Vivian Jia｜Practicing Philanthropy with the Spirit of Transcendence
Date：2021-09-27
Source: China-Europe-America Wechat Official Account
(Click to Watch Video)
Board of Trustees of China-Europe-America Global Initiative, Co-founder of East Langkun, Vivian Jia's Speech
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.
As early as 1500 years ago, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Buddhist organizations in China created "Wu Jin Cang", which means everything is covered within the limitless, as a philanthropic foundation to help those in need. This practice of compassion and kindness corresponds to the doctrine in the Buddhist classic that "the infinite mercy gives happiness to all flesh, while the infinite compassion saves all flesh from tribulations". In between the infinite mercy and the infinite compassion resides the pure happiness and the release from pain.
In today's world, technology is developing at a staggering speed, and the process of globalization bounds up the destiny of each individual. What remains unchanged is the compassion of people and the essence of philanthropy. This is passed down from generation to generation. I believe that at the root of philanthropy is the pursuit of beauty deep down in people's heart.
What is beauty? We may find the answer in the earliest Chinese character dictionary, Shuowen Jiezi, from the Eastern Han period. According to this dictionary, a big goat is taken as beautiful because it tastes good. This is the very first explanation of beauty in Chinese language. In the following 2000 years, the concept of beauty has penetrated into all aspects of our social lives like drops of spring rain that nourish all silently. But at its core, beauty derives from the most unadorned part of humanity. Beauty is beyond perceptual and utilitarian, and beauty can be shared.
As Goethe said, only arts can heal a broken heart. We should follow the path that our ancestors have paved and embark on the journey again. Foundations today may not have a long history, but the notion of philanthropy has been deeply rooted in people's heart, and the pursuit of beauty is the treasure that has been carried on through generations. In today's philanthropy dialogue, speakers from China, Europe and America have all made the most precious commitments. We should join our efforts and help those in need with our strengths. We will meet our commitments in specific fields in the upcoming future.
Hereby I want to emphasize that to my understanding, philanthropy needs to be done with the spirit of practicality. We are now faced with the very same problems. If China can benefit from the experiences of foreign countries, then other countries could also learn from China's experiences. If we can learn our lessons from history, future generations could also find their directions from our footprints. Philanthropic foundations are like a dose of medicine that can awaken the voice from our inner worlds, and it is our mission to confront the complexity of the world with the order of our hearts.
Philanthropy is not a cause for a single individual or a single group of people. Instead, it needs to be passed on from generation to generation. And philanthropy goes beyond the boundary of nations and races. It can only be realized through the exploration, endeavor and cooperation of all countries and nations. Mencius said in 300 B.C. that "a great man is one who retains the heart of utter innocence". This is a simple yet profound truth, and our march is lengthy yet steadfast.
