[翻轉視界 8]逃離禁錮之地:離開北韓我學會自由與憐憫
“If you don't know the words, that means you don't understand the concept, and therefore, you don't even realize that concept is even a possibility.” —— human rights activist Yeonmi Park。
「如果你不知道某些詞彙,那就意味著你並不了解某些概念,因此你也不會意識到,那些概念可以是一種可能。」——人權鬥士朴延美
對出逃前的她而言,自由與溫飽是很奢侈的理念,更無法了解「愛」的全貌。當我們無法得知世界發生了什麼,無法想像那超越自身認知的世界,我們便無法真正地同理他人。今天我想邀請大家,以不同的角度,重新感受自由、溫飽與愛的可貴。
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I was born in 1993 in the northern part of North Korea, in a town called Hyesan, which is on the border with China. I had loving parents and one older sister. Before I was even 10 years old, my father was sent to a labor camp for engaging in illegal trading. Now, by "illegal trading" -- he was selling clogs, sugar, rice and later copper to feed us. In 2007, my sister and I decided to escape. She was 16 years old, and I was 13 years old.
1. on the border with 鄰近邊界
2. labor camp 勞改營
3. illegal trading 非法的交易
1993年我出生在北韓的北部,一個名叫惠山的小鎮,鄰近中國邊界。我有愛我的父母與一位姐姐。在我10歲大的時候,父親就被送去勞改營,因為他非法買賣一些東西。所謂的非法買賣,其實他是賣一些木鞋、糖、米,之後還賣了銅,只為了餵飽我們。2007年,姐姐和我決定逃跑。她當時16歲,而我13歲。
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I need you to understand what the word "escape" means in the context of North Korea. We were all starving, and hunger means death in North Korea. So it was the only option for us. I didn't even understand the concept of escape, but I could see the lights from China at night, and I wondered if I go where the light is, I might be able to find a bowl of rice. It's not like we had a grand plan or maps. We did not know anything about what was going to happen. Imagine your apartment building caught fire. I mean, what would you do? Would you stay there to be burned, or would you jump off out of the window and see what happens? That's what we did. We jumped out of the house instead of the fire.
4. in the context of 在⋯⋯的情境中
5. concept 概念;觀念;思想
6. a grand plan 一個遠大的計畫
7. catch fire 著火
你們要知道,「逃跑」這兩字在北韓意味著什麼。我們天天挨餓,而飢餓在北韓意味著死亡。所以逃跑是我們唯一的選擇。我當時還不了解逃跑是什麼意思,但晚上我能看見中國那邊的燈光,我想著如果我能到有光的地方,也許就能找到一碗飯。我們沒有什麼遠大的計畫或地圖。我們完全不知道,接下來會發生什麼事。想像一下,你的公寓失火了,你會怎麼辦?你會坐以待斃,還是跳窗然後再看著辦?我們就是那樣。我們從大樓上跳了下來, 而不是等火燒上來。
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North Korea is unimaginable. It's very hard for me when people ask me what it feels like to live there. To be honest, I tell you: you can't even imagine it. The words in any language can't describe, because it's a totally different planet, as you cannot imagine your life on Mars right now. For example, the word "love" has only one meaning: love for the Dear Leader. There's no concept of romantic love in North Korea. And if you don't know the words, that means you don't understand the concept, and therefore, you don't even realize that concept is even a possibility.
8. unimaginable 無法想像
9. no concept of... 沒有⋯的概念
10. romantic love 浪漫愛
北韓是難以想像的。對我來說,要回答住在北韓是什麼感覺,非常困難。老實說,我可以告訴各位——你無從想像。沒有任何語言可以描述,因為那是個截然不同的星球,就像你現在無法想像自己在火星上的生活一樣。比如說,「愛」只有一個意思:愛偉大的領袖。在北韓沒有那種浪漫之愛的概念。如果你不知道某些詞彙,那就意味著你並不了解某些概念,因此你也不會意識到,那些概念可以是一種可能。
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Let me give you another example. Growing up in North Korea, we truly believed that our Dear Leader is an almighty god who can even read my thoughts. I was even afraid to think in North Korea. We are told that he's starving for us, and he's working tirelessly for us, and my heart just broke for him. When I escaped to South Korea, people told me that he was actually a dictator, he had cars, many, many resorts, and he had an ultraluxurious life. And then I remember looking at a picture of him, realizing for the first time that he is the largest guy in the picture. And it hit me. Finally, I realized he wasn't starving. But I was never able to see that before, until someone told me that he was fat.
11. an almighty god 一個全能的神
12. tirelessly 不屈不撓地;堅忍地
13. a dictator 獨裁者
14. it hit me 突然想到、意識到 
15. resort 度假地(此處係指北韓獨裁者有很多度假別墅)
16. ultraluxurious 極其奢華的
17. have a…life 過著⋯⋯的生活
讓我再舉一個例子。在北韓長大,我們真心相信我們偉大的領袖是全能的神,他甚至能看穿我在想什麼。我在北韓甚至不敢思考。我們聽說他為我們挨餓、不眠不休地為我們工作,而我為此感到心痛。我逃到南韓後,有人跟我說他其實是獨裁者,他有很多車、很多很多渡假別墅,他的生活極為奢華。我記得自己看著一張有他的照片,第一次意識到他是照片裡體型最大的那個。這件事讓我大受打擊。那時我才終於了解,他沒有挨餓。但我以前總無法看清這些,直到有人跟我說他很胖,我才恍然大悟。
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Really, someone had to teach me that he was fat. If you have never practiced critical thinking, then you simply see what you're told to see. The biggest question also people ask me is: "Why is there no revolution inside North Korea? Are we dumb? Why is there no revolution for 70 years of this oppression?" And I say: If you don't know you're a slave, if you don't know you're isolated or oppressed, how do you fight to be free? I mean, if you know you're isolated, that means you are not isolated. Not knowing is the true definition of isolation, and that's why I never knew I was isolated when I was in North Korea. I literally thought I was in the center of the universe.
18. critical thinking 批判性思考
19. revolution 革命
20. dumb 愚蠢的*
21. oppression 壓迫;壓制;欺壓
22. isolated and oppressed 與世隔絕的與被壓迫的
真的,要有人教我,他這樣叫做胖。如果你沒學過批判性思考,你看到的就只會是別人跟你說的。其他人對我提出的大哉問還有:「為何北韓沒有革命?我們傻嗎?為何歷經70年的壓迫,卻沒人發動革命?」我回答:「如果你不知道自己是奴隸,不知道自己被與世隔絕、壓迫,你要如何為自由而戰?我的意思是,如果你知道自己被與世隔絕,那就表示你並非真的與世隔絕。與世隔絕的真正定義是無知,所以我從不知道,在北韓的我與世隔絕。我真的以為我們是宇宙的中心。
*dumb: https://bit.ly/3fG5XOk
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So here is my idea worth spreading: a lot of people think humans inherently know what is right and wrong, the difference between justice and injustice, what we deserve and we don't deserve. I tell them: BS. Everything, everything must be taught, including compassion. If I see someone dying on the street right now, I will do anything to save that person. But when I was in North Korea, I saw people dying and dead on the streets. I felt nothing. Not because I'm a psychopath, but because I never learned the concept of compassion. Only, I felt compassion, empathy and sympathy in my heart after I learned the word "compassion" and the concept, and I feel them now.
23. inherently 與生俱來地
24. justice and injustice 正義與不義
25. psychopath 精神病患者
26. compassion, empathy and sympathy 憐憫、同理與同情*
我覺得值得分享的想法是:很多人以為,人類生來就能分辨是非對錯,懂得正義與邪惡的差別,我們值得被怎樣對待。我跟他們說:放屁。所有的事,所有的事都得經過教導,包含憐憫。如果我現在看見有人在路邊奄奄一息,我會不顧一切來救他。但我在北韓的時候,會眼睜睜看著有人橫死街頭,卻沒有任何感覺。並非因為我是心理病態,而是我從未學過憐憫的概念。只有在我的內心感受到憐憫、同理與同情,我才學會「憐憫」一詞與其概念,而如今我已能感受到這些。
*compassion: a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them
empathy: the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation
sympathy: (an expression of) understanding and care for someone else's suffering
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Now I live in the United States as a free person.
現在我以自由人的身分住在美國。
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And recently, the leader of the free country, our President Trump, met with my former god. And he decided human rights is not important enough to include in his agendas, and he did not talk about it. And it scares me. We live in a world right now where a dictator can be praised for executing his uncle, for killing his half brother, killing thousands of North Koreans. And that was worthy of praise. And also it made me think: perhaps we all need to be taught something new about freedom now. Freedom is fragile. I don't want to alarm you, but it is. It only took three generations to make North Korea into George Orwell's "1984." It took only three generations. If we don't fight for human rights for the people who are oppressed right now who don't have a voice, as free people here, who will fight for us when we are not free? Machines? Animals? I don't know.
27. agenda 議程
28. be praised for 因⋯⋯獲得讚揚
29. execute (v.) 處決
30. worthy of sth 適合某物或具有某物的特徵
31. fragile 脆弱
最近,自由國度的領袖,我們的川普總統,和我以前的神會面。他認定,人權沒那麼重要,不需排進議程中,所以對此他隻字不提。這嚇壞我了。我們竟身在一個獨裁者處決伯父還能獲得讚揚的世界裡,他殺害同父異母的哥哥、殺害成千上萬的北韓人民,竟還能得到讚揚。這不禁使我開始思考,也許我們現在都要學習自由的新涵義。自由很脆弱。我不想嚇你,但事實如此。短短三個世代,就讓北韓淪為喬治.歐威爾筆下的《1984》。只花了三個世代。如果我們不為人權而戰,不為受壓迫、不為無法發聲的人而戰,當身為自由人的我們不自由時,誰還願意為我們而戰?機器嗎?動物嗎?我不知道。
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I think it's wonderful that we care about climate change, animal rights, gender equality, all of these things. The fact that we care about animals' rights, that means that's how beautiful our heart is, that we care about someone who cannot speak for themselves. And North Koreans right now cannot speak for themselves. They don't have internet in the 21st century. We don't have electricity, and it is the darkest place on earth right now. Now I want to say something to my fellow North Koreans who are living in that darkness. They might not believe this, but I want to tell them that an alternative life is possible. Be free.
32. speak for oneself 為某人發聲
33. alternative life 另一種生活
我覺得我們能關心氣候變遷、動物權益、性別平等諸如此類之事,真的很美好。因為,我們關心動物權益,就代表了我們的心地有多善良,也代表我們關心無法為自己發聲的對象。北韓人民現在無法為自己發聲。身處21世紀的他們,沒有網路可用。我們沒有電,那裡是當今地球上最暗的地方。現在我想告訴那些生活在北韓黑暗中的同胞。也許他們不會相信我,但我想告訴他們,生命仍有其他可能——意即自由的生活。
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From my experience, literally anything is possible. I was bought, I was sold as a slave. But now I'm here, and that is why I believe in miracles. The one thing that I learned from history is that nothing is forever in this world. And that is why we have every reason to be hopeful. Thank you.
34. slave 奴隸
35. miracle 奇蹟
就我的經驗,真的什麼事都有可能發生。我被人買走,賣給別人當奴隸。但我現在在這裡,這也就是為什麼我相信奇蹟。我從歷史上學到的一件事,就是世上沒有什麼是永恆的。而這也是我們無論如何都能懷有希望的原因。謝謝大家。
資訊出處:https://bit.ly/32p5HiK
圖片出處:https://bit.ly/32n2zEe
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如何增進同理心:https://bit.ly/34qSKnC
#ChangingPerspectives
#翻轉視界
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翻轉視界系列文章: https://bit.ly/3fPvKUs
let us go then you and i 意思 在 Tommy Cheung 張秀賢 Facebook 的最讚貼文
香港大專學界國際事務代表團 x 「我要攬炒」團隊
816遮打【「英美港盟 主權在民」集會 | 「Stand with Hong Kong, Power to the People」Rally】—— 攬炒巴發言 Speech by the Scorched-Earth Team
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發言全文:
Full text of the Speech:
大家好,我係「我要攬炒」,好多謝大家出席呢一個晚會。
Hello everyone, I am “Scorched Earth”. Thank you all for coming to our rally this evening.
大專學界嘅集會結語,係向國際發出呼籲。而我攬炒,會以一個普通人身份向香港人致謝,亦多謝英國國會議員拍片支持,同表達少少對前路嘅睇法。
Hong Kong IAD closed their speech by making an appeal for international support I, as an ordinary HongKonger, would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation towards the Hongkongers and UK MPs who support Hong Kong, and give my two pennies on how the crisis of Hong Kong may develop in the near future.
點解我會叫自己做我要攬炒呢。其實源於6月9號當日,我發現幾乎所有香港政府高官同保皇黨都有外國護照。
You may wonder why I took the pseudonym “Scorched Earth”. On 9th of June, I noticed that almost all of the government officials and pro-government politicians are holding foreign passports.
佢地只係假放棄外國護照一次,就享有肆意出賣香港利益既權力,與民為敵。
They may just renounce their passports once, leaving the option of reclaiming them later, they would be empowered to take personal advantage in their positions at the expense of Hong Kong, and act against the benefits of Hongkongers.
賣港之後,啲官同保皇黨就手執外國護照,一走了之。所以,我要取消佢地嘅外國護照重發權利,生生世世留喺大灣區,共享大灣區榮耀。同佢地攬炒。
After abusing their power for their own benefits, they may still leave Hong Kong by reclaiming their renounced passports. I therefore seek to have their rights to reclaim their foreign passport removed. They will then be forced to stay forever in China and to face the same “bright” future as us. If Hongkongers burn, they burn with us - thus the selection of the pseudonym of “Scorched Earth”.
不知不覺間,香港人已經奮戰咗兩個月。而呢兩個月,有三個時刻特別令我感觸同決定奮戰落去,同大家齊上齊落。
It feels like not a long time, but Hongkongers have been fighting for over two months already There were three particular moments during the last two months that touched me and made me even more determined to fight on, shoulders to shoulders, with everyone.
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第一個時刻,係6月10號見到有年青人,絕望地回應當權者 「反正都無未來,不如一槍啪死我」
The first moment was back on 10th June, when a young protestor hopelessly said to those in power, ‘You might as well kill me with a bullet – there is no future for me anyway.’
第二個時刻,係7月1號,梁繼平義士同大家講「我地今次一輸就係輸十年」
Then on the 1st of July, when the fearless protestor Brian Leung said ‘If we lose this battle, we are giving up our next ten years.’
第三個時刻,係7月廿八號,元朗有義士既盾牌俾子彈射穿,記者問佢點解仲堅持,義士好堅定咁回答「光復香港,時代革命」
The third moment was on 28th of July in Yuen Long. A police bullet went through the shield of one of the protestors. When a journalist asked why he was still standing firm for his belief , he said without hesitation , ‘Reclaim Hong Kong. Revolution of our times’.
呢三個時刻,反映到香港人逐漸將絕望嘅心情,轉化為無比勇氣對抗暴政。
These three moments show exactly how HongKongers gradually turn their hopelessness into courage, to fight against tyranny.
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呢一刻我哋可能覺得好疲倦、好憤怒、好氣餒,但係請我哋唔好放棄,因為呢個係光復香港,時代革命嘅最後機會。
We may be tired, angry, or dejected, but please do not give up. This is the last chance to reclaim Hong Kong and succeed in the revolution of our times.
「光復香港,時代革命」唔係一句空洞口號,更加唔應該俾人利用黎分化我哋。
“Reclaim Hong Kong. Revolution of our times’ is not merely a slogan, and most definitely should not be used by some to divide us.
因為「光復香港」指既係:
光復香港嘅自由、人權、民主、資源自主同國際定位
It is because “Reclaim Hong Kong” means, to reclaim the freedom, human rights, democracy, control of resources and positioning in the world of Hong Kong.
而「時代革命」嘅意思係:
聲稱五十年不變既時代之中,由香港人一齊由下至上撼動政權,改變政治體制。
And “Revolution of Our Times” means, within the 50 years promised to have no changes in way of life, Hongkongers to shaken the government from bottom up together and to change the political system.
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學術上,只要社會大眾,嘗試由下而上令 政治體制 有變化,就係革命。所以,2014年係革命,2016年係革命,2019年都係革命。
Academically, ‘revolution’ is a bottom-up attempt by the masses to bring about structural changes to their political system. That is why, it was a revolution in 2014, so was 2016, and now, WE ARE IN A REVOLUTION in 2019.
1984年至今35年,香港人不斷退讓,抱薪救火,最終導致退無可退。
Since the Joint Declaration was signed in 1984, for 35 years HongKongers have been compromising, naively believing that this is the way to save ourselves. That led to the dead end we are facing today.
對我地年輕一輩黎講,與其2047年默默死去,倒不如趁香港尚有 一絲希望既情況用盡最後一口氣,創造未來。
To the younger generation, they either rot towards death upon the arrival of year 2047, or, whilst there is still a chance, they would rather sacrifice themselves in the hope of real changes, and to pave a new path for Hong Kong.
有年長一輩問,到底我地後生既有無勇氣,
將抗爭 交返俾 傳統大台領導。
Some from the older generation asked, whether these youngsters are brave enough to let the established political parties to lead the movement again.
我不禁反問,傳統思維一輩又有無勇氣,放棄三十年黎既模式,放手俾我地手足以新思維新方式改寫香港命運?
I would ask in return, whether the established parties be brave enough to let go of the same old way they have been operating for 30 years, and let the next generation lead in their new mentality?
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當年青人日以繼夜,夜以繼日以不同方式向政府施壓既同時,旦願我地回過頭黎,會見到年長一輩企喺現場,默默支持我地。
When young men and women continue to pile pressure onto the government day by day with their ever-changing strategy of protests , I just hope we would see more from the older generation to be there in the sites of protest to support us.
年輕人需要既唔係金錢、唔係食物,而係活生生既人願意走出黎支持。
The support from people literally standing side by side with the young protestors means much more than supports in form of money and food.
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今日之所以邀請不同光譜、不同年齡層既人士上台,就係為咗向全世界展示出:
The reason that people from a broad spectrum and from different age group are invited today, is to show the world that:
無論香港情況幾嚴峻,香港人都唔會因為政治理念、年齡不同而廢言、割席,無論有幾多風波,我地依然團結為我地既訴求奮勇到底。
No matter how dire the situation is, how different our views and ages are, and how challenging the situation is, HongKongers will stay united.
由今日起,我地唔應該再分勇武同和理非。出得黎既就係手足,係抗爭者,用核彈都唔會割。
From now on, there should be no more classification of aggressive or peaceful protestors. Once we are together on the streets of Hong Kong, we are each other’s brothers and sisters, limbs and body. We are one. Nothing can divide us.
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我必須強調大專學界同攬炒都有同樣信念:就係拒絕大台。
I would like to emphasis HK IAD and our team do not condone any one single leading platform for the whole movement
如果有大台出現,我會出全力摧毀佢;假如有一日,我成為大台一部分,請大家一視同仁,將我拉落黎,拆我台。
If such a platform is ever formed, I will do my utmost to demolish it. If I ever become part of such a platform, I ask you to do the same to overthrow me and demolish the platform.
只要拒絕迷信大台模式,唔割席,唔氣餒,善用國際思維,我地一定會贏。
As long as we all believe in the leaderless model, stay united, keep our spirit, and to think global, we shall prevail.
香港人,寧化飛灰,不作浮塵,光復香港,時代革命!
We would rather live freely and burn, then to be subjugated and diminished. We are HongKongers.
“Reclaim Hong Kong. Revolution of our Times”
let us go then you and i 意思 在 謙預 Qianyu.sg Facebook 的最讚貼文
【業力的黑洞】THE BLACK HOLE OF KARMA
(一)
「我不是叫你帶筆記本嗎?」
我看著男客人擺在桌上的那僅僅一張A4紙。
男客人不好意思地說:「我忘了。這是跟櫃台取的。」
「我千里迢迢來到這裡,因為你說你要改命。你就拿這樣一張借來的紙,來改命?一個半小時的看八字,夠你寫嗎?還是你不夠寫時,又要浪費我的時間去借紙?你的認真在哪裡?」
我雙眼直視著男客人的眼睛。
他連忙站起來,去借了多幾張A4紙。
•
(二)
「你怎麼帶那麼小的本子?夠寫嗎?」
我不可思議的看著,那如信用卡一般大的記事本。
男客人答:「可以啦!我只寫重點!」
「你這個是懶。我的每一句話都是重點。你的八字在我手上,你是怎樣的人,你不要以為我不知道。你不要跟我瞎掰,更不要有寫沒寫的,然後事後又發私訊重覆性的問回我一樣的問題,因為你沒有用心思寫下來。樓上有書店,要嘛你現在去買,我給你十五分鐘,要嘛我們今天就不看你的八字。你自己選。」
男客人十分鐘內,買了A4本子。
•
(三)
我為即將結婚的男客人看新家風水。
他來過我的風水講座數次,閱讀我臉書也有兩年多時間,應該很熟悉我的性格。事前,我提醒過他兩次要帶筆記本,兩次兩次他都跟我說謝謝提醒。
站在客廳看風水時,他抽出那張A4的屋子平面圖,壓在手掌心寫。
「我不是已經叫你帶筆記本嗎?」
他笑笑不語,沒有解釋,沒有道歉。
新家風水那麼重要,關係到你和你家人未來至少五年的興旺,你就在這一張軟綿綿的紙上寫兩個小時的筆記嗎?
以我對客人的要求,我本會叫他到外頭買筆記本,我們才繼續看風水。
但那天,現任屋主還住在那個單位,是特別約好時間讓我們進去看風水,對方也在等著我們完事後就要出門。
想想他過去兩年來常在我臉書貼文按讚,就給他一點面子,讓他在女朋友面前好下台,也算是報答他的支持。
於是,我看在眼裡,記在心裡。依我的經驗,沒把筆記寫好的,必會再來問我。
幾天後,他來訊詢問。當中有幾個問題,我當天已解說過。
我回他:「我雖不介意回答已經回答過的問題,但如果你那一天有帶筆記本,你必會抄下來。」
也就不用再問。
我也寫道:「我對你有點失望。」
他回我:「我明白也注意到你的失望。以後會更留意自己的念頭和舉止。」
「你應該跟我道歉。你忽視我的善意提醒本就不對。」
也猶如騙了我。如果你當初不想帶,直說,不要以假謝謝敷衍。
男客人過後道歉,也大方的同意我把這件事情寫出來,警惕大家。
如果你的未來註定會坎坷,無論是婚姻、事業、家庭或財富,你要比任何人都更注意你的一舉一動。
因為你細小的念頭,細微的決定,會一步一步引你掉入你命中註定的歹運。
你會漏掉寫下我千交代萬交代的事情。
你會寫錯、聽錯、記錯、做錯。
你身邊的人會影響你,告訴你不要聽我或任何能幫你改命的話,你如何如何讓她他不開心不舒服。
你會有錢也不要出錢,只是一直想博取我的同情,得到免費的幫助,然後稱說自己沒有錢。
你會任性,你會執著,你會覺得風水命理沒那麼厲害,你自己說了算,雖然你根本不怎麼樣。
因為你已變成一個弦线上的小木偶,被你那無情的業力操控著。
我的嚴厲,是要及時拉你一把,不要「青青菜菜」的過活,不要拖累你的家人和你一起遭業報。
不是每個人跌倒後,都能夠爬得起來。
誰不想做好人,讓每個人都喜歡自己?但自古,慈母多敗兒。
在現今社會裡,男人女人的自信,都是來自於事業,但每個人的幸福,都是源自於家庭。
所以千萬千萬不要自私。
...................................
(1)
“Didn't I tell you to bring a notebook?"
I looked at the lonely piece of A4 paper the male client placed on the table.
Slightly embarrassed, the male client said, "I forgot. This was obtained from the counter."
"I come all the way here because you tell me you want to change your destiny. You bring this kind of paper to change your life? My consultation is 1.5 hour and you think it's enough for you to write? Or when you run out of space, are you going to waste my time to go and borrow paper? Where is your seriousness?"
I looked at the male client straight in the eyes.
He hurriedly stood up and borrowed a few more pieces of A4 paper.
•
(2)
"Why did you bring such a small notebook? How is it enough for you to write?"
I looked at the credit-card-sized notebook incredulously.
The male client replied, "Can! I only write the important points!"
"This is your sloth. Everything I said is important. Your Bazi is in my hands. Don't think that I do not know what kind of person you are. Don't talk nonsense to me. Don't write selectively and then later send me PMs asking me the same questions that I have answered in this consultation, just because you didn't put in effort to jot it down. There is a bookshop upstairs. Either you go and buy now. I will give you 15 minutes. Or we will cancel today's consultation. You decide."
The male client returned with a brand new A4 notebook in ten minutes.
•
(3)
I was doing a Feng Shui audit for a male client who was getting married.
He came to my Feng Shui workshops a few times and have read my Facebook for over 2 years. Prior to the audit, I reminded him twice to bring a notebook and twice, he thanked me for my reminders.
While standing in the living room doing the Feng Shui audit, he drew out a A4-sized floorplan and wrote on it, with his palm as the backing.
"Didn't I already tell you to bring a notebook?"
He smiled back at me. No explanation. No apology.
The Feng Shui of a new home is so important because it determines the future of your family luck for at least the next 5 years. And you are going to write on this floppy piece of paper for the next 2 hours?
Given my expectations of clients, I would have told him to go and buy a notebook before I continued my audit.
But that day, the current owner was still living in the unit. It was by appointment that we were let in to get the Feng Shui audit done. The family was also waiting for us to finish things up, as they were going out.
I thought of the many times that he had Liked my FB posts these two years. So I decided to give him some face, and not make things difficult for him in front of his girlfriend. Also a very tiny way of me thanking him for his support all these while.
Hence, I put this incident in my heart. From my experience, I know that anyone who did not write the notes well will definitely come back to ask me again.
A few days later, he sent me messages, some of which were raising the same questions that I had explained on the day of the audit.
I told him, "While I do not mind answering the same questions again, if you had brought a notebook that day, you would have written it down."
You and I would not need to repeat ourselves again.
I also wrote, "I am slightly disappointed in you."
His reply, "Well noted on your disappointment. Will pay attention to own thoughts/actions for better changes."
"You should apologise to me. It is wrong of you to ignore my reminders to bring a notebook."
This is akin to lying to me. If you do not wish to bring, say it outright. Don't brush me off with perfunctory thanks.
He did apologised later and graciously gave me the permission to write about this, to remind my readers.
If your future is destined to be difficult, be it in your marriage, career, family or wealth, you must be extra observant of your every action and deed.
Because every little thought of yours, every seemingly minor decision you made, will lead you step-by-step to fall into the manhole of your pre-destined bad fortune.
You will miss out on what I repeatedly tell you to do.
You will write wrongly, hear wrongly, remember wrongly and do wrongly.
The people around you will influence you. They will tell you not to listen to me, or any well-meaning advice to transform your destiny. They will say that you doing so is making them unhappy and uncomfortable.
You will be unwillingly to fork out money even when you can afford it. You want to live off the compassion of mine and get free help, on the empty claim that you have no money.
You will be wilful. You will be stubborn. You will think that there is no big deal about Chinese Metaphysics and that what you say matters the most in your life. Despite not having any ability or past achievement to support that fat bold claim.
Because you have already become that little string puppet, being dangled around mercilessly by your negative karma.
My sternness is to pull you away from that manhole of mishaps. Do not live your life in a blur. Do not drag your family down with you to suffer at the hands of karma.
Not everyone can stand up right again, after a really bad fall.
Who doesn't wish to be that well-liked person? But since ancient times, an overly loving mother often leads to a useless son.
In modern society, the self confidence of every man and woman tend to come from his/her career. But happiness and bliss will always come from your family.
So never ever choose to be selfish.