On the afternoon of May 18, 2024, a lecture titled “Cherishing Fate, Finding Freedom” at the Milbury City Library attracted a large audience. The keynote speaker, He Lin, shared the life philosophies she has gleaned from traditional Chinese culture with the attendees.
He Lin is a teacher, public speaker, author, and counselor. Since 1984, she has been dedicated to studying Chinese folklore and promoting Chinese folk culture.
With a master’s degree from the University of Iowa, He Lin has worked in the fields of international education and bilingual education. She has served the community as a volunteer for 58 years and has been active in Asian American communities in various regions and Mexico, delivering speeches at renowned academic institutions and organizations. In 1996, she founded the non-profit organization “Yuan Yuan Education Foundation” and continues to serve as its leader.
The lecture was jointly organized by the Chinese Association, the Northern California Political Science Alumni Association’s “Unfurl Society,” and the Friends of the Milbury City Library. The event was hosted by Mr. Liu Pingyuan from the Political Science Alumni Association.
President of the “Unfurl Society” and event coordinator, Zhang Beibei, hoped that He Lin’s broad life philosophy would “enlighten our souls.”
At the beginning of the lecture, He Lin introduced her new book and the process of its creation. She emphasized that she writes books not to make money but to donate all proceeds from book sales to the Yuan Yuan Education Foundation for charitable causes.
She then quoted an ancient Chinese poem she read years ago to kick off the discussion: “Events in life come one after another, hearts of people twist and turn. Busy and occupied, when will there be leisure? Looking back, the sunset is late again. Do not easily judge good and evil; in the end, one must discern loyalty and treachery. The fools remain foolish, the wise remain wise; even in darkness, the heavens have eyes.”
Life is filled with complicated affairs and intricate human hearts, often leading to misunderstandings, blame, and criticism, resulting in feelings of frustration and negativity.
Initially, He Lin believed that one should only cherish positive fate but later realized the importance of also cherishing and being grateful for negative fate and evil encounters.
She explained that the negative and evil encounters in this life may stem from unintentional actions or deeds from past lives. These experiences allow individuals to understand good and evil, prompting introspection of their own words and actions.
Regarding evil fate, He Lin views it as a lesson to learn how to “face it positively” rather than complain about it. She suggests resolving issues in a constructive manner, such as having open and honest communication with the other party to dispel misunderstandings or through meditation to regain inner peace and wisdom. “When the heart is broad, difficulties diminish,” leading to a greater sense of freedom.
The latter half of the lecture featured a question-and-answer session, allowing the audience to exchange insights with He Lin. The event concluded at 4 PM in a relaxed atmosphere.
Lastly, Zhang Beibei, the President of the “Unfurl Society,” invited the current Chairman of the Chinese Association, Mao Xiaoling, and the former Chairman and current Honorary Adviser, Zhang Jingru, to present flowers to He Lin on behalf of all the organizing entities.
The lecture also attracted many members of the Northern California Political Science Alumni Association, including former President, Mr. Li Nianci. He found many of He Lin’s life experiences resonated with his own beliefs. He emphasized that what one sees today is not a “sudden event” but the accumulation of events or prolonged periods of time. Viewing things from multiple perspectives enhances objectivity, broadens vision, and facilitates greater understanding.
He stressed that as long as one puts in their best efforts, regardless of the outcomes, there will be no excessive “worries or feelings of defeat.”
He Lin’s volunteer assistant, Ms. Wang, expressed that she has learned a great deal from He Lin, particularly about the Chinese folklore practice of “Feng Shui,” which is an integral part of traditional Chinese culture. She explained that in ancient times, officials made decisions not only based on public opinion but also by consulting divination. Feng Shui is closely related to our daily lives; living in a harmonious environment influences our decision-making positively, while discord may lead to erroneous decisions. When one believes in karma and the concept of life reincarnation, they will restrain their words and actions, thereby enhancing moral cultivation. ◇