Amazing True Story-Must Read
How would you feel seeing your father working day in day out late at night…winter… summer… and living off simple foods, only to give his hard earned cash to others?
At the age of retirement, a 74 year old man decided to go back to work with the motivation of providing funds for education. The funds were not for his own children, but for the hundreds of kids he saw slaving in the fields. These kids did not go to school not because they were naughty, but because they didn’t have the financial means.
What would a growing society be like when the young people cannot get an education? Without education, the poor will continue to remain poor…
Now 93 years old, this man showed the other 1 billion Chinese citizens how one man can make a difference. He had no other reason to tire his body out every day except his motivation to help others. He worked until his body could not work anymore. He made a difference. He was an example of true selflessness, and compassion through action.
He has been finally recognized for his altruistic ways and given many rewards, but he is never arrogant and still chooses to do more rather than less. Please read this amazing man’s life story. He teaches us what it really means to stop being selfish, and to see how beneficial it is to continuously think of others.
This is a true example of a real life hero.
Tsem Rinpoche
Bai Fangli, A Role Model for All of Society to Work at Poverty Reduction
On December 12th, a 93-year-old Tianjinese was selected as one of the 20 candidates for the “People Who Moved China” 2005 award. When his name, photo and activities were broadcast with those of Yuan Longping, Liu Xiang and Ren Changxia on CCTV, the whole country was moved —— it was very difficult for general public to connect the 350,000 RMB donation with an old and thin person who lay paralyzed in bed.
‘An old man, a pedicab, 350,000 RBM donation, 300 poor students……’ when all these words are connected together, the difficulty, misunderstanding, persistence and charitable love of an old man’s life was unrolled before the eyes of the general public.
This generous old man was Bai Fangli.
In Daoism, it said that a great brightness seems like darkness; a great square has no corners; a great ability takes a long time to perfect; a great sound is hard to hear; a great form has no shape. It also said that a great perfection seems flawed; a great fullness seems empty; a great straightness seems crooked; a great skill seems clumsy and a great eloquence seems stammering.
Bai Fangli led a simple lifestyle. He never took pride in honor; never explained away misunderstandings and never showed arrogance before admiration. Maybe, in the eyes of ordinary people, what he demonstrated could be called ——— great love.
A turning point: at 74 years old, he started on another road.
“Money is needed for students to go to school, money is needed for schools to maintain teachers and money is needed to rebuild old classrooms……”
While Bai’s food simply consisted of a fried bun with green Chinese onion and soy sauce along with a bowl of wontons, he began to aid education in 1987, when he was 74 years old. In that year, Bai came back to his hometown in Changxia County, Hebei Province as he prepared to retire and say goodbye to his pedicab. A group of children working in the field aroused his attention. Later, he learned that these children did not go to school because they lacked the financial resources rather than that they were naughty.
The school was unable to collect tuition, and without money, it was unable to maintain the teachers and without teachers, how could the students learn? “Money is needed for students to go to school, money is needed for schools to maintain teachers and money is needed to rebuild old classrooms……” These thoughts kept the old man awake at night. He remembered that he, himself, left Tianjin because of poverty; and now decades later, his hometown was still poor. How could this next generation change their lives without education? Do we keep watching today’s children remain illiterates like their forefathers?
As soon as he returned to Tianjin, Bai went back to work. He rode his pedicab once more and donated his pension of 5000 RMB to aid education. At the age of 74 years old, he began pedaling another road.
Stubbornness: love, frustration was carried by the little pedicab.
“let him to do it If only he feels happy. If he does not like it, he will return to a comfortable life.”
“You are so old and you have sons and daughters, why don’t you stay at home to enjoy a relaxing life since you have worked so hard and not had an easy life until now.” His children try to persuade him.
“I have strength to do it, and it makes me happy to earn money for the students by driving my pedicab.” Bai continued to be stubborn, even in his old age.
At that time, Bai went out in the early morning and wouldn’t return until after 11 pm, summer and winter. Daily, his children worried about him and waited for him at the door. They wouldn’t rest until they saw their old father return back. However, no matter how they tried to persuade him, the father turned a deaf ear to them. Sometimes, they tried to stop him, Bai persisted in his decision. In the end, the family gave up: “let him to do it If only he feels happy. If he does not like it, he will return to a comfortable life.” Therefore, by driving a pedicab, the old man earned money to make one donation after another to organizations like the Reward Fund for Teachers in Tianjin Primary and Middle High School, China Youth Development Fund and Children’s Palace in Hebei District, Tianjin.
A Record: Donating money earned with sweat and toil by driving a pedicab.
“The money donated by Grandpa Bai was full of sweat and toil, and we cannot let him down”
On September 1st, the government rewarded Bai Fangli the plaque of “Model Citizen of Supporting Education” in Daguangting Township, Chuangxian County, Hebei Province.
Later on, to increase his effort to assist students in need, Bai moved to a simple room near the Eastern Tianjin Railway Station. At that time, he waited for clients 24 hours a day, ate simple food and wore discarded second-hand clothes he found. His donations were sent to poor students in Hongguang Middle High School, Nankai University, Tianjin University.
When he first started donating funds, Bai did not ask for receipts. In his opinion, the receipts were useless if his donations were necessary. However, the beneficiary organizations recorded his donations clearly. “The money donated by Grandpa Bai was full of sweat and toil, and we can not let him down.” For this, the recipient organizations paid great importance to funds received from Bai. Besides recording the use of the donations, they also held a ceremony to distribute Bai’s donations. During the ceremony, Bai was able to see the students accept his donation and heard them report on their studies. This gave Bai great comfort, especially when he heard the school say: “you must not waste your grandpa Bai’s money, which was earned by driving pedicab. But if you study well and grow up healthily, please don’t worry about money, your grandpa will earn money for your tuition and other school fees.”
Bai drove his pedicab for 56 years and sponsored education for 18 years. During this time, the pedicab, his comrade in arms, accompanied him through rains and winds. Now, please take a rest when you tired and let the pedicab also take a rest for a while.
Frustration: Persistence, there are so many students waiting for help.
“he is a common person, he also has concerns and at times confusion. ”
Bai had adhered to his conviction for decades, and what is the power that supported him to overcome difficulties, misunderstandings and disagreements? Yang Junye, the head of Tianjin Association of self-employed individuals said that Bai was simple and noble person; he had no selfish reason for aiding education. Yang Junyu was 20 years younger than Bai, but he was his “old leader” and “friend of different generations”. On the long journey of supporting and aiding education, Bai would tell Yang what confused him. “Bai is a stubborn person; he will stick to his commitments once he has made decision. But he is also a common person; he also has concerns and at times confusion.”
In 1998, to follow municipal policy, Bai stopped his education support company, dismissed the workers, sold out the company’s properties. He then donated the 20,000 RMB to several schools. “One day, I heard a person calling me at the eastern railway station; I turned around and found it was a thin old man. After a moment, I recognized it was Bai. He was so thin that his shape had changed a lot. He told me: ‘the company is closed, but I am not willing to go. I had not eaten for several days and I can not support the students. I don’t want to live. ” What Bai said surprised Yang deeply. He took him to his home and consoled him: “it is right for you to aid the education and it is also right for you to follow the municipal policy. I support you, but you must open your mind. I will find reporters to report what you did and so everyone will learn from you. You should promise me that you will live to be 100 years old.” Bai opened his mind and found the hope ——— there are so many students still waiting for help. He determined to be the model for others follow. How could he stop at that time?
Concern: Supporting Education, the road to be walked on.
“As I recovered, I will continue to support education.”
Every time when Bai delivered a donation to Hongguang Middle High School, the students would wished he would stay longer.
Reports about Bai’s deeds in supporting education were growing. He won many rewards and attended more and more gatherings…… however, since there was no aid for Education Company, his road to support education became more difficult. The company had closed, but he continued to stay in the simple room and accumulated his money cent by cent. As the cents accumulated to hundred RMB, he would wrap them in strings and deliver them to the schools. At that time, he did not know how long he manages to keep doing this. In 2000, he fell from his pedicab and injured his arm. However, he did not go to the hospital but instead continued to drive pedicab to earn money. In the end, his daughter persuaded and accompanied him to check out his arm at hospital. It turned out he wasn’t supposed to move his arm due to a bone fracture.
It was then impossible for him to drive the pedicab because of his physical condition ——— and he had to stop his work to aid education. However, he was missed the students and thought: “I will continue this work when I am healed.”
Eternity: Love will continue promoted by the model.
“you have led a hard life, and we should return the service to you since you are so old.”
His aid of education deeds attracted many students to visit him.
During his period of supporting education, Bai also made donations to Tianjian Rest home. When festivals or holidays came, he would send the rest home his hundred RMB donation to console the old people. In 2000, he at last said goodbye to his pedicab and went to the home for rest. The Tianjin Rest home arranged a high grade room for him and appointed special staff to take care of him. People said: “you have led a hard life, and now you are so old that we must return the service to you. It is also convenient for students to see you.”
The condition in rest home was good and the staff was very kind, but Bai found it difficult to have others serve him. He always telling the staff: “you take a rest, I can look after myself.” He thought that he was troubling others———“I have not done anything, and the government paid me attention and brought me here, now I trouble you to take care of me. I might as well go home.” So, with his persistence, he moved to the house of his daughter, Bai Jinfeng.
After going home, he did not stop working; he found reports about him in various media and arranged them into a handbook. When students came to see him, he would show it to them and educate them. He told them to study well and use their talents in future to support their country. His words were simple, but like seeds, they were planted in the hearts of the students. By now, many students supported by him were supporting other poor students.
Source: http://www.fupin.org.cn/en/news/zzy.asp?newsid=711291502197617
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Bai Jifang was a Chinese pedicab driver and a philanthropist in Tianjin , China. Well as he thought he could retired and live the rest of his life in Hebei where his hometown is. On his way back, he witnessed many drop out of school children working in the field. Upon learning of their hardship and financial difficulties , he decided to go back to work long hours so that he could support and pay the installment for the school fee. So generous and kind of him donating his income to local schools and universities. Wow…..over a span of 18 years, more than 300 poor students has benefited and were able to continue with their studies.
Due to his tremendous amount of contribution , Bai has since been respected by many. Inspiring true story ……interesting read
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Bai Fangli is truly a selfless hero. At 74, returning to his hometown, with the intent to retire after a life of working as a pedicab driver, he was shocked to find the young people in his hometown working in the fields instead of going to school. When he found out that they were in the fields because they had no money to go to school, he quickly made up his mind to go back to driving the pedicab so as to fund their education. He even surrendered his pension money to the fund that was set up for these young people’s education. He led a simple and spartan life He continued to work for the benefit of these young people ,through thick and thin, until his body gave way.
Being a humble man who had helped from his heart, he brushed aside all the praise and accolades he received. Bai Fangli is truly inspiring. It is not age that poses barriers and obstacles. It’s our mind. If we are selfless and not bogged down by selfish concerns, we will find the means and ways to help others, especially the less fortunate, at all times. He loved each child his money had sent to school as though they were his own family.
It’s amazing to know such a selfless man who keeps giving even at an old age. He works so hard at 74 and donated all his money for the education of the children. His generousity really put me to shame. A person who don’t recognise tired but just keep working as he knows education is the only way out for the poor children. I hope the many children that he has helped really study hard to change their life to be better.
Very touching story of a compassionate and selfless man at an elderly age still working hard for the benefit of others.At age 74 Bai Jinfeng still drove his pedicab for a living. With his money he sponsored education for poor student for 18 years.Amazing.He live a simple life, saves all to help the poor and support education ,He was soon recognised and won many rewards for his generousity.
His words of encouragement to the students is to study well,use their talents in future to support their country.
Thank you Rinpoche for these touching article.
It’s a very nice story of a 74-years old man who went back to work life to help kids and students to go to school / university. Everybody should have the opportunity to attend classes in a school or university. He made so many kids / students happy by helping them out with financial resources and he loved it to see them like this.
Nice to meet you here Navina on tsemrinpoche.com and welcome to Kechara!
Indeed, everyone should have the opportunity to receive education. Such a wonderful man who asked for nothing in return, but just to advise the future graduates to “use their talents in future to support their country.”
Hope to see you more often on the blog!
What a beautiful story of such a selfless man. It’s amazing to know that in the face of such economic growth, consumerism and materialism in China over the last few decades, there are still selfless people like this who have thought only of others as the world booms around them.
What strikes me too is how truly selfless people like this wish for nothing but to bring some relief and happiness to others, to give other people good opportunities even if it means that they have to give up their own comforts – and the most amazing thing is that they wouldn’t even really consider this as having to “give up” anything; they wouldn’t think twice about this. Also, while they don’t want anything in return for their work for others, they inadvertently get everything that most people crave for in their own ordinary self-centered lives – success, respect, admiration, friendship, even wealth and financial support…. which only goes to prove as ever that golden teaching that the only way to really create happiness for ourselves is to work for others.
This is really a very amazing story of a man who is so selfless and compassionate towards others.
He is stubborn, yet stubborn for a good cause.
Rinpoche has always said that results resemble causes. I wonder then how powerful is the good karma that he has created in this present life that he certainly will have much better life after this.
In this dog-eat-dog society, it is so hard now to find some one who can be so willing to give up comfortable life for the benefits of many others. Very noble thought and actions indeed.
Reading this brought tears to my eyes. His love, kindness and selflessness are truly amazing. To live life for the benefit of others. Because of him many people got education and also learn from him the true meaning of helping others in need.
Very inspiring grandpa! I like his perseverance even at an old age. He continues to work eventhough his physical strength is much lower than when he was younger. I would like to be him 🙂
Reading this had really brought tears to my eyes. It shows the extent that all humans should be able to reach to show compassion and yet not many bother beyond their comfort zone, including myself. This man also reminds me of my late father who had always tried to be the best that he could (at making his parents proud, at being the best possible parent, at being the fairest & generous employer, at being a good friend and at being understanding to those in need). I’ve asked him once of why he was so generous and kind to those who would bad-mouth him behind his back or would turn against him when it suits them. His answer was “I didn’t give to expect something back. If giving comes with expectation, then it is not giving. It makes me happy to give.” It is thru his generousity that I found my way to Kechara. Having been a “Christian” a heart, I couldn’t accept my father suffering in hell base on the fact that he was not Christian & not on his deeds. In search to help him out of suffering, I found Rinpoche’s teachings of merit dedication the answer to my quest. Now I am also able to help my mother, relatives and others as well.
Also, in reading this story, I was strongly reminded of Rinpoche’s great compassion, not only in suffering to be able to teach us the Dharma but of the numerous life times of returning to benefit all sentient beings. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart and hope to progress positively in my mind transformation to offer up to you.
Thank Rinpoche for sharing to us such amazing and touching story… Granpa Bai was a vey compassion and generous towards education, his effort benefit many students. It look simple but we hard to do as Granpa Bai, but anyway i will try to do it as how much i can do start from today. Hopefully my small effort at the begining and let me got more efforts in future…
Dear Rinpoche
This story really moved me. Like Grandpa Bay, I am a big believer of education as a means to break the cycle of poverty – which is why I am promoting education among our KSK ID clients. Grandpa Bay touched me with his effort, compared to him, I live a much more comfortable life. And sometimes still complaints that I don’t have enough time to rest. Grandpa Bai worked until he cannot work anymore and live a very simple life. He is a true selfless person.
Much love from Indonesia
Valentina
I have read this while working in China, when everyone seems to be running around chasing their material gains and block everything else surrounding them, he is like fresh air, so much to learn
What a lovely story of selflessness, Rinpoche! It’s so amazing and so inspiring! It sends a strong message that no matter how old we are, no matter who we are, we can do significant deeds to benefit others. All it needs is sheer grit and love and great compassion for all!
This story and the story of the lady who lived a frugal life and use all her earnings and savings, as a vegetable seller, to benefit others are truly inspiring: these two lovely people came from a background of poverty and use their experience to motivate them to help others in similar plight to rise above poverty and financial constraints to become well educated and successful people.