The commitment to observe various Tzu Chi manners and protocols was not a very big issue with me. Since young, my family value discipline and manners. Our table manners during meals are not as strict as Tzu Chi protocols but they are close enough. Since young, living a simple life and spending money wisely have been drilled into me by my family. We were not well-off then. Even as years progress and our family got more well-to-be, I remain living a simple life.
克己复礼对我而言不是一个很大的问题。从小，家里就很注重纪律和礼貌。我们家吃饭的礼仪虽然没有慈济那么严格，但既不远呼。自我懂事以来，不奢华的生活和不乱花钱的习惯就被家庭教的根深蒂固。当年，我们家并不富裕。甚至，多年后家庭日渐富裕，我还是如以往般继续过着简单的生活。
There are 2 periods of time when I had an "interesting" life. The first instance was during my internship in Tokyo. That was the first time I started earning money, a fairly large amount during the Tokyo high standard of living. My Singaporean friend that came along was a metro-guy and I was greatly influenced with him. We had our fair share of shopping for gifts and clothes, sightseeing as well as drinks and pubs. It was fun at that time, but the happiness did not last. I went back to my old self after returning from Tokyo.
有两段时期，我的生活过得有点“浮躁”。首先是我在东京实习的那段期间。那是我第一次开始赚钱，以东京超高的生活消费水准而言，薪水是相当大的金额。和我一块过来实习的新加坡朋友，是一位标准的都市玉男。在东京的半年，我受他影响极深。我们经常购买礼物及衣服、到处观光、饮酒及偶尔泡泡酒吧。这是个疯狂的时期，感觉很满足。不过，满足和幸福感并没有持久。从东京回国后，我又故态复萌，回去老样子。
I remembered a conversation with one of my classmate that was before our trip to Boston. I told her that I like my current simple life. She replied that such a lifestyle is only making life boring and miserable. Where is all the enjoyment in life? I replied that I liked that way of life. But it seems that I did not practice what I preached.
我记的临行波士顿时和一位同学的谈话。我告诉她我喜欢目前简单的生活。她回答说我那种生活方式又沉闷，又凄惨，那来人生乐趣？我回说青菜萝卜各有所好。但是，我似乎没有实践我所认同的生活哲学。
The second instance was during my Master degree in Boston. Again, I was fully funded and receiving an allowance. This time, money was spent on good food and clothes. Restaurants and factory outlet shopping was the norm. My spending compared to my classmates was minimal, but significant compared to my usual self. There was a sense of satisfaction when I put on my new shirt, but it was short-lived. I realized that the sense of satisfaction wears off in a few washes and I have no wish to continue fueling this kind of satisfaction.
第二段时期是当我在波士顿修读硕士时。再一次，我每个月都有助学金发放。这期间，钱都花在美食和衣服上。上餐馆吃一顿好的和到廉价名牌百货公司购物成了生活中的常态。虽然我的消费比起同学来是微不足道，但是比起我一贯的花费，却是来了个三级跳。当我把新衣穿上时，满足感油然而生。不过，满足感是短命的。新衣经过几次清洗后，新衣变旧衣，满足感跑得无影无踪。我意识到如果希望长期拥有那种满足感，必须不断的消费。好在，我并没有想继续加油的意识。
I still believe that simple is beautiful. But sometime I really want to let go, this kind of lifestyle is hard. Then I found Tzu Chi. I realized that my way of life is very similar to what all Tzu Chi volunteers are practicing. By joining Tzu Chi, I found company and strength.
我仍然相信安贫乐道是美丽的生活方式。有时我真的想放纵一下，毕竟这种生活方式有点枯燥。然后我发现了慈济，意识到我的生活方式十分类似慈济和上人提倡的克己复礼。加入慈济后，我找到了志同道合以及互相扶持的力量。
Even better, I found the answer to my first question: does environmentalism and Buddhism crushes? The answer is no. Tzu Chi volunteers do not hold joss sticks or burn paper money. Tzu Chi has our own recycling centers.
更好的是，我找到了我第一个疑惑的答案：环保刻不容缓，佛教没了点灯焚香烧元宝蜡烛还是佛教吗？答案是：还是。慈济里，我们不焚香烛或纸钱。更进一步，慈济有我们自己的环保回收中心。
I found my green Buddhism.
我找到了我的绿色佛教。
克己复礼对我而言不是一个很大的问题。从小，家里就很注重纪律和礼貌。我们家吃饭的礼仪虽然没有慈济那么严格，但既不远呼。自我懂事以来，不奢华的生活和不乱花钱的习惯就被家庭教的根深蒂固。当年，我们家并不富裕。甚至，多年后家庭日渐富裕，我还是如以往般继续过着简单的生活。
There are 2 periods of time when I had an "interesting" life. The first instance was during my internship in Tokyo. That was the first time I started earning money, a fairly large amount during the Tokyo high standard of living. My Singaporean friend that came along was a metro-guy and I was greatly influenced with him. We had our fair share of shopping for gifts and clothes, sightseeing as well as drinks and pubs. It was fun at that time, but the happiness did not last. I went back to my old self after returning from Tokyo.
有两段时期，我的生活过得有点“浮躁”。首先是我在东京实习的那段期间。那是我第一次开始赚钱，以东京超高的生活消费水准而言，薪水是相当大的金额。和我一块过来实习的新加坡朋友，是一位标准的都市玉男。在东京的半年，我受他影响极深。我们经常购买礼物及衣服、到处观光、饮酒及偶尔泡泡酒吧。这是个疯狂的时期，感觉很满足。不过，满足和幸福感并没有持久。从东京回国后，我又故态复萌，回去老样子。
I remembered a conversation with one of my classmate that was before our trip to Boston. I told her that I like my current simple life. She replied that such a lifestyle is only making life boring and miserable. Where is all the enjoyment in life? I replied that I liked that way of life. But it seems that I did not practice what I preached.
我记的临行波士顿时和一位同学的谈话。我告诉她我喜欢目前简单的生活。她回答说我那种生活方式又沉闷，又凄惨，那来人生乐趣？我回说青菜萝卜各有所好。但是，我似乎没有实践我所认同的生活哲学。
The second instance was during my Master degree in Boston. Again, I was fully funded and receiving an allowance. This time, money was spent on good food and clothes. Restaurants and factory outlet shopping was the norm. My spending compared to my classmates was minimal, but significant compared to my usual self. There was a sense of satisfaction when I put on my new shirt, but it was short-lived. I realized that the sense of satisfaction wears off in a few washes and I have no wish to continue fueling this kind of satisfaction.
第二段时期是当我在波士顿修读硕士时。再一次，我每个月都有助学金发放。这期间，钱都花在美食和衣服上。上餐馆吃一顿好的和到廉价名牌百货公司购物成了生活中的常态。虽然我的消费比起同学来是微不足道，但是比起我一贯的花费，却是来了个三级跳。当我把新衣穿上时，满足感油然而生。不过，满足感是短命的。新衣经过几次清洗后，新衣变旧衣，满足感跑得无影无踪。我意识到如果希望长期拥有那种满足感，必须不断的消费。好在，我并没有想继续加油的意识。
I still believe that simple is beautiful. But sometime I really want to let go, this kind of lifestyle is hard. Then I found Tzu Chi. I realized that my way of life is very similar to what all Tzu Chi volunteers are practicing. By joining Tzu Chi, I found company and strength.
我仍然相信安贫乐道是美丽的生活方式。有时我真的想放纵一下，毕竟这种生活方式有点枯燥。然后我发现了慈济，意识到我的生活方式十分类似慈济和上人提倡的克己复礼。加入慈济后，我找到了志同道合以及互相扶持的力量。
Even better, I found the answer to my first question: does environmentalism and Buddhism crushes? The answer is no. Tzu Chi volunteers do not hold joss sticks or burn paper money. Tzu Chi has our own recycling centers.
更好的是，我找到了我第一个疑惑的答案：环保刻不容缓，佛教没了点灯焚香烧元宝蜡烛还是佛教吗？答案是：还是。慈济里，我们不焚香烛或纸钱。更进一步，慈济有我们自己的环保回收中心。
I found my green Buddhism.
我找到了我的绿色佛教。
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