《Company---the Concern of All Religions about the renovation of 921 Earthquake》
Time: 2002
Place: from Taipei to Detroit, America
I respect Fr. Albert very much. But we got together well, honestly and in particular lightly. I always made myself easy and acted in my own way in his presence. To tell the truth, it served him right to indulge me too much! (It is kind of him!) The number of our meetings could be counted. Not until 921 Earthquake when he asked me to edit the monthly magazine 《Company---the Concern of All Religions about the renovation of 921 Earthquake》did we begin to get closer communication with each other. I had to meet Fr. Albert every week. I received his telephone calls a couple of days. My wife Heaven Chi laughed at me by saying: “You have received Fr. Albert’s telephone calls so frequently. Are you going to be a monk or a Catholic?”
After the initial issue of the monthly magazine 《Company》Fr. Albert called on me on that night. He said everybody felt ecstasy! Someone jokingly said if we could change the editor-in-chief, it would be better! I said: “No Problem” Fr. Albert broke into loud laughter. He said it was a joke!
It was fun to have such a naughty Father! The first time I got his fax, he called me “Respectable Sense”. It surprised me! I was flattered! Did I deserve the word “Respectable”? He told me that he felt like taking the responsibility. I did deserve the word “Respectable”. Once when he introduced me to others, he used other more flattering expressions than the word “Respectable”. I told them smilingly that they had better not believe Fr. Albert!
But Fr. Albert seriously said: “Fathers can never tell a lie!”
He was always serious in life! For this word, I had to do my best to equal the word “Respectable”. He respected everybody! And he spared no labor to live up to his father’s teachings: “We have to learn from all the others!” I seemed to see Sadāparibhūta Bodhisattva in 《法》《Sad-dharma Puárīka Sūtra/Lotus Sutra》 on him. The Buddha respects everyone! He believed that everyone has Buddha-nature and that everyone can get “Buddhahood”!
As editor-in-chief of《Company》, I had better chances of growth and learning under his company and leadership. From then on, we became bosom friends in spite of our great age gap and we never hid any secrets from each other! Thanks to Fr. Albert for his recommendation, I joined in TCRP. Perhaps I had too many opinions and perhaps I did well, I was selected as one of the directors. Fr. Albert teased me that I was too young to be chosen as the president!
Ha! The old Father was really good at making jokes!
Fr. Albert kept on talking: “As the president, he must have lots of money! Ha!”
I laughed loudly at him: “That is right! You are too (so) poor! I wonder how you can act as the first and the second president!”
“I din not know either.” We laughed loudly face to face!
In October, 2002, Gao Dieng Association in Chicago, America, invited TCRP to attend International Peace Conference. According to precedent examples, it was Fr. Albert that led the team abroad to attend the international religious interactions. After all, Fr. Albert acted as the director of Religious Dialogue in Asian District chosen by Roman Catholic Church for more than ten years. Almost all the important religious leaders of other countries knew the French Father who represented Taiwan. But in those years, partly because he was aged and partly because he was in poor health, he no longer went abroad. And so the committee decided to entrust two learned directors with the hard job of attendance.
At that time, I left my job in the World Religion Museum for the work in a publication company, helping with the compilation of Taiwan History.
Some day, I received a telephone call from Fr. Albert. He asked me whether I could communicate with others in English.
I replied: “Yes!” Fr. Albert went on: “Can you go abroad to America in representation of TCRP? Both of the selected directors could not go because they had other business!”
Though I had confidence in myself, I had no experiences of international conferences. But, I had to act as the representative of Taiwan Religious Groups to take part in the international conference. I was not sure of myself. I said: “Of course! But are there no other proper candidates?” Fr. Albert said: “Everybody says you are equal to the job!” I asked: “Do I go alone?” He said: “That’s right! OK?” I said it was my honor!
Two days later, Fr. Albert called at my home, saying he was much better and he would like to go with me. I knew he was worrying about me. He would keep company with me at the risk of his life. My wife Heaven Chi and I were both very much touched! His noble thoughts and feelings diluted our feeling of departure. My wife Heaven Chi determinedly demanded me to bring Fr. Albert back to Taiwan alive at any cost.
And thus we both, one old and one young, one Chinese and one French, one Buddhist and one Catholic Father, acted as the representatives of TCRP to the international conference. Though that was the first time to go overseas, I did not feel nervous! I was only worried about his health! As I was worried, the moment we arrived at Detroit Airport, he fell ill because of heart stroke. An ambulance sent him to the nearest hospital for emergency! I tried my best to get in touch with the Society of Jesus in America. I asked them to offer us proper, useful and timely help! Fr. Albert was a member of the Society of Jesus. Father used to say that all the members in the Society of Jesus are “Brothers!” Wherever you are, if you need help, the Society of Jesus all over the world is willing give you a hand!
Fr. Albert in the hospital’s uniform lying on bed looked nervous and weak. He was waiting for further examinations. But he was too much worried about my next itinerary. I wanted him to feel easy. What he could do was praying!
(To Be Continued!)
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