Lesson from a 9 year old boy
The letter below was written by a Vietnamese immigrant working in Fukishima, to a friend in Vietnam. It is an amazing testimonial on the strength and dignity of people during disaster. Very touching.
When disaster strikes, everyone around the globe take immediate action and help poured in just a few hours after the disaster. But it doesn’t take long for people to lose interest and view it as nothing but a series of bad dreams. Ignorantly, we coax ourselves to believe that everything is going to be alright, but who are we lying to?
In the recent natural disaster, the Tsunami that hit Japan in March, much media attention was soon diverted to the dangers of the nuclear plant explosions. While most of the world focused on the damaged nuclear plant, the survivors focused on going through their day to day life.
A society that can produce a 9 year old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society. Although the suffering continues, the people’s unity and positive attitude toward the crisis have made things easier to bear. To have thoughtfulness instead of selfishness in times of great crisis, it is both crucial and amazing.
Do send your prayers out to the tsunami victims in Japan, because their suffering continues even after the disaster….
Tsem Rinpoche
Brother,
How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies. Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks.
We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere.
I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.
People here remain calm – their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good – so things aren’t as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can’t guarantee that things won’t get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order. They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide air supply, bringing in food and medicine, but it’s like dropping a little salt into the ocean.
Brother, there are so many stories I want to tell you – so many, that I don’t know how to write them all. But there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being:
Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts.
It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn’t be any food left. So I spoke to him.
He said he was in the middle of PE at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father’s car away. I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn’t make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.
The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That’s when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. “When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here’s my portion. I already ate. Why don’t you eat it.”
The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn’t. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed. I was shocked. I asked him why he didn’t eat it and instead added it to the food pile …
He answered: “Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally.”
When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn’t see me cry. It was so moving — a powerful lesson on sacrifice and giving. Who knew a 9-year-old in third grade could teach me a lesson on how to be a human being at a time of such great suffering? A society that can produce a 9- year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people.
Well, a few lines to send you and your family my warm wishes. The hours of my shift have begun again.
– Ha Minh Thanh
10 things to learn from Japan:
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly!
The video gives us a clearer picture on what exactly is happening in Japan and how their life was changed in a split second.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/People-Power-Aftermath-of-a-disaster.mp4
Source: Source: http://newamericamedia.org/2011/03/letter-from-fukushima-a-vietnamese-japanese-police-officers-account.php
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Salute to this little boy of age 9, showing us the way to be. At this most difficult time, it hard to find someone so respectful and thoughtful of others , sharing what they have equally. The story shared by Rinpoche about this kind boy tells us more. Very touching , reading about this 9 year old boy who lost his family in Fukushima earthquake and tsunami which occurred in 2011. Disasters teach us humility. My heart goes out to victims and survivors of this tragedy and to their families. This disaster will go down in history books as one of the largest natural disasters in Japan history.
For centuries, Japanese have been taught from a young age that they need to be responsible members of their families and their country. They serve others’ needs before their own needs. As a result, the Japanese are very thoughtfulness, kindness and consideration and respected by all. Hence not surprised that young boy thought of others more than himself. A lesson for all.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
I was touched with the boy self-discipline manner. Though he had lost his family and relatives, he still stood strong and remaining so calm. From this matter is very clear that the educational of Japan is very much value on principles of conduct and moral. This boy shows good quality of a good person. 👍👍👍
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this article. Japan had always been a country that can recover from natural and human disaster quite fast and efficiently. The reason for that can be seen from the attitude of the boy. The boy knows that his family might not survived the wave and he is hungry at the time when the author of the letter met him. Under such circumstances, I believe that most people will only think of themselves and certainly will not put others before them. However, this boy shows the exact opposite. He thinks of others before him and even put the food back where it was distributed. This is very touching to see this from a 9 year old boy who is hungry and lost his family. This is altruism.
During disaster, citizen of Japan compassionately cared for one and another. They shared the resources they have without hogging or keeping for themselves. They remain calm and took care of each other. This is the main reason why Japan can recover from disasters and tragedy so quick and firmly.
Much respect to this little boy, and these people who suffered from such a great tragedy, but most of all for their caring, calm, resilient and discipline attitude. Simply amazing. Japan indeed is a great nation and the values they instil in their young ones are fantastic and I hope this goes down to many more generations. They are really good examples of how we should handle tragedies if it ever happens. Their discipline and respect for each other in such tragic times is heighten up even more and instead of taking advantage of the situation, they show more care and this 9 year old little boy teaches us what it is like to have correct human conduct. Admirable!
This is very good lesson to learn from 9 year old boy. Life is simple and what we needed also simple. When disaster strikes, useless for the branded car or branded cloths, we just need enough foods, water for sustain daily life, all things and think will back to basic. Be patient when facing any problem. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
This is so touching. I really cannot imagine seeing my own parents dying in front of me, how did he manage to endure the pain? Even though his parents didn’t make it through the Tsunami, but I’m sure that they will be proud of him if they know about the boy. I hope the kid will grow up as a kind and generous man. Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Dear Rinpoche, I feel so helpless when I watched this video. Especially the old man named Yamamoto, his wife died because she must walk with a walking stick and she got caught when the tsunami hits Miyako city. But Yamamoto insisted in finding his wife because he believed that if they couldn’t find his wife’s body then she won’t go to heaven because she won’t be able to live in peace. And the story that Rinpoche posted on top of the video it is also very touching. The young boy is so caring, he would give his food away to other people that are living in the little grammar school because he saw a lot of people that are hungrier than him. What a kind young boy is that, I hope that he survived the disaster and may he have a good health and long life.
The boy said: “Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally.” This is such a selfless act of a young boy brought up in the Japanese society who probably taught self-control.
If such disaster struck in other countries, it may present a different story. There will be looting everywhere for necessity items and looking after the needs of immediate family only.
This young boy has shown us how humanity should live and work together as a community at times of crisis. He taught us everything should be shared although the resource were scarce to help the weaker victims.
He has a heart of gold. At such a young age, he has such compassion towards others. Everyone is equal not I am above everyone or everyone is below me. I wouldn’t have thought of putting the food in front of the pile.
Japan is a country that I respect. The people there are polite, discipline and strong. I could not imagine during a disaster, they can still so calm, discipline and still think of others.
Although he is just a 9 year old boy, he has so much compassion within. He is the great example that all of us should follow.
Yes, our interest and “compassion” always not lasting, and “ignorantly, we coax ourselves to believe that everything is going to be alright”…
We pretend everything will be alright, may be it is painful to see people suffer, but is not alright to forget them totally by choosing not to get to know what is happening. At least we send in our prayers for all who suffer to be healed…
And I found a news report on a Japanese woman who remains at a town near nuclear plan after the emergency evacuation to save some of the animals, one year later after the disaster – http://www.aerismagazine.com/zh/2012/03/13/one-year-on-since-the-japan-tsunami/
This is a letter written from Ha Minh Thanh a Vietnamese immigrant working in Fukishima to his friend in Vietnam. He tells of a 9 year old boy who has taught him a lesson which he was ashamed. The boy has show unselfishness and sharing attitude. This was one of the very moving incident that this 9 year old has portrayed which has put some adults to shame. The 10 things that the country Japan and its people have shown at time of disasters like this tsunami can also teach us to be a better person. 1. Calmness. 2. Dignity. 3. Ability. 4.Grace. 5. Order. 6. Sacrifice. 7. Tenderness. 8. Training. 9. Media. 10. Conscience. What the small 9 year old boy action has shown is also dharma teachings.
I have friends who were stuck in London over last Christmas, the cold weather and snow had disrupted the air traffic and trains between London and the continent and world creating huge havoc.
One friend of mine in particular arrived at a train station in London to go to France and was made to queue for 8 hours, mostly in snowy cold weather with many more others desperately trying to get back to their families for Christmas.
What this friend described to me was scary, some people were on their second day of queuing, some not, some tried to sneak in the queues fueling some anger in others, some people broke in tears and simply gave up, sitting down in the snow just as if the end of the world had arrived, some people were crying, others were screaming, others were trying to calm people down.
My friend was scared to see this in London and told me: “imagine if something real serious were to happen, the situation would simply be out of control!”.
Something more serious, there is: an earthquake, a giant tsunami, 30,000 dead, an entire city in crumbles, the danger of atomic pollution… That is what just happened in Japan.
Yet, the amazing display of “civilization” shown by the people in the middle of the catastrophe is very impressive.
Is it due to the Japanese culture? Or is it because the catastrophe is so much, so big (not a missed Christmas reunion level) that maybe most people get in touch with a more civilized part of themselves? I don’t know, but it is remarkable indeed.
So much strength in such a young mind…who are we to say when we cannot accomplish something, or cannot tahan a little adversity? His parents left behind a young man who will do his country and family proud.
Definitely the west has a lot to learn from eastern countries such as Japan. Any of those 10 things to learn probably would not happen in countries such as mine (Portugal). For example, a few days ago the price of sugar rose significantly. The result? The markets got out of stuck in just a few days. And this was because of sugar. I believe as Asia gets more importance and Buddhism spreads, not that all people get enlightened, but is stead get a sufficient sense of compassion that is connected to those 10 things.
I just found your web site a few days ago, its really interesting and i hope you keep bloging.
Thanks,
Tiago
In times of great adversity and crisis is the time when we will find out what we are truly made of and who we really are. My highest respect to Japan, along with my deepest prayers.
As I thank Rinpoche for always teaching us to be better people, I also thank Japan for showing us what a great society looks like. This gives me so much hope that our world can too be like that. Not just during the time of crisis, but for all times.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. It moved me deeply.