This short poem was composed in Chinese and translated into English by Ying two months before he turned 60; he called his motto:
耳順之後 After sixty,
返樸歸陋 Return to simplicity.
去繁除舊 Rid complexity and bad habits.
心闊體瘦 Stay light-hearted and fit.
言簡意透 Don’t babble; Be clear.
寬容勿究 Forgive; Never push too far.
無嗔無憂 No anger, no worry,
瞑念暢遊 Let the mind soar beyond boundary
As I reflect on Ying’s life, I re-translated this poem as a tribute, and I think it accurately describes my brother Ying in his final years.
After turning sixty
I no longer need much baggage around me
Removing the unnecessary and ridding the old
My body shrinks but my mind is about to explode
With fewer words I am now even more persuasive
Forbearing is the virtue and not to be plaintive
No worry no sorrow
Close my eyes with dreams into tomorrow
Here is a video clip of my tribute to Ying Sun.
