KINGSPARK NEWS

Club Number: 30119

2007-08 Rotary Year : Issue 22 : 3 June 2008

Contents

Editorial (Karma Drama Lama) - By Francis Wann
From the Charter President (Spirituality and Religions) - By CP John Wan
Letters to Editor
The Board

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EDITORIAL

Karma Drama Lama

It's been nineteen years since we held the first vigil at Victoria Park, and every year we worried about how much significance was left after all these years, and every year we worried it might just be the last.

Every year if I'm in Hong Kong, I'd dutifully make my way there. I remember in those early years, our student union would make a speech on June 4 during the morning assembly. It was all very emotional, and there was a passionate desire for China to change.

Sometimes we might ask ourselves if it's all worth the effort. Why remember all the bitterness in history? Why not let it be? Yes, why? After all, it's the Beijing Olympic Games year an there's much to celebrate, or as there's still enormous suffering in Sichuan after the earthquake, there should be no shortage of service projects for Rotarians.

Opinion polls after the quake have seen Premier Wen Jiapao's popularity soaring, thanks to the intense media coverage. Public relations exercises you might argue, but China did manage to respond, and respond fast. Many of the documentaries have been taken with a human dimension and they are meant to touch your raw nerve. Many doubt the effect of all those fundraisings and are skeptical about how much would go to the victims. But whatever their intentions, at least it was a display of unity towards one cause.

How much is needed to help them? That's a sensitive question as it seems it's never going to be near enough. Will they be condemned to a life of poverty and subsistence forever? Remember the same old story that you don't give them fish, but instead you teach them how to fish? Well in many cases, it doesn't work out that way.

Is it a question of karma? I took a quick search in Wikipedia and found that it means "action" or "doing", and precisely what one does, says, or thinks is a karma. PDG John's been enlightening members with his learned views on the subject, but the road to eternity seems always laced with minefields. After all, the book says the emphasis of karma in Buddhism is on mindful action, not on blaming someone else for whatever happens to oneself¡K

I was thinking - amid much confusion - about the destiny of the 14th Dalai Lama, the de facto spiritual leader of Tibet. Everything seems more complicated when China is involved and I remember about a month ago His Holiness sent his two personal representatives to China for talks over the issue. On the world stage, he praised and criticized China, emphasizing that he seeks autonomy, not independence, for Tibet¡K

But the Dalai Lama looks a lot more cheerful outside China. Only two weeks ago he was in Westminster meeting MPs and appeared before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. He also gave a lecture at the Royal Albert Hall. Everyone likes his crimson robe and his visor in matching colour. The media likes His Holiness for his readiness to display a word of wisdom. Every time he begins any serious discussion by waving his crimson bag. The bag is his trademark. Has he ever told his Chinese negotiators what he's got inside his bag? That could have softened their hard stance.

And perhaps a few giggles help. As Ann Treneman of the Times remarked, he's a Drama-Lama. Why not?

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From the Charter President

Spirituality and Religions

When a Rotarian does something good, does he do it because he sees it as his duty as a Rotarian, or as his duty to humanity, or simply because he wants to do something good? Does he do it because he knows or feels that somebody is watching, or because he would feel bad if he doesn't do it, or because it would make him feel better? I can list more questions; and those of you who have read Paul Harris might recall the story of the man lifting an ox out of a ditch on his way home so that he would sleep better that night.

A simple action involves volition, causes, causation and results, leading to what my brother has found listed under "karma" by Wikipedia.

In Kingspark, an induction ceremony for a new member includes a short introduction about what Rotary is not. Thus, Rotary is not a religious organization, but the precepts adopted by many Rotarians are held in the highest regard even by the most religious.

I'd like to believe that a Rotarian does good deeds because he is conditioned to do such deeds, such that it would go against the grain if he does not so do. How does a Rotarian acquire such habits, or for that matter, how would a person develop such habits? The short answer is that he has faith in humanity and he can discern good from evil. He believes in helping a felllow human being; and he does that not for any tangible rewards, but purely out of compassion.

Compassion can be developed and practised. Different cultures and traditions have different ways and means of practising or showing their compassion, but the principles are no different. A person who is conditioned to doing good would be charitable, kind, generous and full of love. In the English language, such qualities are broadly classified under spirituality, which may or may not necessarily be related to religions.

The main stream religions all preach Faith, Hope and Charity, even though each may employ or deploy different vocabulary and would manifest their words and deeds differently. For example, in Buddhist Mahayana tradition, there is a Bodhisatta who guards Hell and possibly Purgatory and who vows not to leave his post to become a buddha until there is nobody in Hell. Such devotion and dedication requires tremendous Faith and which was exactly what Jesus Christ has come to the world to do. See John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perosh, but have everlasting life.

In Hong Kong, religious leaders of the six main stream religions gather together once every year, normally in the beginning of the year, to invoke guidance and direction from above, and to pray for the community. It would be nice if their respective followers, practitioners and lower-tier leaders can do more of the same during the rest of the year. For those who pray together stay together.

Father's Day is coming up; and I wish all of you fathers out a Very Happy Father's Day.

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Letters to Editor

Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response from the latter for publication in the same issue if possible.

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The Board

President : Marvin Lai
President-Elect and Membership: Joyce Mak
Vice-President and Public Relations: Michael Eyles
Secretary : Kennedy Tsang
Treasurer : Ted Ho
Rotary Foundation : Patrick Wong
Club Administration : Edward Lau
Service Projects : Peter Lo
Sergeant-at-Arms : Alexander Kar

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