十年
副刊 星雲 2008-10-18 17:05
陪孩子觀看電視節目，經常搖頭興歎。那些年輕的朋友，為何那麼急於揚名立萬？本地電視台舉辦歌唱比賽，出類拔萃者馬上搖身一變，成為節目主持人和連續劇演員。不久前比賽，他們還在學習唱歌和跳舞。
過去流行“唱而優則演、演而優則導”之說，畢竟還有奮發努力的過程。如今，仿佛一蹴而就，一步就登天。我想起快熟麵等速食。陳容唱歌是數十年功力；周潤發演戲是數十年揣摩；要當主持人，也不是單靠一項比賽或一張臉孔就能登台。
一位年輕朋友要我出版他的詩集。他是我的學生，本該“優先考慮”。然而，我拒絕了。理由很簡單：過去十年，他並沒專心寫詩。寫詩60年的余光中，還在為年少之作後悔。
台上一分鐘，台下十年功
畫家梵谷，十年默默寫生習作。那時，沒人理解他，也沒人看得起這位怪人。可是，他在生命最後的日子，迸發耀眼奪目的光彩。他那鮮艷的粗線條，以強烈的個性呼喚田野和夜星。年輕的歲月，總是很難理解磨練與永恆的關聯。
當我們喜歡一件事，我們會沉浸其中，廢寢忘食。十年不過彈指功夫，還恐怕時日易過，造詣未深。二、三十載，猶怕徘徊門外，未窺堂奧。
歲月，會一點一滴，回報我們的投入與付出，回報我們的衣帶漸寬終不悔。箇中或隻影向誰去、倚杖聽江聲，或許窮居陋巷、一簞一瓢；然而甘苦自得，光澤自在。
生命或如流星；才華不應一閃而逝。它必須在水裡火裡、風裡雨裡，淘汰雜質，粹煉精華。人生最難之處，在別人看不到的地方。天險，卻在自己看不到的地方。
十年磨一劍。十年寒窗無人問。台上一分鐘，台下十年功。
我是這麼看人，也這麼看待才華的。
星洲日報‧文：傅承得‧2008.10.13
Sunday, October 19, 2008
吃一片橘子
吃一片橘子 2008/10/04 13:05:15
●梁文道
以烹调精进料理闻名的日本禅僧藤井宗哲曾经在一趟新干线的火车旅次上遇见一位青年，这个年轻的上班族把公事包放在膝上当小桌，一边喝啤酒一边看杂志，还拿了个便当出来吃。宗哲和尚注意到这位青年“是以看杂志为主，顺便吃便当。”他的行为“不过是把‘进食’当作机能性动作；也就是将食物放入口中，机械地咀嚼后，经过喉咙，最后储存在胃袋。我好整以暇地瞥看着这位上班族，发现他的目光始终盯杂志，一点也感觉不到便当的存在。此后，我不知又遇到过多少这样的人。这类人的饮食生活，可称之为‘机器人进食’。”
挂着交谈忘了食物
说来惭愧，我也是个进食机器人，常常一个人吃饭，而吃的时候也是丢不开书本杂志，生怕浪费了吃饭的时间。再推想下去，平日的工作、午餐或饭局，岂不也是如此？为什么很多饭局明明叫了一桌子菜，走的时候总是剩下许多未尽的菜肴，偏偏回到家还会饿肚子呢？那是因为在饭局里头我们往往挂着交谈忘了食物。没错，食物不是主角。我很少听到有人会说：“喂，有家餐厅很不错，我们约xxx一起去吃吧。”绝大部分的情况是反过来，先想好要约哪些人吃什么，才去找个饭馆成全大家的聚会。
无论是一个人吃饭的时候看书报电视，还是一堆人找个吃饭的地方开会谈生意，都是我们不想浪费时间的表现。真是讽刺，这可是个美食膨胀的年代，几乎人人都是美食家，偏偏我们还会觉得吃饭是件浪费时间的事情。大概心有个标准，觉得日常三餐又是必要的营生手续，可以随便打发，任意填上其他活动；而美食，则是一种很特别很不日常的东西，必须严阵以待。
橘子禅说明正念饮食
不过，要是我们用对待美食的态度去对待最简单不过的食物，又会产生什么效果呢？去年，誉满天下的越南高僧一行禅师访香港。在他主持的禅修营，他教大家用很慢很慢的速度吃饭，吃的时候不要交谈，全神贯注于眼前的菜肴，这就是所谓的“正念饮食”了。一行禅师曾以“橘子禅”说明正念饮食的方法：不要像平常那样一边剥橘子一边吃，而要专心地剥开橘子的皮，感受它刹那间射出的汁液，闻它散发于空气中的清香。然后取出一瓣橘肉，放进口中缓慢地嚼，全神贯注地体验门牙咬断它，臼齿磨碎它，舌头搅动它等每一个动作，直到它几近液化，通过食道吞咽下去为止。
如果你这么做，你会对一片最普通的橘子产生前所未有的全新感受；你会发现自己还用着不去买一枚昂贵的意大利血橘，因为你从来不曾知道什么叫做吃橘子。最美妙的，是这种修行还会引导你注意吃的过程，仿佛你不曾吃过。
比一行禅师的橘子禅更夸张的，是美国佛学导师康菲尔德（Jack Cornfield）的葡萄干修行法，他教导学生们用10分钟去吃一颗葡萄干，很多人吃完之后竟然觉得太饱了！
我们不可能每一顿饭都这么吃，但至少可以每天花一点时间练习心无旁骛的正念饮食。你也不用觉得它是个宗教色彩很浓的仪式，你只需要把它当成认识美食的基本练习就行了。正如饮酒，若连水的味道都分辨不出来，又怎谈得上欣赏酒的复杂呢？
●梁文道
以烹调精进料理闻名的日本禅僧藤井宗哲曾经在一趟新干线的火车旅次上遇见一位青年，这个年轻的上班族把公事包放在膝上当小桌，一边喝啤酒一边看杂志，还拿了个便当出来吃。宗哲和尚注意到这位青年“是以看杂志为主，顺便吃便当。”他的行为“不过是把‘进食’当作机能性动作；也就是将食物放入口中，机械地咀嚼后，经过喉咙，最后储存在胃袋。我好整以暇地瞥看着这位上班族，发现他的目光始终盯杂志，一点也感觉不到便当的存在。此后，我不知又遇到过多少这样的人。这类人的饮食生活，可称之为‘机器人进食’。”
挂着交谈忘了食物
说来惭愧，我也是个进食机器人，常常一个人吃饭，而吃的时候也是丢不开书本杂志，生怕浪费了吃饭的时间。再推想下去，平日的工作、午餐或饭局，岂不也是如此？为什么很多饭局明明叫了一桌子菜，走的时候总是剩下许多未尽的菜肴，偏偏回到家还会饿肚子呢？那是因为在饭局里头我们往往挂着交谈忘了食物。没错，食物不是主角。我很少听到有人会说：“喂，有家餐厅很不错，我们约xxx一起去吃吧。”绝大部分的情况是反过来，先想好要约哪些人吃什么，才去找个饭馆成全大家的聚会。
无论是一个人吃饭的时候看书报电视，还是一堆人找个吃饭的地方开会谈生意，都是我们不想浪费时间的表现。真是讽刺，这可是个美食膨胀的年代，几乎人人都是美食家，偏偏我们还会觉得吃饭是件浪费时间的事情。大概心有个标准，觉得日常三餐又是必要的营生手续，可以随便打发，任意填上其他活动；而美食，则是一种很特别很不日常的东西，必须严阵以待。
橘子禅说明正念饮食
不过，要是我们用对待美食的态度去对待最简单不过的食物，又会产生什么效果呢？去年，誉满天下的越南高僧一行禅师访香港。在他主持的禅修营，他教大家用很慢很慢的速度吃饭，吃的时候不要交谈，全神贯注于眼前的菜肴，这就是所谓的“正念饮食”了。一行禅师曾以“橘子禅”说明正念饮食的方法：不要像平常那样一边剥橘子一边吃，而要专心地剥开橘子的皮，感受它刹那间射出的汁液，闻它散发于空气中的清香。然后取出一瓣橘肉，放进口中缓慢地嚼，全神贯注地体验门牙咬断它，臼齿磨碎它，舌头搅动它等每一个动作，直到它几近液化，通过食道吞咽下去为止。
如果你这么做，你会对一片最普通的橘子产生前所未有的全新感受；你会发现自己还用着不去买一枚昂贵的意大利血橘，因为你从来不曾知道什么叫做吃橘子。最美妙的，是这种修行还会引导你注意吃的过程，仿佛你不曾吃过。
比一行禅师的橘子禅更夸张的，是美国佛学导师康菲尔德（Jack Cornfield）的葡萄干修行法，他教导学生们用10分钟去吃一颗葡萄干，很多人吃完之后竟然觉得太饱了！
我们不可能每一顿饭都这么吃，但至少可以每天花一点时间练习心无旁骛的正念饮食。你也不用觉得它是个宗教色彩很浓的仪式，你只需要把它当成认识美食的基本练习就行了。正如饮酒，若连水的味道都分辨不出来，又怎谈得上欣赏酒的复杂呢？
Thursday, October 2, 2008
添飯
副刊 星雲 2008-09-28 17:21
從小開始，一家人一起吃飯，爸一定要我們添飯，就是第一碗飯不要裝得太滿，吃完後再依需要而添加一些，即使再少也沒關系，就是不要只吃一碗飯。爸說這是跟隨曾祖父先前留下來的規矩，吃飯時要明白米飯得來不易，應該珍惜並懷有感激之心，所以吃飯要用心慢慢的吃，不要吃得太快。爸也說吃飯時不要一次就吃盡，老人家說這叫山窮水盡，要留些空間，留有後來。我於是把它理解成是廣東人的生活習俗。
後來在外參加活動，在集體吃飯的時候，帶隊的隊長就教導我們，由於是大夥吃飯，飯菜不夠吃是常有的事，所以想要吃飽就要動一點腦筋，方法就是第一碗飯不要裝得太滿，這就可以吃得比別人快，再添加第二碗飯時就儘量裝滿，甚至把飯緊壓在碗裡，那就可以吃得多吃得飽了。那時期的我們食量較大，這方法讓我們戰無不勝屢試不爽。後來回想，這是求生的手段，但過於世故和自私，這樣的添飯方式太沒有美感。
又有一次參加一個宗教團體活動，領隊的人告訴我們，在吃飯的時候不要浪費，能吃多少才拿多少，一定要把所拿的飯菜吃光光，而且也要看看別人夠不夠用，如果真的因為準備的飯菜不夠的話，每個人就少吃一點，讓大家都可以享用。所以我們的第一碗飯就不會裝得太滿，之後如有需要才斟酌地再添加一些。這種大家平等的觀念，讓我對添飯有了深一些的理解。
後來到台灣念書，每在過年過節，如果沒有回家的話，常會被老師或教官邀請到他們家裡吃飯，又或會去拜訪同學順道在他們家過節和吃飯。
老師和教官們是關心我們因為沒有回家而有想家與思鄉之苦，所以邀請我們到家裡一起過年過節，讓我們在異鄉也感受到過年過節的氣氛，因此一般上家裡準備的菜肴都很豐富。到師長或長輩家裡做客，基於禮貌，開始時會顯得拘謹一些，大都不敢儘量的吃，多少有點保留才不至於失禮。曾經曆過軍旅生活的師長，明白年輕人的食量和胃口，會擔心我們吃得不夠，一直勸我們加菜添飯，要盡情的吃，要把所準備的飯菜吃完才好回去。這時添飯就成了進攻的策略，節節前進，到最後我們都會吃得過飽，偶爾還喝了兩杯才回去。
添飯即是添福又添壽
到同學家裡過節做客也一樣，尤其是到一些比較小的地方，生活和民風比較純樸，對到訪的客人非常熱情，非常用心，好像對待自己的家人一樣。有些媽媽為了我的到訪，還特別去買了烏魚子、鴨子、魚、雞或當地的一些名菜，在廚房忙了個老半天煮了一大桌的菜肴來招待。由於做客，面對一大桌的美食，心動卻不敢行動。一般上，開始吃飯時主人都會裝很少飯給客人，為的是要客人多吃豐富的菜肴魚肉。年輕時吃飯，飯少就不頂飽，光吃菜不吃飯也沒吃勁，同學的媽媽多會體貼客人，所以一定會為客人添飯，讓客人慢慢吃飯大家慢慢聊天。席間，主客之間就相互交融，彼此互相瞭解。主人會關心我們在台灣的生活，有沒有遇到什麼問題，家裡父母是否健在，從事什麼行業，兄弟姐妹幾人，台灣有沒有親人等。有些媽媽對僑生不太瞭解，對僑居地沒有什麼概念，把我們當成老外一樣看待，以為我們對中國和台灣沒有認識，甚至奇怪我們會說國語（華語）。經此以後對我們和南洋或僑居地就有了大概的認識。
添飯成為一份溫情的傳達。
就有一次過年，我到台灣南部一同學家做客，同學媽媽同樣熱情地為我添飯，她還特別說添飯就是添福又添壽。聽了這媽媽所說的話，我非常感動，一時間有所明白，我們一向來吃飯時添飯的意義，不也就是添福又添壽嗎？
後來我聽長輩說起，到人家裡做客，添飯是一種禮貌，表示對主人家盛情招待的感謝，並藉此表達食物的可口美味。
現在自己家裡吃飯，我也延續爸的方式，一家人圍桌吃飯，一定要添飯，小孩也跟習慣。晚餐是一日將盡的回報，是一天最後的豐盛，是每一天事情已經完成後的圓滿，是一家人在一起時的幸福。一家人在飯桌上就該慢慢地吃飯，邊也輕松地聊聊天。添飯就讓用餐時間增長感情，話題因此延長，飯後喝茶。吃飯是溫馨的時刻，是家庭溫暖的融合。
我還是最喜歡那份心意，添飯即是添福又添壽。
星洲日報‧文：黃建華‧2008.09.18
從小開始，一家人一起吃飯，爸一定要我們添飯，就是第一碗飯不要裝得太滿，吃完後再依需要而添加一些，即使再少也沒關系，就是不要只吃一碗飯。爸說這是跟隨曾祖父先前留下來的規矩，吃飯時要明白米飯得來不易，應該珍惜並懷有感激之心，所以吃飯要用心慢慢的吃，不要吃得太快。爸也說吃飯時不要一次就吃盡，老人家說這叫山窮水盡，要留些空間，留有後來。我於是把它理解成是廣東人的生活習俗。
後來在外參加活動，在集體吃飯的時候，帶隊的隊長就教導我們，由於是大夥吃飯，飯菜不夠吃是常有的事，所以想要吃飽就要動一點腦筋，方法就是第一碗飯不要裝得太滿，這就可以吃得比別人快，再添加第二碗飯時就儘量裝滿，甚至把飯緊壓在碗裡，那就可以吃得多吃得飽了。那時期的我們食量較大，這方法讓我們戰無不勝屢試不爽。後來回想，這是求生的手段，但過於世故和自私，這樣的添飯方式太沒有美感。
又有一次參加一個宗教團體活動，領隊的人告訴我們，在吃飯的時候不要浪費，能吃多少才拿多少，一定要把所拿的飯菜吃光光，而且也要看看別人夠不夠用，如果真的因為準備的飯菜不夠的話，每個人就少吃一點，讓大家都可以享用。所以我們的第一碗飯就不會裝得太滿，之後如有需要才斟酌地再添加一些。這種大家平等的觀念，讓我對添飯有了深一些的理解。
後來到台灣念書，每在過年過節，如果沒有回家的話，常會被老師或教官邀請到他們家裡吃飯，又或會去拜訪同學順道在他們家過節和吃飯。
老師和教官們是關心我們因為沒有回家而有想家與思鄉之苦，所以邀請我們到家裡一起過年過節，讓我們在異鄉也感受到過年過節的氣氛，因此一般上家裡準備的菜肴都很豐富。到師長或長輩家裡做客，基於禮貌，開始時會顯得拘謹一些，大都不敢儘量的吃，多少有點保留才不至於失禮。曾經曆過軍旅生活的師長，明白年輕人的食量和胃口，會擔心我們吃得不夠，一直勸我們加菜添飯，要盡情的吃，要把所準備的飯菜吃完才好回去。這時添飯就成了進攻的策略，節節前進，到最後我們都會吃得過飽，偶爾還喝了兩杯才回去。
添飯即是添福又添壽
到同學家裡過節做客也一樣，尤其是到一些比較小的地方，生活和民風比較純樸，對到訪的客人非常熱情，非常用心，好像對待自己的家人一樣。有些媽媽為了我的到訪，還特別去買了烏魚子、鴨子、魚、雞或當地的一些名菜，在廚房忙了個老半天煮了一大桌的菜肴來招待。由於做客，面對一大桌的美食，心動卻不敢行動。一般上，開始吃飯時主人都會裝很少飯給客人，為的是要客人多吃豐富的菜肴魚肉。年輕時吃飯，飯少就不頂飽，光吃菜不吃飯也沒吃勁，同學的媽媽多會體貼客人，所以一定會為客人添飯，讓客人慢慢吃飯大家慢慢聊天。席間，主客之間就相互交融，彼此互相瞭解。主人會關心我們在台灣的生活，有沒有遇到什麼問題，家裡父母是否健在，從事什麼行業，兄弟姐妹幾人，台灣有沒有親人等。有些媽媽對僑生不太瞭解，對僑居地沒有什麼概念，把我們當成老外一樣看待，以為我們對中國和台灣沒有認識，甚至奇怪我們會說國語（華語）。經此以後對我們和南洋或僑居地就有了大概的認識。
添飯成為一份溫情的傳達。
就有一次過年，我到台灣南部一同學家做客，同學媽媽同樣熱情地為我添飯，她還特別說添飯就是添福又添壽。聽了這媽媽所說的話，我非常感動，一時間有所明白，我們一向來吃飯時添飯的意義，不也就是添福又添壽嗎？
後來我聽長輩說起，到人家裡做客，添飯是一種禮貌，表示對主人家盛情招待的感謝，並藉此表達食物的可口美味。
現在自己家裡吃飯，我也延續爸的方式，一家人圍桌吃飯，一定要添飯，小孩也跟習慣。晚餐是一日將盡的回報，是一天最後的豐盛，是每一天事情已經完成後的圓滿，是一家人在一起時的幸福。一家人在飯桌上就該慢慢地吃飯，邊也輕松地聊聊天。添飯就讓用餐時間增長感情，話題因此延長，飯後喝茶。吃飯是溫馨的時刻，是家庭溫暖的融合。
我還是最喜歡那份心意，添飯即是添福又添壽。
星洲日報‧文：黃建華‧2008.09.18
Saturday, July 19, 2008
親愛的人
副刊 星雲 2008-07-14 20:46
《東京鐵塔》裡小雅的母親說：“人，就是這麼任性，對親愛的人使壞、鬧脾氣，但是，遇到困境時，只要看見親人的臉，就放心了。”
對親愛的人使壞，鬧脾氣，理所當然呀，因為那個人是親愛的人。
誰願意對不熟悉的陌生人使壞、鬧脾氣？
不是不敢，而是清楚陌生人既無疼愛之意，就不會有縱容之心。
我們在世俗生活中學習世故，面對無親無故的人，我們永遠客客氣氣，甚至笑咪咪地，張揚表相的親切，絕不讓他看透心事。
就算看他不順眼，覺得討厭，也一樣可以對他微笑。
因此親愛的人，請多容忍，就看在把你當成親愛的人的份上罷。
星洲日報／文：大耳‧2008.07.07
《東京鐵塔》裡小雅的母親說：“人，就是這麼任性，對親愛的人使壞、鬧脾氣，但是，遇到困境時，只要看見親人的臉，就放心了。”
對親愛的人使壞，鬧脾氣，理所當然呀，因為那個人是親愛的人。
誰願意對不熟悉的陌生人使壞、鬧脾氣？
不是不敢，而是清楚陌生人既無疼愛之意，就不會有縱容之心。
我們在世俗生活中學習世故，面對無親無故的人，我們永遠客客氣氣，甚至笑咪咪地，張揚表相的親切，絕不讓他看透心事。
就算看他不順眼，覺得討厭，也一樣可以對他微笑。
因此親愛的人，請多容忍，就看在把你當成親愛的人的份上罷。
星洲日報／文：大耳‧2008.07.07
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Commencement
Commencement Address 2008
Professor Shih Choon Fong
President, National University of Singapore
11 am, 7 July 2008, University Cultural Centre
Head, Heart, and Luck:
Reflections on Life
Mr Chancellor, President S R Nathan
Minister for Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen
Chairman of the National Research Foundation, Dr Tony Tan
Dean of Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Sajjad Ashraf
NUS Pro-Chancellors
Chairman and Members of the NUS Board of Trustees
Distinguished Guests
Honorary Graduand Wee Cho Yaw
Graduands, Parents and Families
Alumni and Friends
Ladies and Gentlemen
Congratulations and Recognizing Students’ Contributions
Class of 2008, well done! Today we celebrate your commencing on a new phase of life. You have arrived at this milestone through your intelligence and perseverance. And behind each of you are families whose love, and in many instances, whose sacrifices, have helped bring you to this proud day. Congratulations to each and every one of you, and to your families.
Let me also thank you for contributing enormously to our university community in rich and diverse ways. Rich, because your intelligence and youth continue to challenge your professors. Diverse, because each of you brings something unique to our learning community. The different cultures and backgrounds you represent – close to 100 nationalities – contribute to our community’s intellectual and cultural vibrancy. Your creativity, energy and passion have done for us what rankings alone cannot do – you have contributed to the life and spirit of NUS. And to those of you who took up leadership positions in our Union, halls, clubs and societies, who gave energy to campus life, and who set traditions for those entering NUS, we thank you.
Moving On
You will soon be receiving your well-deserved degrees. You are stepping out into the world with all of its opportunities and uncertainties, bringing with you the knowledge you have gained here, to confront all that is changing rapidly or is still unknown. In this respect, you and I share something in common.
After 12 years of serving this University, with the last 8 as President, this will be my final Commencement Address at NUS. In December, I shall become the founding President of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Like you, I too am setting out on a new adventure.
In my first Commencement Address, I urged the Class of 2000 to stay on the journey of learning and discovery, the journey to their dreams. Today being my last Commencement with you, I would like to speak from my heart and share some personal stories and reflections. As I look back on my own life journey, I recognize how I have benefitted from the interplay of head, heart and luck.
Head or Heart?
Moving on from NUS, you will have many decisions to make. Which job to take? Finding a life partner? Fulfilling family obligations? Pursuing your dreams? Or just toeing the line?
These are questions that have also gone through my mind. Indeed, a younger colleague asked me recently how I made the choices in my life. She was curious about how one might go about making some of the big decisions in life.
I said to her: “For big decisions, it is not enough to think with your head, listen also to your heart. If you want to buy a car think rationally, with your head – you pay daily for it. If you are deciding on a life partner, go with your heart. You live with that person for a lifetime.”
Someone else in the conversation disagreed with me. He said: “Use your head, be calculating and logical for marriage. You know, the passion ends after the honeymoon. Your spouse is someone you have to put up with daily, and pay for dearly. Now when it comes to buying a car, you want to be passionate and follow your heart. Because you aren’t stuck with it for life and it won’t argue with you.”
The question is: Use your head or listen to your heart? Be logical and calculating, or go with your instincts and intuitions? You most likely would have found yourself in situations where your head and heart were at odds. This is the perennial dilemma – the head or the heart?
I remember when I was being recruited from the US in the mid-90’s to come back to Singapore from Brown University. My friends and peers in academia urged me to be sensible, to think like a scientist, and not to be swayed by my feelings for home. They pointed out I would be giving up lifetime tenure at a world-class research university for a five-year appointment at a teaching-oriented university. Some called it “career suicide in a cultural desert.” My peers also questioned the kind of academic freedom I would have in a country that forbade the selling of chewing gum.
And now my friends in Singapore are saying similar things about my going to Saudi Arabia: “Here, you are on home ground. There, you will be in a real desert. Here, you are in a top university in Asia. There, it isn’t even built yet. And while you may not care much for chewing gum, you do like your wine.”
All reasonable. All sensible. A scientist should think and act rationally. If this were the case, I would not have left the US to come home. I would not be here this morning. I would also not have made the decision to go to Saudi Arabia.
Singapore and Saudi Arabia have been two crossroads in my life. Each time, I have recalled something my mother taught me: “It’s very good to want something, but you mustn’t want something so much that you can’t bear to live without it. To go far, be ready to give up what you already have.” My mother was a Buddhist, and this was her understanding of the principle of non-attachment.
This principle has helped me through life. It taught me to be passionate, but not obsessed; to be determined, but not to define myself by either my successes or my failures. I have learned that non-attachment gives the mental and emotional resilience to get beyond failures and setbacks. You can also enjoy your successes without taking yourself too seriously.
I take comfort in knowing that ultimately, my decisions at each of the crossroads were not held back by the familiar, the comfortable, or attachment to what I might have accomplished.
Befriending the Unknown
In my work and life, I have often ventured into the unknown. Some may see it as going off the beaten track of logic and reason.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, scientific progress and breakthroughs don’t always occur with hard-headed logical analysis. There is a moment when all of a person’s training, all of the logic, all of the accumulated knowledge of an entire discipline, lead that scientist to the very edge of knowledge. Peering over the edge of the cliff into the unknown, all there is … is an abyss. The choice is stark – to stay put and tinker on the known side of the cliff or to take a leap into the unknown. In these leaps of faith and intuition, scientific breakthroughs take place.
You may recall a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indie comes to the edge of a cliff. It was only as he stepped into the dark void that a bridge appeared. I wish it was this simple to achieve scientific breakthroughs.
In your journeys through life, I am not asking you to leap blindly. I am saying that it is possible to jump, to leap, with both eyes open, and with open minds and open hearts. I first learned this not in the research lab, but during my childhood in Singapore.
The Singapore where I grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s was a Third World country. Like most people in those times, my family was far below the middle class of today. Upgrading for me was moving from sleeping on the floor to a canvas camp bed when I was 15. I trust that it’s neither my self-conceit nor my imagination when I say that my generation, who had so much less, risked more, in part because there was not much to lose. We had a shared attitude that things just had to be done, regardless of the potential setbacks. The motto of Singaporeans of the 60’s was “Just do it!” Nike adopted it later.
I have observed that your generation, especially those who have grown up in First World Singapore, tends to be more risk averse, content to ride the escalator of life, more inclined to preserve what you already have. I see many turning conservative too early in life. By conservative, I do not mean your political or social beliefs, but your more cautious and calculating approach to life, which we often associate with those who are much older or tied down with life’s baggage.
Conservatism strives to secure certainty. It attempts to offer a safe harbor from the unknown. But in these times, new uncertainties, new unknowns proliferate. There is no safe harbor from them. My hope is for you to befriend the unknown, rather than be intimidated; to explore life on your terms rather than those prescribed by others; to let go of parochial loyalties and let life’s experiences teach you.
As you journey forth, I know you will use your head. After all, you have a university degree. But I hope that when it comes to the big decisions in life, you might also make them with more of your heart. The heart alone does not guarantee you success. Marriages do fall apart, careers you love can come to a dead end, friends you trust can let you down. But if these were chosen with the heart as well, then the pain, while seemingly unbearable, at least helps you grow. You will come to know what matters most. You will know what true friendship is. You will come to know yourself better.
Know Yourself, Be Yourself
This brings me to my next point – know yourself. The Greeks inscribed at their temple at Delphi these words: “Know Thyself.” I would like to add: Don’t just know yourself; be yourself.
I like to think that from an early age, I was myself. As a young boy, I found joy in creating exciting experiences for myself rather than learning by rote in the classroom. I was curious. I also let myself be curious.
Pursuing my curiosity meant sometimes missing classes and exploring the longkangs to catch fish and going into the forest to catch spiders for spider fights with other boys my age. It also meant creating my own learning experiences, such as going to the library to find out how to build an antenna to improve reception on my short-wave radio. It meant poking a hole through the roof of my house to affix that antenna, to the horror of my mother when it next rained.
Admittedly, Singapore of the 60’s was a less orderly place and far less structured. Yet, it had more space, more freedom, to do my own thing. My preference for exploring the longkangs, instead of devotion to schoolbooks and passing exams, did lead to mediocre grades. Although they got me into trouble, my childhood escapades helped me develop my own interests, which would serve me well later as a researcher.
My boyish delight in taking things apart in order to understand what held them together led me to the emerging field of fracture mechanics. It has since become a key area in engineering science impacting the design of high performance structures, such as in nuclear reactors, aircrafts, and Formula One race cars. Many of my peers had wondered about my choice of specialization. To them, it was not in the mainstream and could have a short shelf life. If I had had a more calculating mind, I might not have chosen fracture mechanics. But, I wanted to be myself. Driven by curiosity and passion, my play became my work and my work became my play.
I hope that in your time here at NUS, you have developed an inkling of what stirs your heart. When you begin to know yourself, you also begin to discover where you can do well. Should your work and play become one and the same, I believe you will excel in extraordinary ways and accomplish the exceptional.
Luck
Let me now turn to luck.
Where does luck come from? Some say it comes from the supernatural realm, like spotting the right questions for an exam you are desperate to pass. Others feel that luck is pure chance, of being in the right place at the right time. As for me, I see that luck can be created.
This kind of luck comes from connecting with people. People can open doors and help you see windows of opportunity. The Chinese call this yuan fen （缘份）– when something is created out of serendipitous encounters. When Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer met in school, this was yuan, or chance encounters. When they became friends, sharing ideas and dreams, this was yuan fen.
In my own life, yuan fen too played a role. Some of you would be aware that I don’t have a bachelor’s degree. I’m probably the only faculty member here without a first degree. I could say that I didn’t apply to the University of Singapore, predecessor to NUS. The fact is I was not even eligible. I spoke earlier about my lack of interest in school, spending time instead discovering the world outside the classroom. I paid for my unquenchable curiosity with mediocre O-level grades. They were not good enough for me to take what you would now call the junior college track. I ended up going to Singapore Polytechnic.
During my Poly days, on the occasions I ran into the principal, Robert Edis, I would take the opportunity to share my ideas with him. He found them interesting enough to ask a visiting professor from McGill, Raymond Yong, to look at my work. Sufficiently impressed, Dr. Yong offered me a research assistantship at McGill.
From there, I went to Harvard, where my PhD advisor, John Hutchinson, would not only become my mentor, but my lifelong friend as well. John was brilliant and working in an emerging area of fracture mechanics, which fascinated me. He was one of the youngest full professors at Harvard, and close in age to me – only six years older. It was not just our youth which we had in common. We recognized in each other a shared passion. We reached out and connected with each other. John gave me the space and support that I needed to be myself, and thus, to be my best. Meeting John was my yuan. Working with him was yuan fen.
Closing
Graduands, today you become part of the NUS alumni family. You are moving on from NUS, just as I am. This University has been a big part of our lives. We leave with a warm spot in our hearts for the memories we share and the friends we have made here at NUS.
You are connected not only with your classmates, but also with generations before and after you. As you commence, let yuan fen work for you. It is people connecting with one another, sharing ideas and dreams, which enhances luck. The key is not how much attention you can get from others, but your giving regard to others – your engagement and interest in them.
We tend to have fixed ways of seeing people who are different. I hope we can let go of our preconceptions, our prejudices and even our conditioning. By taking a second look, in revisiting our assumptions – about people, places and ideas – in being open to the unknown, we improve our luck.
As you journey into the future, you will surely forget much of what I have said today. I do hope that as you go about life you will remember the interplay between head, heart, and luck. May your head and heart, powered by luck, bring you great success.
Congratulations on your Commencement.
Professor Shih Choon Fong
President, National University of Singapore
11 am, 7 July 2008, University Cultural Centre
Head, Heart, and Luck:
Reflections on Life
Mr Chancellor, President S R Nathan
Minister for Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen
Chairman of the National Research Foundation, Dr Tony Tan
Dean of Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Sajjad Ashraf
NUS Pro-Chancellors
Chairman and Members of the NUS Board of Trustees
Distinguished Guests
Honorary Graduand Wee Cho Yaw
Graduands, Parents and Families
Alumni and Friends
Ladies and Gentlemen
Congratulations and Recognizing Students’ Contributions
Class of 2008, well done! Today we celebrate your commencing on a new phase of life. You have arrived at this milestone through your intelligence and perseverance. And behind each of you are families whose love, and in many instances, whose sacrifices, have helped bring you to this proud day. Congratulations to each and every one of you, and to your families.
Let me also thank you for contributing enormously to our university community in rich and diverse ways. Rich, because your intelligence and youth continue to challenge your professors. Diverse, because each of you brings something unique to our learning community. The different cultures and backgrounds you represent – close to 100 nationalities – contribute to our community’s intellectual and cultural vibrancy. Your creativity, energy and passion have done for us what rankings alone cannot do – you have contributed to the life and spirit of NUS. And to those of you who took up leadership positions in our Union, halls, clubs and societies, who gave energy to campus life, and who set traditions for those entering NUS, we thank you.
Moving On
You will soon be receiving your well-deserved degrees. You are stepping out into the world with all of its opportunities and uncertainties, bringing with you the knowledge you have gained here, to confront all that is changing rapidly or is still unknown. In this respect, you and I share something in common.
After 12 years of serving this University, with the last 8 as President, this will be my final Commencement Address at NUS. In December, I shall become the founding President of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Like you, I too am setting out on a new adventure.
In my first Commencement Address, I urged the Class of 2000 to stay on the journey of learning and discovery, the journey to their dreams. Today being my last Commencement with you, I would like to speak from my heart and share some personal stories and reflections. As I look back on my own life journey, I recognize how I have benefitted from the interplay of head, heart and luck.
Head or Heart?
Moving on from NUS, you will have many decisions to make. Which job to take? Finding a life partner? Fulfilling family obligations? Pursuing your dreams? Or just toeing the line?
These are questions that have also gone through my mind. Indeed, a younger colleague asked me recently how I made the choices in my life. She was curious about how one might go about making some of the big decisions in life.
I said to her: “For big decisions, it is not enough to think with your head, listen also to your heart. If you want to buy a car think rationally, with your head – you pay daily for it. If you are deciding on a life partner, go with your heart. You live with that person for a lifetime.”
Someone else in the conversation disagreed with me. He said: “Use your head, be calculating and logical for marriage. You know, the passion ends after the honeymoon. Your spouse is someone you have to put up with daily, and pay for dearly. Now when it comes to buying a car, you want to be passionate and follow your heart. Because you aren’t stuck with it for life and it won’t argue with you.”
The question is: Use your head or listen to your heart? Be logical and calculating, or go with your instincts and intuitions? You most likely would have found yourself in situations where your head and heart were at odds. This is the perennial dilemma – the head or the heart?
I remember when I was being recruited from the US in the mid-90’s to come back to Singapore from Brown University. My friends and peers in academia urged me to be sensible, to think like a scientist, and not to be swayed by my feelings for home. They pointed out I would be giving up lifetime tenure at a world-class research university for a five-year appointment at a teaching-oriented university. Some called it “career suicide in a cultural desert.” My peers also questioned the kind of academic freedom I would have in a country that forbade the selling of chewing gum.
And now my friends in Singapore are saying similar things about my going to Saudi Arabia: “Here, you are on home ground. There, you will be in a real desert. Here, you are in a top university in Asia. There, it isn’t even built yet. And while you may not care much for chewing gum, you do like your wine.”
All reasonable. All sensible. A scientist should think and act rationally. If this were the case, I would not have left the US to come home. I would not be here this morning. I would also not have made the decision to go to Saudi Arabia.
Singapore and Saudi Arabia have been two crossroads in my life. Each time, I have recalled something my mother taught me: “It’s very good to want something, but you mustn’t want something so much that you can’t bear to live without it. To go far, be ready to give up what you already have.” My mother was a Buddhist, and this was her understanding of the principle of non-attachment.
This principle has helped me through life. It taught me to be passionate, but not obsessed; to be determined, but not to define myself by either my successes or my failures. I have learned that non-attachment gives the mental and emotional resilience to get beyond failures and setbacks. You can also enjoy your successes without taking yourself too seriously.
I take comfort in knowing that ultimately, my decisions at each of the crossroads were not held back by the familiar, the comfortable, or attachment to what I might have accomplished.
Befriending the Unknown
In my work and life, I have often ventured into the unknown. Some may see it as going off the beaten track of logic and reason.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, scientific progress and breakthroughs don’t always occur with hard-headed logical analysis. There is a moment when all of a person’s training, all of the logic, all of the accumulated knowledge of an entire discipline, lead that scientist to the very edge of knowledge. Peering over the edge of the cliff into the unknown, all there is … is an abyss. The choice is stark – to stay put and tinker on the known side of the cliff or to take a leap into the unknown. In these leaps of faith and intuition, scientific breakthroughs take place.
You may recall a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indie comes to the edge of a cliff. It was only as he stepped into the dark void that a bridge appeared. I wish it was this simple to achieve scientific breakthroughs.
In your journeys through life, I am not asking you to leap blindly. I am saying that it is possible to jump, to leap, with both eyes open, and with open minds and open hearts. I first learned this not in the research lab, but during my childhood in Singapore.
The Singapore where I grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s was a Third World country. Like most people in those times, my family was far below the middle class of today. Upgrading for me was moving from sleeping on the floor to a canvas camp bed when I was 15. I trust that it’s neither my self-conceit nor my imagination when I say that my generation, who had so much less, risked more, in part because there was not much to lose. We had a shared attitude that things just had to be done, regardless of the potential setbacks. The motto of Singaporeans of the 60’s was “Just do it!” Nike adopted it later.
I have observed that your generation, especially those who have grown up in First World Singapore, tends to be more risk averse, content to ride the escalator of life, more inclined to preserve what you already have. I see many turning conservative too early in life. By conservative, I do not mean your political or social beliefs, but your more cautious and calculating approach to life, which we often associate with those who are much older or tied down with life’s baggage.
Conservatism strives to secure certainty. It attempts to offer a safe harbor from the unknown. But in these times, new uncertainties, new unknowns proliferate. There is no safe harbor from them. My hope is for you to befriend the unknown, rather than be intimidated; to explore life on your terms rather than those prescribed by others; to let go of parochial loyalties and let life’s experiences teach you.
As you journey forth, I know you will use your head. After all, you have a university degree. But I hope that when it comes to the big decisions in life, you might also make them with more of your heart. The heart alone does not guarantee you success. Marriages do fall apart, careers you love can come to a dead end, friends you trust can let you down. But if these were chosen with the heart as well, then the pain, while seemingly unbearable, at least helps you grow. You will come to know what matters most. You will know what true friendship is. You will come to know yourself better.
Know Yourself, Be Yourself
This brings me to my next point – know yourself. The Greeks inscribed at their temple at Delphi these words: “Know Thyself.” I would like to add: Don’t just know yourself; be yourself.
I like to think that from an early age, I was myself. As a young boy, I found joy in creating exciting experiences for myself rather than learning by rote in the classroom. I was curious. I also let myself be curious.
Pursuing my curiosity meant sometimes missing classes and exploring the longkangs to catch fish and going into the forest to catch spiders for spider fights with other boys my age. It also meant creating my own learning experiences, such as going to the library to find out how to build an antenna to improve reception on my short-wave radio. It meant poking a hole through the roof of my house to affix that antenna, to the horror of my mother when it next rained.
Admittedly, Singapore of the 60’s was a less orderly place and far less structured. Yet, it had more space, more freedom, to do my own thing. My preference for exploring the longkangs, instead of devotion to schoolbooks and passing exams, did lead to mediocre grades. Although they got me into trouble, my childhood escapades helped me develop my own interests, which would serve me well later as a researcher.
My boyish delight in taking things apart in order to understand what held them together led me to the emerging field of fracture mechanics. It has since become a key area in engineering science impacting the design of high performance structures, such as in nuclear reactors, aircrafts, and Formula One race cars. Many of my peers had wondered about my choice of specialization. To them, it was not in the mainstream and could have a short shelf life. If I had had a more calculating mind, I might not have chosen fracture mechanics. But, I wanted to be myself. Driven by curiosity and passion, my play became my work and my work became my play.
I hope that in your time here at NUS, you have developed an inkling of what stirs your heart. When you begin to know yourself, you also begin to discover where you can do well. Should your work and play become one and the same, I believe you will excel in extraordinary ways and accomplish the exceptional.
Luck
Let me now turn to luck.
Where does luck come from? Some say it comes from the supernatural realm, like spotting the right questions for an exam you are desperate to pass. Others feel that luck is pure chance, of being in the right place at the right time. As for me, I see that luck can be created.
This kind of luck comes from connecting with people. People can open doors and help you see windows of opportunity. The Chinese call this yuan fen （缘份）– when something is created out of serendipitous encounters. When Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer met in school, this was yuan, or chance encounters. When they became friends, sharing ideas and dreams, this was yuan fen.
In my own life, yuan fen too played a role. Some of you would be aware that I don’t have a bachelor’s degree. I’m probably the only faculty member here without a first degree. I could say that I didn’t apply to the University of Singapore, predecessor to NUS. The fact is I was not even eligible. I spoke earlier about my lack of interest in school, spending time instead discovering the world outside the classroom. I paid for my unquenchable curiosity with mediocre O-level grades. They were not good enough for me to take what you would now call the junior college track. I ended up going to Singapore Polytechnic.
During my Poly days, on the occasions I ran into the principal, Robert Edis, I would take the opportunity to share my ideas with him. He found them interesting enough to ask a visiting professor from McGill, Raymond Yong, to look at my work. Sufficiently impressed, Dr. Yong offered me a research assistantship at McGill.
From there, I went to Harvard, where my PhD advisor, John Hutchinson, would not only become my mentor, but my lifelong friend as well. John was brilliant and working in an emerging area of fracture mechanics, which fascinated me. He was one of the youngest full professors at Harvard, and close in age to me – only six years older. It was not just our youth which we had in common. We recognized in each other a shared passion. We reached out and connected with each other. John gave me the space and support that I needed to be myself, and thus, to be my best. Meeting John was my yuan. Working with him was yuan fen.
Closing
Graduands, today you become part of the NUS alumni family. You are moving on from NUS, just as I am. This University has been a big part of our lives. We leave with a warm spot in our hearts for the memories we share and the friends we have made here at NUS.
You are connected not only with your classmates, but also with generations before and after you. As you commence, let yuan fen work for you. It is people connecting with one another, sharing ideas and dreams, which enhances luck. The key is not how much attention you can get from others, but your giving regard to others – your engagement and interest in them.
We tend to have fixed ways of seeing people who are different. I hope we can let go of our preconceptions, our prejudices and even our conditioning. By taking a second look, in revisiting our assumptions – about people, places and ideas – in being open to the unknown, we improve our luck.
As you journey into the future, you will surely forget much of what I have said today. I do hope that as you go about life you will remember the interplay between head, heart, and luck. May your head and heart, powered by luck, bring you great success.
Congratulations on your Commencement.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
建築設計的文化與環境思考
在大學教建築設計課，大部分時候都是教導學生如何從一片空地建立一棟新的建築物，就算在設計的基地上已有一棟建築物，很多學生都會選擇將該棟建築物“拆掉”（實際上是當它不存在），在原有的土地上再重新設計一棟新建築物。這是當前大學建築教育最典型的教學方式，或許正因為這樣的原因，造成大部分學生在成為建築師後，最擅長的就是拆房子。而我們的社會，對於這樣拆除重建的現象，也經常樂此不疲。
回想起十幾年前在中原大學的開學日，當年的系主任郭肇立教授在建築系館的講堂裡致歡迎詞時，向台下的建築新生們講述一個他親身經歷的有趣故事。在修完碩士學位後，他曾經一度在美國著名建築師Steven Holl的事務所擔任設計師。有一天，建築師請他到一家餐廳吃飯，順便談一談最新的設計案。那是一個在沙地阿拉伯的案子，當郭氏問到該基地的概況時，建築師只是笑笑，拿了一塊餐巾，用筆在餐巾正中間畫了一條橫線，然後在線上寫天，線下面寫地。郭氏不解的再問，建築師這時候才笑說，那是一塊沙漠的土地！
郭教授一講完，全部台下的建築系新生都捧腹大笑。然而，又有多少人知道郭老想要表達的，其實是一個反面訊息，即在設計一棟建築物時，不能僅僅考量建築本身的設計而已，而是要考慮到基地的條件，甚至是考慮到在基地上是否已有建築。郭老要學生們認識的基地觀念，後來在大學的幾年設計課中獲得實踐。不論是哪一位講師帶課，都會要求學生到設計作業的實際基地去考察，從中慢慢的建立起學生對環境的認識。在設計作業中，無可避免的一定要先做好基地模型，然後在基地模上再放上自己設計的建築模型。在討論基地與建築的關係，便已經佔據了整個設計作業的前半段時間。
在大學建築系裡教育學生，培養學生對環境的關懷，以及提高他們對環境的認知是很重要的。但過去的建築系教育裡，所謂的環境，也只是建築範圍以外的事物，並不包括在基地上原有的建築物本身。換句話來說，建築設計始終還是專注於設計新房子，很少有關注到現有房子的問題，以及讓學生有評估建築維修再利用的可能性。
當全世界都在關注維護文化遺產的同時，建築系也必須跟進，除了教育學生設計新房子，也要懂得尊重環境，包括保留所有建造物，利用巧妙的設計手法，讓這些老舊的建築物活化再生。在處理建築與環境的問題時，建築設計者不再局限於技術性的設計操作，而是要學會如何思考，如何利用巧思，在不破壞基地原有文化的前提下，利用創意設計出一些新的東西來。
過去在建築系裡有一種現象，就是設計能力較好的學生，往往都是比較不尊重環境的。這些學生都有非常大膽及創新的頭腦，在設計結果時往往能讓人眼前一亮！然而，在回顧建築與基地的關係時，表現往往差強人意。而有另外一部分的學生，創意少了一點，經常會受到環境的束縛而無法暢快的發揮設計天分，設計的作品中規中矩，卻是對環境因素掌握得最好的人。
事實上，要養成一個兼顧創意，又同時尊重原有環境文化的設計師，是非常不容易的。而這些人，恰好是現今社會中最需要的一群人。保存文化需要新點子，在推動古蹟保存時，必須要有非常強的創意，除了保存古蹟的文化價值，也能同時賦予古蹟一個新的形象，這種新形象，往往就是讓古蹟能夠繼續被維護（生存）下去的原動力。
星洲日報／街巷語絲．張集強．2008.05.25
回想起十幾年前在中原大學的開學日，當年的系主任郭肇立教授在建築系館的講堂裡致歡迎詞時，向台下的建築新生們講述一個他親身經歷的有趣故事。在修完碩士學位後，他曾經一度在美國著名建築師Steven Holl的事務所擔任設計師。有一天，建築師請他到一家餐廳吃飯，順便談一談最新的設計案。那是一個在沙地阿拉伯的案子，當郭氏問到該基地的概況時，建築師只是笑笑，拿了一塊餐巾，用筆在餐巾正中間畫了一條橫線，然後在線上寫天，線下面寫地。郭氏不解的再問，建築師這時候才笑說，那是一塊沙漠的土地！
郭教授一講完，全部台下的建築系新生都捧腹大笑。然而，又有多少人知道郭老想要表達的，其實是一個反面訊息，即在設計一棟建築物時，不能僅僅考量建築本身的設計而已，而是要考慮到基地的條件，甚至是考慮到在基地上是否已有建築。郭老要學生們認識的基地觀念，後來在大學的幾年設計課中獲得實踐。不論是哪一位講師帶課，都會要求學生到設計作業的實際基地去考察，從中慢慢的建立起學生對環境的認識。在設計作業中，無可避免的一定要先做好基地模型，然後在基地模上再放上自己設計的建築模型。在討論基地與建築的關係，便已經佔據了整個設計作業的前半段時間。
在大學建築系裡教育學生，培養學生對環境的關懷，以及提高他們對環境的認知是很重要的。但過去的建築系教育裡，所謂的環境，也只是建築範圍以外的事物，並不包括在基地上原有的建築物本身。換句話來說，建築設計始終還是專注於設計新房子，很少有關注到現有房子的問題，以及讓學生有評估建築維修再利用的可能性。
當全世界都在關注維護文化遺產的同時，建築系也必須跟進，除了教育學生設計新房子，也要懂得尊重環境，包括保留所有建造物，利用巧妙的設計手法，讓這些老舊的建築物活化再生。在處理建築與環境的問題時，建築設計者不再局限於技術性的設計操作，而是要學會如何思考，如何利用巧思，在不破壞基地原有文化的前提下，利用創意設計出一些新的東西來。
過去在建築系裡有一種現象，就是設計能力較好的學生，往往都是比較不尊重環境的。這些學生都有非常大膽及創新的頭腦，在設計結果時往往能讓人眼前一亮！然而，在回顧建築與基地的關係時，表現往往差強人意。而有另外一部分的學生，創意少了一點，經常會受到環境的束縛而無法暢快的發揮設計天分，設計的作品中規中矩，卻是對環境因素掌握得最好的人。
事實上，要養成一個兼顧創意，又同時尊重原有環境文化的設計師，是非常不容易的。而這些人，恰好是現今社會中最需要的一群人。保存文化需要新點子，在推動古蹟保存時，必須要有非常強的創意，除了保存古蹟的文化價值，也能同時賦予古蹟一個新的形象，這種新形象，往往就是讓古蹟能夠繼續被維護（生存）下去的原動力。
星洲日報／街巷語絲．張集強．2008.05.25
華教意識與文化抵抗
馬來西亞華文教育的發展猶如一段文化苦旅，是一個“鐵樹開花”的傳奇。
有學者認為，馬來西亞華文教育從開始到現在，一直伴隨華族的抗爭。華教發展，就是一部華人為爭取母語教育權利不懈抗爭的歷史，是一場轟轟烈烈的“華教運動史”。
亦有人說，馬來西亞華文教育史的啟示，其深層意義，在於它所衍發出來的文化意涵和道德意義。這其中乃因文化在華人社群心中的神聖地位，以及華教領導人物的道德典範。
然而，回顧華教風雨路，“鐵樹開花”不會是偶然；維護華教為什麼要採取抗爭的方式？“文化”為何在華人社群裡佔有“神聖地位”？華教典範又是如何樹立的？
何謂“華教意識”？從內容上看，它是以維護馬來西亞華文教育為基本訴求；從功能上看，它在維護華文教育的同時，亦承載凝聚與整合華社，維護華人民族尊嚴與平等權益，甚而促進馬華社會對母語教育與文化的集體認同；在方式上，它更是一股來自民間的自覺，是自下而上、由華社自主的文化抵抗與民族救亡運動。
華教意識的建構有兩個基本特點：第一、華教意識的建構是在華教的發展中實現，並互為因果推動馬華社會的演化；第二、華教意識歷經一個建構的歷史過程，是一個動態的演化進程。
我們認為，馬來西亞華人社會之所以維護華文教育，對華教辦學的支持與認同，其華教意識的形成和強化，本身應是一個建構的過程。探索馬來西亞華文教育的發展，必須“回到歷史現場”，去理解馬來西亞複雜而動態的歷史背景，以及馬華社會的自覺，它是如何在回應外在挑戰時，進行文化抵抗和文化調適的內在脈絡。
我們知道，早期的東南亞華人移民社會是一個以商人為主導的社會。但，必須意識的是，移民社會的華人並不能光靠“單打獨斗”。海外華人的成功與否，還在於關鍵時刻如何善於操縱文化策略的能力所決定。華人移民社會必須面對馬來土著的既有權益及西方殖民勢力兩面的夾攻，如何凝聚華人社會集體認同的力量，來動員和整合華社，以回應外在的挑戰，就常常成了馬來西亞華人社會最為關注的要務。
而“文化”，尤其是華人文化之賴以延存和傳揚的重要媒介：華文教育，正是凝聚華人社群的一項重要資源。華文教育不僅是一項教育課題，同時也常被視為爭取民族權益，訴求於公平正義的社會群眾運動。這是馬來西亞華教發展一個相當重要的特點，亦是其華教意識建構的重要內涵。
此種帶有“文化抵抗”性質的傳統，早在英國殖民統治馬來亞時期就已經形成。從19世紀末、20世紀初文化民族主義的肇始，陳嘉庚為民族振興而傾家興學的精神，至華人社會群起與英殖民者週旋所展開的文化攻防戰，以及戰後創辦南洋大學帶動了民間華社的群眾性和草根性宣教運動，我們發現，“華教”這華社的公共事業，是為承傳民族文化、凝聚華人族群意識集體認同的有機載體。
然而，60年代華校改制風潮的拔旗易主、四面楚歌，現實之功利，世態之炎涼，華社芸芸眾生對華教前途和命運的支持與認同，事實上，恐非想像中那麼理所當然。
馬來西亞華文教育的發展，我們之所以稱為“華教運動”，還在於它在華人社會裡被賦予了生命意義和歷史意識。此種對華教認同的意識型態形塑，華社本身的自覺，一方面需要有心人憑其大無畏的精神、崇高的人格典範和實踐，為之宣導、傳揚，另一方面也是因為外在客觀環境逼迫使然，並由此激發起自下而上的民間自覺與草根性群眾動員。兩者之間是相互激盪的。
馬來西亞華社辦校興學的熱忱，以“靈魂教育”來看待和維護自己的母語教育，其動力常源自華社憂國憂民、護源保根的憂患意識，同時也要有大無畏的堅毅信念和道德勇氣。
此外，華文教育的發展也不是只圖虛名，呼喊口號，撈取政治資本的工具。發揚母語教育，同時還得務實辦學，提高學生素質，亦是華教發展的重點。
然而，華人社會長期的內耗，至21世紀初已顯露其疲態，民間華社對華教的支持和籌措辦學經費，猶如得長期繳付第二份高昂的所得稅般，沉重至極。再加上華人人口比例下跌，以及全球化及英化浪潮的沖擊，甚至是中國崛起，“中文價值”功利性提高，當馬華原初那種源於“憂患”的華教意識逐漸消解時，今後馬來西亞華文教育的發展，路在何方，還須正視。
但，又或許是要等到“全民主權”取代“族群主權”，馬來西亞各族均享有公平權益的時候，華教意識裡的文化抵抗和族群救亡成分才會真正獲得消解？
星洲日報／邊緣評論．安煥然．08／06／2008
有學者認為，馬來西亞華文教育從開始到現在，一直伴隨華族的抗爭。華教發展，就是一部華人為爭取母語教育權利不懈抗爭的歷史，是一場轟轟烈烈的“華教運動史”。
亦有人說，馬來西亞華文教育史的啟示，其深層意義，在於它所衍發出來的文化意涵和道德意義。這其中乃因文化在華人社群心中的神聖地位，以及華教領導人物的道德典範。
然而，回顧華教風雨路，“鐵樹開花”不會是偶然；維護華教為什麼要採取抗爭的方式？“文化”為何在華人社群裡佔有“神聖地位”？華教典範又是如何樹立的？
何謂“華教意識”？從內容上看，它是以維護馬來西亞華文教育為基本訴求；從功能上看，它在維護華文教育的同時，亦承載凝聚與整合華社，維護華人民族尊嚴與平等權益，甚而促進馬華社會對母語教育與文化的集體認同；在方式上，它更是一股來自民間的自覺，是自下而上、由華社自主的文化抵抗與民族救亡運動。
華教意識的建構有兩個基本特點：第一、華教意識的建構是在華教的發展中實現，並互為因果推動馬華社會的演化；第二、華教意識歷經一個建構的歷史過程，是一個動態的演化進程。
我們認為，馬來西亞華人社會之所以維護華文教育，對華教辦學的支持與認同，其華教意識的形成和強化，本身應是一個建構的過程。探索馬來西亞華文教育的發展，必須“回到歷史現場”，去理解馬來西亞複雜而動態的歷史背景，以及馬華社會的自覺，它是如何在回應外在挑戰時，進行文化抵抗和文化調適的內在脈絡。
我們知道，早期的東南亞華人移民社會是一個以商人為主導的社會。但，必須意識的是，移民社會的華人並不能光靠“單打獨斗”。海外華人的成功與否，還在於關鍵時刻如何善於操縱文化策略的能力所決定。華人移民社會必須面對馬來土著的既有權益及西方殖民勢力兩面的夾攻，如何凝聚華人社會集體認同的力量，來動員和整合華社，以回應外在的挑戰，就常常成了馬來西亞華人社會最為關注的要務。
而“文化”，尤其是華人文化之賴以延存和傳揚的重要媒介：華文教育，正是凝聚華人社群的一項重要資源。華文教育不僅是一項教育課題，同時也常被視為爭取民族權益，訴求於公平正義的社會群眾運動。這是馬來西亞華教發展一個相當重要的特點，亦是其華教意識建構的重要內涵。
此種帶有“文化抵抗”性質的傳統，早在英國殖民統治馬來亞時期就已經形成。從19世紀末、20世紀初文化民族主義的肇始，陳嘉庚為民族振興而傾家興學的精神，至華人社會群起與英殖民者週旋所展開的文化攻防戰，以及戰後創辦南洋大學帶動了民間華社的群眾性和草根性宣教運動，我們發現，“華教”這華社的公共事業，是為承傳民族文化、凝聚華人族群意識集體認同的有機載體。
然而，60年代華校改制風潮的拔旗易主、四面楚歌，現實之功利，世態之炎涼，華社芸芸眾生對華教前途和命運的支持與認同，事實上，恐非想像中那麼理所當然。
馬來西亞華文教育的發展，我們之所以稱為“華教運動”，還在於它在華人社會裡被賦予了生命意義和歷史意識。此種對華教認同的意識型態形塑，華社本身的自覺，一方面需要有心人憑其大無畏的精神、崇高的人格典範和實踐，為之宣導、傳揚，另一方面也是因為外在客觀環境逼迫使然，並由此激發起自下而上的民間自覺與草根性群眾動員。兩者之間是相互激盪的。
馬來西亞華社辦校興學的熱忱，以“靈魂教育”來看待和維護自己的母語教育，其動力常源自華社憂國憂民、護源保根的憂患意識，同時也要有大無畏的堅毅信念和道德勇氣。
此外，華文教育的發展也不是只圖虛名，呼喊口號，撈取政治資本的工具。發揚母語教育，同時還得務實辦學，提高學生素質，亦是華教發展的重點。
然而，華人社會長期的內耗，至21世紀初已顯露其疲態，民間華社對華教的支持和籌措辦學經費，猶如得長期繳付第二份高昂的所得稅般，沉重至極。再加上華人人口比例下跌，以及全球化及英化浪潮的沖擊，甚至是中國崛起，“中文價值”功利性提高，當馬華原初那種源於“憂患”的華教意識逐漸消解時，今後馬來西亞華文教育的發展，路在何方，還須正視。
但，又或許是要等到“全民主權”取代“族群主權”，馬來西亞各族均享有公平權益的時候，華教意識裡的文化抵抗和族群救亡成分才會真正獲得消解？
星洲日報／邊緣評論．安煥然．08／06／2008
不為帝王唱歌 穿過歷史駭浪的好漢
文壇宿將、人權斗士柏楊4月29日凌晨1時12分，因呼吸衰竭病逝台灣新店耕莘醫院，享年89歲。柏老辭世的消息傳出，海內外華人文化界同感悲傷。本刊特選輯名家悼念文章，緬懷柏老精神。
堅持常識價值的人格者（楊照）
80年代柏楊先生開始他的《資治通鑑》白話版大工程時，我是個在大學裡自認為努力研讀史學的學生，也曾花過不少時間念完《資治通鑑》，寫過報告分析司馬光的史學方法與史學立場。白話版《資治通鑑》一出版，我馬上找了書來讀，讀後覺得大失所望。柏楊根本沒有什麼歷史上的創見嘛！他的白話翻譯小心翼翼，卻不見得注意到一些比較麻煩的字句解釋，而且他的評論，不脫一般常識的歷史教訓方向。
那個年代，同時也是個解嚴鬆綁的年代。柏楊因政治理由下獄，他早年用“郭衣洞”本名寫的小說連帶查禁多年，到那個時候終於得以重見天日。我又熱心地將書找來讀了，還是頗感失望。郭衣洞的小說，有50年代清楚的時代氣味，卻沒有強烈的個人風格，更沒有小說技藝上的實驗突破。換句話說，跟他的歷史見解一樣，充滿了可以預見的常識看法。
由於這樣的閱讀經驗，好多年我將對柏楊的印象，分成兩塊。一塊是寫《醜陋的中國人》、批判“醬缸文化”的柏楊，尖銳犀利，既帶點憤世嫉俗的衝動，又具備信手拈來的諷刺言詞幽默。另外一塊，則是早年寫小說的“郭衣洞”和後來翻譯《資治通鑑》的柏楊，相反地有點溫吞有點陳腐，和一般常識牽扯得很近很近。
不必說，我欣賞佩服前一個柏楊，卻疏離後一個柏楊，而且認為理解柏楊最大的問題應該是解釋：為什麼同一個人，會表現出如此不同的兩種人格風格呢？
抱持這樣的困惑，我讀了柏楊先生後來出版的回憶錄。回憶錄還沒讀完，我領悟了自己完全走錯方向問錯問題。我以為斷裂存在的兩個柏楊，其實是再堅實不過的一個整體啊！柏楊徹頭徹尾就是個常識感常識判斷強烈的人，他的常識是非價值概念讓他看到中國文化、現實社會裡那麼多不合理的處境，於是發而為文批判。他的常識態度，在小說在雜文在歷史研究中，一以貫之。
真正的問題反而是：為什麼我在之前會看不到柏楊的“常識一致性”？反覆思考，我明白了。那是因為社會長期離開常識標準那麼遠，一個簡單想要伸張基本常識理性的人，都會變成異議者，被戴上叛逆色彩。柏楊從來不是個叛逆極端的人，他甚至不是個刻薄帶刺的人，從頭到尾只是個堅持溫和常識立場的人。他的異議身分是和社會的錯亂對照對比出來的。
年輕的時候，我們以為特立獨行才能突顯自我成就自我。增加了歲月領悟，我們才回頭理解，很多時候，看似沒有什麼創意光芒的常識，比刻意求新的誇飾，更有力量。而且不管在什麼顛沛流離環境中都不放棄常識判斷立場，往往也比以新奇面貌向社會討取掌聲更艱難。
如此，我才真正懂得了柏楊的著作與柏楊生命的確實位置、確實分量。
我還能為柏老做些甚麼？（李瑞騰）
我又去了華岡新村13號，站在和柏老第一次合影的現場。那背後是于右任送給“紫忱老兄”的標準草書：天無私覆，日月無私照……。時間是1977年，我猶是一位瘦弱的碩士生，而剛從綠島歷劫歸來的柏老，或許是染黑了白髮，竟顯得出奇年輕，笑容燦爛，兩眼炯炯有神，全不像走過死蔭幽谷的慘狀。
30年過去了。我雖來不及參與他前面50餘年的顛沛流離歲月；但後30年，可算是忘年之交吧，包括他再結良緣、10年通鑑以及許許多多人文活動，有時在旁邊看，有時竟也在現場做要緊的事；有人找上他，要做節目，要拍紀錄片，要做專題，他常要我代他說些話，而我總認認真真地準備，他也不忘說謝。
我一點一滴了解他，陪他重返橫貫公路古柏楊部落，陪他走一趟吉隆坡，我感受到了他在掌聲中微帶不安，彷彿正有千百雙眼看他，期待他的關愛甚至協助等等，但他能怎樣？他自己也在衰老中。回首過去，他在蒼茫中趕路，好像前面還非常遙遠。
資治通鑑完成了，28冊的《柏楊全集》也出齊了，幾年間港台兩地舉辦了3場以他為名的國際會議，柏老還有什麼遺願未了嗎？我常想這個問題，但我沒有答案，也不能問他，現在再也不用問了。我覺得柏老留給我們無比珍貴而豐碩的文化資產，小說、雜文、報導文學、古典詩各文類都有，都有特色，都需要我們重新去評估；歷史著述，特別是《柏楊曰》，應成為現代通鑑學。此外，他的流離人生，他所受的政治迫害，可以成為一個個案，去追蹤探討20世紀一個曾不見容於兩岸政權的知識分子，在時空的流轉中，究竟展現了什麼樣的身姿？
在台灣新政權即將接手之際，柏老棄世，這可能是個遺憾，應該讓他健健康康多活幾年，看看新的時代，看看我們是否仍然醜陋！
哭過以後，我會冷靜想想：我還能為柏老做些什麼？
一輩子說真話（陳宛茜）
柏楊一輩子都在說真話。因說真話入獄10年、妻子求去，他無怨無悔；因說真話成為兩岸中國人的偶像，他也從不驕矜。他曾在封筆之作上寫道“不為帝王唱讚歌，只為蒼生說人話”，正是他一生的寫照。
60年代正值台灣政府推動中華文化復興運動之際，柏楊卻在報上為文，直指中華文化是“醬缸文化”，中國人是“醜陋的中國人”，給當權者狠狠一巴掌。他自知“每一篇文章刊登時，對無所不在的國民黨特務而言，幾乎都是一記強力震撼”，“可是我控制不了自己，一遇到不公義的事，就像聽到號角的戰馬，忍不住奮蹄長嘶。”
去年金庸來訪，王榮文帶金庸送給柏楊的新書，上山探望柏楊。他問病榻中的柏楊想什麼，柏楊回答：“想為什麼西方民主比東方好？台灣民主比中國好？台灣民主的品質為什麼不好？”後來柏楊以毛筆回信給金庸，試筆時寫下一段話：“我們都是用西方民主的輪胎走東方的‘官場現形記’，不漏氣才怪！”即使在病中，柏楊念茲在茲的還是台灣的民主，說的依然是清醒無比的真話。
柏老雖被視為“台灣的良心”，但晚年卻常有“沒人聽我說話”的感慨。前年9月封筆前，他對寫作熱情不減，卻只有香港《明報》找他寫專欄，曾擲筆長嘆“台灣沒人找我寫文章”。
說來諷刺。就在柏老纏綿病榻、開不了口之際，正逢總統大選；他的出入院，病床上無意識的搖頭、點頭或嘆氣，都被藍綠陣營各自解讀成他們想要的答案。這時候的柏老，最後成為一個被政治粗暴挪用的象徵符號。
如今，柏老或許想告訴大家，不要再利用他的嘴巴說話了。如果你想念柏老，就打開他的著作，好好聽聽他不畏權勢的真話。
封面專題 星洲廣場 2008-05-04 11:32
堅持常識價值的人格者（楊照）
80年代柏楊先生開始他的《資治通鑑》白話版大工程時，我是個在大學裡自認為努力研讀史學的學生，也曾花過不少時間念完《資治通鑑》，寫過報告分析司馬光的史學方法與史學立場。白話版《資治通鑑》一出版，我馬上找了書來讀，讀後覺得大失所望。柏楊根本沒有什麼歷史上的創見嘛！他的白話翻譯小心翼翼，卻不見得注意到一些比較麻煩的字句解釋，而且他的評論，不脫一般常識的歷史教訓方向。
那個年代，同時也是個解嚴鬆綁的年代。柏楊因政治理由下獄，他早年用“郭衣洞”本名寫的小說連帶查禁多年，到那個時候終於得以重見天日。我又熱心地將書找來讀了，還是頗感失望。郭衣洞的小說，有50年代清楚的時代氣味，卻沒有強烈的個人風格，更沒有小說技藝上的實驗突破。換句話說，跟他的歷史見解一樣，充滿了可以預見的常識看法。
由於這樣的閱讀經驗，好多年我將對柏楊的印象，分成兩塊。一塊是寫《醜陋的中國人》、批判“醬缸文化”的柏楊，尖銳犀利，既帶點憤世嫉俗的衝動，又具備信手拈來的諷刺言詞幽默。另外一塊，則是早年寫小說的“郭衣洞”和後來翻譯《資治通鑑》的柏楊，相反地有點溫吞有點陳腐，和一般常識牽扯得很近很近。
不必說，我欣賞佩服前一個柏楊，卻疏離後一個柏楊，而且認為理解柏楊最大的問題應該是解釋：為什麼同一個人，會表現出如此不同的兩種人格風格呢？
抱持這樣的困惑，我讀了柏楊先生後來出版的回憶錄。回憶錄還沒讀完，我領悟了自己完全走錯方向問錯問題。我以為斷裂存在的兩個柏楊，其實是再堅實不過的一個整體啊！柏楊徹頭徹尾就是個常識感常識判斷強烈的人，他的常識是非價值概念讓他看到中國文化、現實社會裡那麼多不合理的處境，於是發而為文批判。他的常識態度，在小說在雜文在歷史研究中，一以貫之。
真正的問題反而是：為什麼我在之前會看不到柏楊的“常識一致性”？反覆思考，我明白了。那是因為社會長期離開常識標準那麼遠，一個簡單想要伸張基本常識理性的人，都會變成異議者，被戴上叛逆色彩。柏楊從來不是個叛逆極端的人，他甚至不是個刻薄帶刺的人，從頭到尾只是個堅持溫和常識立場的人。他的異議身分是和社會的錯亂對照對比出來的。
年輕的時候，我們以為特立獨行才能突顯自我成就自我。增加了歲月領悟，我們才回頭理解，很多時候，看似沒有什麼創意光芒的常識，比刻意求新的誇飾，更有力量。而且不管在什麼顛沛流離環境中都不放棄常識判斷立場，往往也比以新奇面貌向社會討取掌聲更艱難。
如此，我才真正懂得了柏楊的著作與柏楊生命的確實位置、確實分量。
我還能為柏老做些甚麼？（李瑞騰）
我又去了華岡新村13號，站在和柏老第一次合影的現場。那背後是于右任送給“紫忱老兄”的標準草書：天無私覆，日月無私照……。時間是1977年，我猶是一位瘦弱的碩士生，而剛從綠島歷劫歸來的柏老，或許是染黑了白髮，竟顯得出奇年輕，笑容燦爛，兩眼炯炯有神，全不像走過死蔭幽谷的慘狀。
30年過去了。我雖來不及參與他前面50餘年的顛沛流離歲月；但後30年，可算是忘年之交吧，包括他再結良緣、10年通鑑以及許許多多人文活動，有時在旁邊看，有時竟也在現場做要緊的事；有人找上他，要做節目，要拍紀錄片，要做專題，他常要我代他說些話，而我總認認真真地準備，他也不忘說謝。
我一點一滴了解他，陪他重返橫貫公路古柏楊部落，陪他走一趟吉隆坡，我感受到了他在掌聲中微帶不安，彷彿正有千百雙眼看他，期待他的關愛甚至協助等等，但他能怎樣？他自己也在衰老中。回首過去，他在蒼茫中趕路，好像前面還非常遙遠。
資治通鑑完成了，28冊的《柏楊全集》也出齊了，幾年間港台兩地舉辦了3場以他為名的國際會議，柏老還有什麼遺願未了嗎？我常想這個問題，但我沒有答案，也不能問他，現在再也不用問了。我覺得柏老留給我們無比珍貴而豐碩的文化資產，小說、雜文、報導文學、古典詩各文類都有，都有特色，都需要我們重新去評估；歷史著述，特別是《柏楊曰》，應成為現代通鑑學。此外，他的流離人生，他所受的政治迫害，可以成為一個個案，去追蹤探討20世紀一個曾不見容於兩岸政權的知識分子，在時空的流轉中，究竟展現了什麼樣的身姿？
在台灣新政權即將接手之際，柏老棄世，這可能是個遺憾，應該讓他健健康康多活幾年，看看新的時代，看看我們是否仍然醜陋！
哭過以後，我會冷靜想想：我還能為柏老做些什麼？
一輩子說真話（陳宛茜）
柏楊一輩子都在說真話。因說真話入獄10年、妻子求去，他無怨無悔；因說真話成為兩岸中國人的偶像，他也從不驕矜。他曾在封筆之作上寫道“不為帝王唱讚歌，只為蒼生說人話”，正是他一生的寫照。
60年代正值台灣政府推動中華文化復興運動之際，柏楊卻在報上為文，直指中華文化是“醬缸文化”，中國人是“醜陋的中國人”，給當權者狠狠一巴掌。他自知“每一篇文章刊登時，對無所不在的國民黨特務而言，幾乎都是一記強力震撼”，“可是我控制不了自己，一遇到不公義的事，就像聽到號角的戰馬，忍不住奮蹄長嘶。”
去年金庸來訪，王榮文帶金庸送給柏楊的新書，上山探望柏楊。他問病榻中的柏楊想什麼，柏楊回答：“想為什麼西方民主比東方好？台灣民主比中國好？台灣民主的品質為什麼不好？”後來柏楊以毛筆回信給金庸，試筆時寫下一段話：“我們都是用西方民主的輪胎走東方的‘官場現形記’，不漏氣才怪！”即使在病中，柏楊念茲在茲的還是台灣的民主，說的依然是清醒無比的真話。
柏老雖被視為“台灣的良心”，但晚年卻常有“沒人聽我說話”的感慨。前年9月封筆前，他對寫作熱情不減，卻只有香港《明報》找他寫專欄，曾擲筆長嘆“台灣沒人找我寫文章”。
說來諷刺。就在柏老纏綿病榻、開不了口之際，正逢總統大選；他的出入院，病床上無意識的搖頭、點頭或嘆氣，都被藍綠陣營各自解讀成他們想要的答案。這時候的柏老，最後成為一個被政治粗暴挪用的象徵符號。
如今，柏老或許想告訴大家，不要再利用他的嘴巴說話了。如果你想念柏老，就打開他的著作，好好聽聽他不畏權勢的真話。
封面專題 星洲廣場 2008-05-04 11:32
Saturday, May 31, 2008
半顆心在生活
副刊 星雲 2008-05-26 17:05
一個作家勸告世人，生活要用心，全心全意活，不要隨隨便便，只用半顆心在生活。
佛教中常說，好好吃飯，好好睡覺。旨意是在提醒佛教徒在吃飯時候，全心吃飯；在睡覺時候，全心睡覺。聽起來似乎非常可笑。認真思考，在日常生活中，我們有沒有一心一意在做眼前的事情呢？
吃飯時候，還一邊談公事，或者一邊揣想要如何賺多些外快。睡覺時候，帶白天尚未完成的公事私事一齊到床上去，甚至做夢也夢到在趕公車或者是超速開車，正要急去辦事。
放下一切，仔細地咀嚼，才知道自己吃進嘴里的是甚麼味道。放下一切，腦袋不裝東西，睡一個安心的覺，直到自然醒來，已經變得是一種難得。
半心生活是你的我的他的日子。
可憐的現代人。
星洲日報／文：大耳‧2008.05.23
一個作家勸告世人，生活要用心，全心全意活，不要隨隨便便，只用半顆心在生活。
佛教中常說，好好吃飯，好好睡覺。旨意是在提醒佛教徒在吃飯時候，全心吃飯；在睡覺時候，全心睡覺。聽起來似乎非常可笑。認真思考，在日常生活中，我們有沒有一心一意在做眼前的事情呢？
吃飯時候，還一邊談公事，或者一邊揣想要如何賺多些外快。睡覺時候，帶白天尚未完成的公事私事一齊到床上去，甚至做夢也夢到在趕公車或者是超速開車，正要急去辦事。
放下一切，仔細地咀嚼，才知道自己吃進嘴里的是甚麼味道。放下一切，腦袋不裝東西，睡一個安心的覺，直到自然醒來，已經變得是一種難得。
半心生活是你的我的他的日子。
可憐的現代人。
星洲日報／文：大耳‧2008.05.23
Saturday, May 3, 2008
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