I have an interesting conversation with a man who speaks only Mandarin. Though I do not speak much Mandarin, I could chat with him for almost half an hour about faith. I must say it is one of the more interesting conversation touching on faith.
During my voluntary rounds, I go with an open heart, an open mind and priority is for the patients. It is all about them and no one else. Not even God. And certainly not about me. Since I have such an open mind relating to religion, I do not have problems with that. I read a lot of forum discussions, websites and etc and I accepted that people do not have to believe in what I believe.
So, after the normal conversation about health and what they are planning to do next, their doctor’s advices and listening to their discomforts etc, I asked him if he holds on to a faith. First he told me that he has seen Sai Baba’s devotees performing miracles on his mother. He told me stories what he saw with his own eyes.
However, he said he wouldn’t beg Sai Baba for help because he said he does not agree with this concept of ‘rewards’ for good deeds. That I take it as how some of us Christians view the reward of heaven and hell. I told him I fully agree with him on this part because no one should do anything with the hope that they will be rewarded.
I told him that I come to visit without getting any allowances nor recognition. He was surprised and asked me, “Not even petrol?” I told him, “No. Serious.” He got more comfortable with me when I told him that it is not sincere when people do something with the hope of getting thanks or paid.
He said, “Exactly. The hardship will be on the people who help and not the one being helped.” I was initially blurry on what he meant because I need to translate and figure them out. He told me that it will be an agony if let’s say someone do all the good things and keep waiting for the rewards of getting to heaven or whatever rewards. Meanwhile, the one whom was helped just get on with their life. Aha, now I get it. It is like my thoughts on the Just Do It attitude.
Then, he told me that he believes more in some teachings. He spoke in Mandarin so I do not know what teaching is that but it is more on scientific proofs and I guess it is atheism. He said he read a book by a Canadian. He even asked me to test me if I know how God created the world and the order of the creations. Of course, I told him what I can remember. Then, he drilled me with questions like, “If God only created Adam and Eve, how did the world get populated? Aren’t we of the same parents?” He also quoted about the chicken and egg, which comes first. And continued with questions on Mother Mary and Jesus.
As I said, it is all about him and not me. Since, I was there to listen and not to preach, I found all the things he said very interesting and I hold back my tongue to give my views eventhough I have some explanations to those doubts he have. No doubt, I only understand 60% of his words, I could generally guessed that he said one just have to do good things and leave the rest to decide for itself. He told me there are 11 levels of unseen ‘tiers’. So far, 4 of them have been discovered and that includes the radiowave, satellite and such but there are 7 more unseen ‘levels’. I asked him to find the English term of the teachings he follows because I told him I am very interested to read too.
I doubt I will see him anytime soon as these patients normally come and go after they completed their chemo/RT treatment. It is certainly very enriching to chat with him. This reminds me that I must widen my knowledge on theology……………
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