06-02-22
What is an artist’s point of view about life? Julia Cameron said, “As artists, we must learn to be self-nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them―to restock the trout pond, so to speak.”
One of the most respected Senior Barristers in Hong Kong, my cheerful mentor who was also a journalist and now apart from law, is a writer and Buddhism preacher, Cheng Huan, SC told me, “I read every day and write every week. We have to absorb new things so that life can be up to date, and up to tomorrow.”
Born in 1947, Cheng is now legendary and at the top of the Bar list of the Counsel in Hong Kong. He chuckled, “I never think too much of myself. I am just lucky and savoured the sweetness which came to my life. Malaysia, London and Hong Kong, at different points of my life, bestowed too much luck on me!” I have known Cheng since the 90s.
He had a tap on my shoulder, “Hmm…my life is like a drama. In the 1920s, my grandaunt who was married in Malaysia returned to Fujian, China. She made the offer of adopting my father as her son. He was the 6th son in the family and after going to Malaysia, he became the eldest son of my grandaunt. He changed his surname from Yan(顏) to Yap(葉). My mother gave birth to 8 kids. I was the 6th child with four elder sisters, one elder brother and two younger sisters. My second sister has passed away. My dad was an energetic house builder. I was lucky to grow up in an affluent family. My parents were devoted Taoists(道教徒) and Chinese Buddhists(中國佛教徒). Nevertheless, they sent us to Methodist schools to receive better education. I was a good arts student and loved to write to express myself.”
I slumped back into my chair, “I guessed you wanted to be a writer?” He sighed with a smile, “I was a practical person as well. When my dad sent me to London, I chose law despite my literary interest. After graduating, I did not become a lawyer because I still tried to be loyal to myself. So, I turned into a journalist and later worked in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was romantically beautiful in the 70s. Uh…it occurred to me gradually that I was looking for a more stable professional career. I was admitted as a court attorney in 1976 and from that year onward, I began to attain and earn my reputation in the Hong Kong legal circle, of course, by hard work.”
I simpered, looking pleased with myself, “Wow, this explained why you now write for magazines and newspapers…hmmm…like me!” We do not write for the same newspaper but we are the authors for the same publisher Cosmo Books(天地圖書), a highly regarded cultural enterprise set up in Hong Kong in 1976. I became a lawyer in 1984 and was junior to Cheng Huan, SC. But, I joined Cosmos Books in 1995 and was senior to him as a writer. He despised me for being arrogant, “Whatever! I collected art but you did not!” I moaned, “I could not afford to pay!” He chased after me, “I asked you to follow my religion of Tibetan Buddhism(藏傳佛教) but you did not. What a pity!” Tibetan Buddhist monks wear red and yellow robes. The religion upholds the idea of ‘Karma’(因果循環) (the forces created by a person shapes what his next life will be like) and rebirth. Cheng bought an apartment in Yangon because he wanted to face the gold pagodas when on vacation.
Cheng Huan, SC has been a dedicated Buddhist since his university days. Praying to many statues of Buddha and chanting in office and at home has been his daily consolation. He said, “In London, I came to know 2 Sikkimese friends and as a result, found strength in this religion. I now follow Master Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche.” Other believers and Cheng donated to the project of establishing a Tibetan Buddhism hall in Causeway Bay. He is renowned for his open-handed generosity. He smiled and explained the universal truth, “The value of money is contingent. When you are not happy, money cannot do anything for you. When you are happy, money may not mean a lot as a tool to create happiness.”
Cheng Huan, SC is a man of superlative wisdom. He got strong common sense and sharp judgment. He taught us how to live meaningfully and they were such as ‘always wear a smile.’, ‘be ready to lend a helping hand’, ‘forgive and forget’, ‘walk a mile in their shoes’ and ‘face yourself and go big’. I challenged, “Is it really worthwhile to be good to others?” His entire face beamed with delight, “My dear, you will get back the same energy that you put out. Karma is a way of making life fair, at least in the end…”
I asked him, “Your original name was Yap Cheng Hock (葉清福) and why do you call yourself Cheng Huan(清洪)?” He winked at me, “My original name got the word ‘Cheng’ and I am still using it as my surname. Isn’t it okay and nice?”
Cheng Huan, SC and I have a common friend Cheah Cheng Hye(謝清海) who, also from Malaysia, is one of the most successful fund managers in Hong Kong. He was formerly a journalistic writer too. He raised the dream of acquiring a publishing house so that 3 of us can write enjoyably. Cheng agreed, “Yes, by all means. It is noticeable that the number of people writing in English continuously decline. The decline in English writing capability can damage Hong Kong as an international city.” I wailed my head off, “Writers in Hong Kong are disrespectfully paid. Here, talent and effort often go unrewarded. Perhaps, Hong Kong despises the power of writing!” Cheng replied, “People have to be inspired. I knew nothing about art before I studied in London. In London, I started my alluring process of collecting art and other old things from places like Notting Hill. Let’s believe in the power of writing. We do have the collective responsibility to grow each other, to share knowledge and to teach.” He is also positive and bright. I asked him, “Do you have any regret in life?” He pondered for a long while, “Yes, but we should not talk about regret. I missed the opportunity of learning how to play piano when I was a kid. Playing piano is a big missing piece of my cultural and emotional expression.”
A great mentor like Cheng Huan, SC always inspires you what to do. He will never interfere with what you cannot do or do not want to do. He simply lets his junior lawyers and mentees accept moral responsibility for their life but this kind man will, distantly and patiently, make sure his warm heart will heat everyone along his rocky road in the valleys or hills…
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