Don’t let a narrow mindset hinder the journey of good deeds

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Yicheng · Jan 17, 2025
On the journey of advancing public welfare, we often encounter the criticism: “Your charity seems too religious.” This is a classic example of a narrow perspective—one that is influenced by bias, limitations, or even misunderstanding, and fails to truly consider the viewpoint of those involved in charitable efforts. To better explain our original intentions, it […]

On the journey of advancing public welfare, we often encounter the criticism: “Your charity seems too religious.” This is a classic example of a narrow perspective—one that is influenced by bias, limitations, or even misunderstanding, and fails to truly consider the viewpoint of those involved in charitable efforts. To better explain our original intentions, it is necessary to offer a clarification, and we hope that every reader can approach the journey of kindness with a broader perspective.

I. The essence of Yicheng welfare

Our commitment has been clear from the beginning. That is to pursue welfare and happiness for everyone, and to promote civilization for the world.

Since day one, our cause has been grounded in this belief. What’s truly thought-provoking, however, is that over the years, all of our funding and support have come, without exception, from the strength of people with religious faiths or spiritual beliefs—those who are committed to turning their faith, love, and kindness into tangible actions. Through their sincerity and dedication, they have helped advance our mission, spreading happiness and promoting civilization.

Unfortunately, up until now, we have not received support from those identified as “civilized individuals” or “non-believers.” In fact, this type of support has been absent.

II. Why does kindness require the basis of faith?

The path of kindness is never a smooth one. It requires unwavering belief, inner strength, and selfless dedication—qualities that faith provides. Kindness without the support of faith often lacks lasting motivation and struggles to endure the pressures and challenges of reality.

The supporters of our organization are willing to persist in doing good in this complex world precisely because of their deep faith. They understand that charity is not an easy task and may even involve sacrifice, yet they are still willing to shoulder this responsibility.

Here we would like to share a story.

A painter was interviewed by a host. The host candidly told him, “I don’t like your paintings at all, and I don’t think you’re a good artist.”

The painter smiled calmly and replied, “You’re right, and that’s exactly why I need to keep striving.”

This story teaches us that when faced with external doubt and misunderstanding, the important thing is not to argue, but to stay loyal to our beliefs and respond through actions. Our cause, much like the painter’s work, may not be understood by everyone, but that will not stop us from pursuing happiness and civilization. The voices of doubt will not hold us back; instead, they serve as a source of motivation for us to keep striving and improving.

III. Don’t judge our world through your narrow perspective

On the path of charity, we sometimes have to face not just challenges but also external misunderstanding and even hostile criticism. Some people try to use their own experiences, perspectives, and logic to make sense of our world and social issues, but such reasoning often lacks validity.

The reality of kindness is far more complex than they imagine. In some places, working to benefit society can come with the constant threat of losing one’s life. This isn’t an exaggeration. It’s the harsh reality many people involved in public welfare face. So, trying to understand the essence of charity through personal logic, without considering the deep faith and sense of mission behind it, only leads to distorted conclusions.

IV. Let kindness overcome the constraints of a limited view

In the face of these misunderstandings, we will not give up or back down. We believe that true kindness is not limited by narrow personal views, but is a force that can break through prejudice and cross boundaries.

Charity initiatives require not only the support of people of faiths and beliefs but also the understanding and participation of everyone. Each person has the choice to approach charity with an open mind, rather than criticizing and rejecting it with a narrow perspective.

No matter how the outside world evaluates us, we will continue to rely on the strength of our faith to stay true to the path of doing good. Just like the painter’s calm response to the host, doubt will only drive us to work harder, not retreat.

The meaning of public welfare lies in seeking happiness for all and civilization for the world. Through our actions, we hope to inspire more people to recognize and practice kindness, regardless of their faith, because kindness should be a universal value that transcends all boundaries.

Conclusion

Don’t allow personal narrow views to hinder kindness, and never let bias and misunderstanding diminish the efforts of those who contribute to public welfare. The world needs more understanding, support, and faith to unite in driving the progress of human happiness and civilization.

We are still on the journey, even though the road is fraught with challenges. Our belief remains unchanged: to seek welfare for all and civilization for the world. We firmly believe that true kindness is a light that is unafraid of doubt and sacrifice, one that will penetrate all narrowness and illuminate the entire world.

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让慈善回归真爱,回归慈悲

Yicheng · Nov 4, 2024

背离慈悲的慈善,沦为善良的花样表演 作为一名公益成员,有些事情深深的刺痛了我,让我不断思考从而写了这篇文章。 在当今社会,慈善活动无处不在,从捐款、捐物到志愿服务,越来越多人通过慈善表达善意。然而,伴随着慈善事业的快速发展,我们也常常看到一些乱象:过度包装的慈善、商业化的慈善,甚至以慈善为名获取个人利益的现象时有发生。这样的慈善,失去了原本应有的纯粹性。要让慈善真正帮助他人、惠及社会,我们必须让它回归真爱,回归慈悲,才能避免走向歧途。 一、慈善的核心:发自内心的真爱与无私的慈悲 慈善的根本应当是发自内心的真爱。真爱,是一种不求回报的情感,是对他人无条件的关怀。慈悲,则是一种包容与接纳,不仅体现在减轻他人痛苦,更体现在一种深刻的平等心。这样的慈善,不是居高临下的施舍,而是源于对受助者尊严的理解与关心。真正的慈善应当是平等的、温暖的,不因施善者的身份、地位而变质。 在中国传统文化中,“仁”与“慈”都是慈善的重要核心。孔子提倡“仁者爱人”,这种“仁”是一种博爱的关怀,涵盖了对所有人的爱与善意。佛教中的“慈悲”也是如此,倡导对众生的平等之心,帮助他们脱离苦海而不求回报。因此,慈善若要避免误入歧途,必须回到“真爱”和“慈悲”这一核心。 二、慈善的歧途:形式化与功利化的偏差 遗憾的是,许多慈善活动在实施过程中逐渐偏离了初衷,陷入了形式化与功利化的误区。 1. 形式化的慈善:一些慈善活动表面上看起来声势浩大、形式完备,实则缺乏对受助者的真正关怀。比如,有些活动只是简单地发放物资、组织捐款,却未真正了解受助者的需求,甚至不顾受助者的感受进行大规模宣传。这种缺乏深度的形式化慈善,往往忽视了慈善的真正意义,只关注活动的完成度而非实质的帮助,让受助者成为被展示的对象,被迫为了生计进行表演,失去尊严和主体性。 2. 功利化的慈善:有些慈善行为背后掺杂了施善者的功利性目的,慈善成为一种品牌宣传或个人形象的营销手段。企业在捐赠后迅速通过媒体曝光,以获得社会认可;个人在施善时往往关注“捐了多少”“收获多少掌声”,而非实际帮到了谁。这种以利益为驱动的“慈善”行为,容易让人们对慈善的本质产生怀疑,甚至可能让受助者感觉自己被利用,损害了慈善本应带来的温暖与信任。 三、让慈善回归真爱与慈悲:走向持久的善意 要避免慈善走上歧途,真正发挥其温暖人心、改变社会的作用,我们必须让慈善回归真爱与慈悲。这种回归体现在动机、方式和效果三个方面:  1. 从真爱出发,发自内心的关怀:慈善的初衷应当是对他人的关怀,而非功利的计算。真正的慈善行为源自对他人痛苦的同理心,而不是对自身形象的关注。因此,无论是个人还是组织,参与慈善时应多问自己:这是否真正帮助了对方?慈善的过程是否符合对方的尊严?当我们以真爱为出发点,慈善将不再是浮于表面的数字,而是触及人心的温暖。  2. 尊重受助者,赋予他们主体性:慈善不应当是单方面的给予,而是彼此的平等互动。受助者并非施舍的对象,他们是有尊严、有感情的个体。因此,慈善活动应当从受助者的实际需求出发,关注他们的想法与感受。通过倾听他们的声音,让他们在慈善过程中发挥主动性,慈善才能真正尊重受助者的人格与独立性。 3. 注重长效,避免短期的“一次性善意”:许多短期的慈善行为只能暂时缓解困难,无法从根本上改变受助者的生活。要让慈善产生持久的影响,我们应当从教育、职业培训、医疗保障等方面入手,为受助者提供自立的机会与能力。这样的慈善,不仅仅是简单的物资援助,更是助人“自助”的支持,帮助受助者在长期中摆脱困境,拥有改变生活的能力。  4. 行善,不追求形式化的包装:慈善的价值在于温暖他人心灵,而非博取社会的关注。我们可以选择行善,不要太追求曝光与赞誉,而是默默地将爱传递给需要帮助的人。这样的慈善不带特别的自我展示的成分,而是单纯地关注如何有效帮助受助者,让他们感受到真正的关怀。 结语 慈善的真义不仅在于物质上的帮助,更在于心灵的关怀。当慈善回归真爱和慈悲,它不仅能够缓解个体的痛苦,更能让整个社会感受到爱与温暖。慈善是一种心灵的联系,是人与人之间深层的理解与支持,而不仅仅是冷冰冰的数字或表面的宣传。通过真爱与慈悲,我们不仅改变了受助者的生活,也净化了我们自己的内心,让善意如涓涓细流,持久地滋养社会。 让慈善回归真爱,回归慈悲,我们将避免走上功利化与形式化的歧途。在未来的慈善道路上,让我们用真诚去传递爱,用无私去感化心灵,让每一个善举都能温暖人心,为社会带来持久的和谐与善意。

The Gap in Education is the Gap in Civilization

Daohe · Nov 4, 2024

Thinking on Education Gap Introduction Throughout different historical periods, disparities in education have consistently reflected gaps in civilization. Education is the cornerstone for shaping the qualities of individuals, building social culture and values, and driving technological innovation. Differences in educational levels directly affect the degree of civilization within a society. A review of human history […]

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