What is the meaning of Christianity or Buddhism in this age?
A few days ago, I went to watch a documentary on my own, which happens to be related to my thesis project. When I learned from Elsje that such a documentary even existed, I was really surprised. Especially since the director is Chinese (although she’s based in the U.S.).
I couldn’t help but sigh that while there are countless interesting jobs in the world, studying is by far the most boring one. If I ever have children, and they tell me they’ve found their true passion and don’t want to go to school, I would applaud them without hesitation. This documentary had quite a few flaws—for example, in my view, it glorified all the stakeholders involved, and the ending was extremely awkward. I really don’t understand why it had to end in such an awkward way. After the screening, I met a few Chinese friends, and we ended up chatting late into the night. That’s something I really wanted to talk about.
During the past few years, when things weren’t going smoothly for me, I sometimes felt as if I had reached a kind of enlightenment. I read many books on psychology and Buddhism, and I reflected on countless questions. Life, in the end, is about realizing that no one is coming to save you—whether you are with someone or not. Maybe it’s actually a blessing to go through frustrations, because they push you to grow and think.
In recent years, I’ve gradually developed an interest in religion and started to follow Buddhism. When I was talking with this group of Chinese friends, they told me that they are Christians. One of them said that when you move from one country to another, the experiences and principles that once guided your life may no longer apply—but religion can help you find peace again. I feel the same way. Just a few days ago, I finished reading the Diamond Sutra, and I now read a little of it before bed each night; it brings me a deep sense of calm. Over the past few years, I’ve also grown to love animals more and more, and I believe that a higher-dimensional universe, beyond human beings, can see both what you do and what you think. So if I could choose, I would like to live beyond this era—away from war and environmental pollution—and spend my life in a peaceful place, living quietly.