Always Think One Two

Source:

Internet Morris Chang

My friend bought me a set of paper, calligraphy brush, ink stick and ink-stone (remark: Chinese calligraphy has ‘Four Treasures of Study’ – paper, writing brush, ink stick and ink stone), and requested me to write a scroll for display on the wall of the sitting room of his new house.

I felt a bit embarrassed as I knew that my calligraphy was not very good, not to mention that I had not practised for a number of years. My friend said, “What’re you afraid of?  It would be my honour to display your work. If I’m not afraid, why’re you?”

Therefore, in his presence I spread the paper, grinded the ink stick against the ink-stone and wrote four words ‘Always Think One Two’.
My friend asked, “What does it mean?”
I replied, “It means that my calligraphy is not very good. When you look at these words, please excuse me and think about one or two of my good attributes and forgive me.”

Noting my joking manner, my friend said, “Be serious, what does it really mean?”

“ ‘There is a common saying that misfortune in life is often eight or nine times out of ten (remark: This is a Chinese proverb which denotes life is not full of roses).’ Since misfortune forms the majority of our lives, to live is actually to suffer. However, excluding the eighty or ninety percent of misfortune, at least we still have ten or twenty percent of good fortune, happiness and gratification. If we want to live happily, we should often think of the ten or twenty percent of good things, so we may feel cherished and understand how to treasure these. Then we will not be overwhelmed by the eighty or ninety percent of misfortune.”

Having listened to my explanation, my friend was very happy and carried the scroll ‘Always Think One Two’ in his arms and went home.

A few months later, he came to visit me and earnestly requested for more calligraphy, he said, “Every day I have to slave and get badly treated in the office. However, as soon as I arrive home and see the words ‘Always Think One Two’, I feel happy. But the wall is too big and the words look so small, would you please write a few more words for me? ”

Always being ready to oblige my good friends, I wrote an antithetical couplet for him, adding the second part ‘Don’t Consider Eight Nine’, and the horizontal inscription, ‘Everything as you wish ’. To fill up the space in between, I did a free-hand drawing of a vase of flowers.

A few more months passed and the news of my re-marriage was unexpectedly published in the newspapers giving rise to a lot of bizarre stories and annoying rumours. One day I received a call from my friend, saying that he was sitting in his lounge facing the calligraphy I wrote, he said, “I can’t think of better words to comfort you, let me read to you your calligraphy: ‘Always Think One Two, Don’t Consider Eight Nine, Everything as you wish.’’

I was deeply moved by my friend’s phone call. I often think that it is easy to lavish praise on somebody’s jubilation, but it is hard to provide timely help to somebody in difficulty or distress. The proportion of this kind is about eight or nine to one or two. Those who do not provide help to you when you need it most are not real friends, not to mention those who abuse and humiliate you when you are down.

However, when one aged over forty, has been mostly trained not to be startled when being praised or humiliated from daily life; also does not care about accepting lavish praises, or receiving help in desperate situations, or being abused and humiliated badly. This is because we have already endured life’s suffering and setbacks, have experienced the many making and breaking of relationships, and have slowly discovered the dynamic, happy and positive precepts in life. This kind of visualisation is exactly that of ‘Always Think One Two’.

The visualisation of ‘Always Think One Two’ is similar to discovering a thread of light in-between the thick black clouds at dawn; similar to gleaning bits of message of peace and tranquillity from the raucous, mundane world; similar to striving for one deep long breath on the verge of suffocation.

There is already enough suffering in life. If we burden ourselves with all those years of misfortune, it will certainly be difficult for us to strive forward. Sometimes, it is inevitable that we suffer in life and in our relationships; however, if we let both our thoughts and emotions fall into a state of grievance, this will become a self-inflicted suffering and such suffering will surely be intensified.

I already learned how to face and deal with adversity a long time ago as I sailed across the roaring sea. I have always thought: ‘I, who have suffered extreme torment in the past, have always managed to find pleasure in adversity, so the tiny suffering and adversity I now face can be accepted accordingly.’

I have been keen on reading the biographies and memoirs of great people since my childhood and have gradually deduced a formula: All great people endure pain and suffering as their lives mostly testify to the saying ‘Misfortune in Life Often is Eight Nine’. When they face adversity, however, they manage to maintain a positive way of thinking. They can ‘Always Think One Two’. In the end, they overcome their pain and suffering and transform them into life’s most fertile nourishment. This is the key preparation for the blossom of the lotus flower.

What deeply moves me about great people is not their suffering and difficulties, for sufferings are common and omnipresent; it is their perseverance, optimism and bravery in face of suffering and difficulties that move me most.

In fact, whether one’s wishes come true is not dependent upon one’s fate in life, but rather upon one’s frame of mind.

In fact, the quality of life is not dependent upon eight nine, but rather upon one two. (remark: that means it is not the eighty or ninety percent probability but the ten or twenty percent possibility that determines the quality of life.)