Taiwan Today

I

A young artist, Lin Tsung-hui, spent six months in the mountains at Hualien looking for a supernally white slab of marble, then sculpted the piece into a three-foot full-length figure of my father. Depicting Father standing in long gown and carrying his walking stick, the statue solemnly expresses Father's tranquillity and benignity. I respectfully accepted the sincere gift from the sculptor and placed the statue on a stand in front of the desk in my office.

Father passed away more than three years ago, and I can no longer hear his strict instructions or bask in his kindness and benevolence. But when I am so engrossed in my work that I can hardly take even a brief moment of respite, I instinctively raise my head and look into the eyes of Father's statue. Suddenly I can hear Father's voice advising me to rally my spirits with an interlude of calm and relaxation. Immediately, I am able to brace up again and feel the resurgence of life. When I am pondering a problem and find my mind confused, the brilliant light from the eyes of Father's statue penetrates my heart and opens up the clogged channels of thought. The problem is resolved. In his lifetime, he was my leader, my kindly father and my stern teacher. I am still under the influence of his love.

II

For all his lifetime, Father's words and deeds were deeply influenced by Confucius, Mencius and Dr. Sun Yat-sen. He often said that the most important teaching of Confucius and Mencius was "to apply one's learning in one's work." Fa­ther always practiced this philosophy - in his behavior and morals and his political and spiritual life. We know that he was a Confucian who loved the people and cherished all things. From the time he began to follow Dr. Sun Yat-sen in waging the Revolution, he respected the National Father as his own father and teacher. He gave a lifetime's adherence to Dr. Sun's teachings and vowed that he would never rest until these had been carried out. We also know that he cared only for the Three Principles of the People and was unconcerned about his own life or death. He never ceased trying to implement the Three Principles and carry out the National Revolution.

The exploits and moral accomplishments of his life embodied the thought and practice of Confucius, Mencius and Dr. Sun Yat-sen and marked the fruition of his lifelong endeavors. This was also the expression of an altruism that sought the salvation of the nation and the world. Dr. John Wu said: "President Chiang Kai-shek's altruism may be thought of as a philosophy of the Cross. In devoting himself to the Revolution for our country and people, he carried the Cross for more than 60 years. Yet he never complained or felt he was overburdened. Rather, he was always youthful in outlook and vigorous in spirit." In fact, when I stand raptly in front of Father's statue, I can clearly see Father's great character and integrity in "carrying the revolutionary cross" and his upright moral stature rising as erectly as a giant pillar supporting the sky.

III

Once I read an article by Dr. W.G. Goddard of Australia about Father. He quoted an English historian, Edward Gibbon, as saying in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that "No biography of a great man should be attempted till at least a century after his death!" Dr. Goddard concluded: "Such a man is Chiang Kai-shek." He said that Father was a great man in our times but that he would be greater still in the eyes of future historians. As a forerunner in thought, the prime-mover of national construction and the prophet of the anti­-Communist movement, Father was a great man in his time and a decisive force in the modem historical development of the country and the people. To write the biography of such a great man requires a vision of the future from the world viewpoint of history as well as judgments based on the present. Up to now, many historians, men of letters and artists have written biographies and poems and have created paintings and statues to perpetuate the greatness of this man. These works have contributed to history and are of great value. More than 10,000 persons from at home and abroad are traveling to Tzuhu each month to pay homage to Father. The Chiang descendants are deeply moved by and appreciative of these expressions of kindness. We can readily perceive that as time passes, the people at home and abroad are increasing their outpouring of respect for this man of the ages. The light and heat radiated from Father have been transformed into the great love of the people. This light becomes brighter with the lengthening of history. People know Father will be even greater in the future than he is now.

IV

On the eve of Father's 92nd birthday, I read with respect the pages of his diary written in 1923 when he was 37 years old. In some pages, he referred to Dr. Sun Yat-sen as "my teacher." He encouraged himself to become one of Dr. Sun's disciples and exhorted others to do likewise, as in this passage:

As the party and the nation are in danger of falling apart. my teacher serves as a monolith to uphold them. As the people are withering away in an excruciatingly hard life, my teacher comes to their rescue like a precious shower to save withering crops in a terrible drought.

The following are other passages from the diary:

Today I have composed this motto for myself'.  Keep your thought unrestrained for free functioning. This can broaden your vision, brighten your heart and bring you the happiness of fulfillment. This is the way of self-cultivation. In approaching practical aff­airs, you should begin with the essentials, adhere to the key factors, make detailed analysis and always keep the goal in your hearts.

I composed this couplet: Life or death is not worthy of concern; praise or denigration should always be ignored. Then I composed another: Distinguish right from wrong; taste all the flavors of life - the bitter together with the sweet.

First, watch over yourself when you are alone and your mind will be at peace. Try to rid yourself of all selfish desires but keep intact the divine reason within yourself.  Second, let the spirit of reverence be your master and your whole being will be hale and strong. Be alert to the perils and pitfalls of life and take care that your power and strength does not lead you into aggressiveness. Third, seek to cultivate humane love and others will be eager to associate with you. Love all people as your brothers and cherish all things. Let your beneficences extend far and wide. Fourth, if you acquire the habit of diligence, it will keep your mind clear. Exert all your energy and use all your power of thought. Learn the hard way and live strenuously.

Life's successes and failures are not predictable. All we can do is follow the dictates of our heart and mind. If our mind tells us a certain thing can be done and predicts there is a better than 50 per cent chance of success, we should go ahead without further vacillation.

In anything we may do, we should not be discouraged and deterred by unnecessary doubts. If we can move ahead steadfastly and courageously, people will yield to our determination and will not dare to obstruct us. They may even come to respect us.

If we want to keep ourselves unperturbed by prosperity or adversity, security or danger, the only way is to keep the mind free of inordinate desire and selfish ambition, and to be composed and detached.

A man who shoulders great responsibility must be supremely tolerant, detached and magnanimous. and not overemphasize the trivial.

To fulfill a great career requires, first of all, the rallying of our spirit. We should ask ourselves whether what we are doing comforms to the principle of justice. We should be unconcerned about failure or success. Life or death, triumph or tragedy, should not matter to us.

These few passages are sufficient to help us see Father's great mindedness and inspiring char­acter as a young man. In his diary, Father summarized these thoughts in four sentences:

- Let your mind be free and untram­meled.

- Let your words be quiet and serene.

- Let your heart be at peace and your vital energy be nurtured.

- Let your spirit be re-collected and your complexion be friendly and kind.

This is the sum total of the way of self-cultiva­tion. I have inscribed these sentences on a scroll and hung it on the wall. I read them every day and make them my guideline.

As I stand attentively in front of the statue and relive the times of receiving lessons and love from Father, I feel that my gratitude to him is boundless. The goal of my present endeavors is to carry on Father's work of serving the people and sacrificing for the country. So I must regard his thoughts as my thoughts and his mind as my mind.

As I am thinking deeply of Father, my eager­ness to sacrifice myself for the country grows in intensity as time passes. This has led me to write this article.