remember that when I was a junior high school student or so, I, too, learned how to CROCHET. As this thought rooted in my mind, I started to research about such things once I had access of such; moreover, I had the urge to CROCHET myself.
於(一樣今年農曆年於國外服務)當時，我開始回憶起當我還是個中學生時，曾在家政課學過鉤針編織的技法；這個念頭升起之後，當我抵達能夠進行相關研究的區域及取得原物料時，我就開始了這方面的創作。
During the process of making the CROCHET works, I have discovered that though there are countless books teaching different methods making different scarfs which some would like to order, I do not necessarily make the same scarfs as shown on the books, which I find to be too identical, without too many differences. Therefore, I have tried different ways to deliver scarfs with patterns I feel aesthetical enough.
在創作過程中，我發現雖然坊間有各種語文、各種圖樣的鉤針編織書籍，我卻無法真的照本宣科來編織，因為那些書本中所載多半可能呈現某種特定型態，與我個人希望創作出的成品有所有不同，於是，捨棄各種書中的路線但卻也不斷參考種種中、外相關叢書，我開始進行了自己認為具有美感的作品創作。
The more I make, the more people around me comment “You’re making better and better works now.”
作品一個又一個完成的過程中，我身邊的讚嘆之聲也愈來愈多。
Why is it that when I set my mind to do something good for the others, the thing can be happening, esp. at such a speed, that it’s merely March at present, and for around one month or so, I have created works which I have never created before—what is even more amazing is the senses of achievement triggered mostly by praises and the motivations of doing so have elevated me to the next level of realizing those crafts such as hats, bags, etc. I used to enjoy so much in the past, especially when flying as a flight attendant or working as a humanitarian worker serving the others, can now be created by myself with high probabilities.
我所想一探究竟的是為何當我決心要作一件事時，一扇門就為我緩緩開啟，尤其以速度來說，從農曆年到三月不過區區一段短短的時間，我已經創作出過去從來不曾想像過的作品，甚至，這些作品使我充滿信念，和過去尤其身為一位空服人員、或於世界各地義務服務時所見的海內外編織品串連了起來，發現自己也有可能製作出樣貌獨特的帽子、包包等作品的激動，令人不明究理……
Attachment B附件
第壹 已經希望「為」貧窮人口找到一技之長甚久，但此事所費人力、物力等不算，始終非常難以突破的困難之處多項，其中一個就是適當的、有意願到當地的、能夠以語言與村民溝通的指導者；
第貳 過去有其他手工藝品的引介、書籍的饋贈、成品的遺留等給這些人民，但因為那些可能多少是與布料的裁縫相關，我個人比較沒有在那方面浸淫太長時間，工法不足也不能夠稱得上指導他人、使他人出師而達到「販售」所學之物的效益；
第參 上述兩項事宜在摸索上，大約已有相當時間的光景，而我至今仍在探討相關事宜，卻在今年農曆年得知會鉤針編織的女教師無法協助指導當地她的同胞、其貧窮人口此一專項，所以勾起我自己在此方面的「記憶」--這個記憶追溯起來可能源自於國中時期的家政課所學鉤針、又或小學所學，但中間不曾拾起此技
然則，該女性教師的鉤針技法所鉤之物(女用包)，以及其所言無暇指導貧困人口兩項，卻激起我希望找到合適之人、以及特殊工法之感，於是開始研究針織技法；
加上台灣業界正巧有慈悲為懷的前輩，苦苦等候我能夠找到「(過去曾經幫他們從其他國度帶過、但後來因在當地受人騷擾不勝其煩無法再前往)更好的」圍巾產品，一方面他們有重要客戶必須饋贈，再一方面希望同時支持我在這些助人脫貧事項上的努力；
這些使得我開始再度拿起鉤針……
圖像雖然不及真品，但我個人驚奇萬分的是在我的手中，那些特殊的毛線竟然像有生命力一樣，「自己」開始轉動出完完全全和吾所研究書籍中所載的樣式。
極度驚異之餘，繼續研究後發現只要嚐試，也許可以鉤織出帽子、包包、甚至毛衣、筆袋、杯殿等種種；如此一來，在此一項目之上，未來我不必仰賴他人之手便能直接教導這些我所服務地點的貧窮人口，特別在去年度我已經試驗了「手縫」之事後，發現自己的工法雖佳但不易訓練沒有經驗的各地村民，因為穿針引線對一般人來講的難度較高，然而若只有獨樂樂，他們無法獲致生活、生計的改善。
但是，鉤針就不一樣，它並不十分困難，也有自己可以處理的美感物事。
縱上所述，我的問題是：
為何這一連串過程下來，我就找到了某種自己可以操控的技法，不論照本宣科或者(像所有的人看到後驚艷般的)獨具一格，傳授給他人以增益其所不能呢?
何以這個鉤針技藝我只花了從農曆年到上一週，短短幾週時間，就織出七款書上完全找不到、卻讓人讚不絕口的樣式，但從中、小學之後我從來沒有再碰過，直到今年寒假結束呢?
這些種種，對於現在的我、對於未來的我，有著什麼啟示?
我希望探究這些問題的答案
但又認為自己的詮釋總是偏向某種方向
而我想聽聽別人的看法及觀點
所以向所識之人求教
Comments
Post a Comment