Saturday, September 3, 2016

The Otherworldly Pursuit: Lotus Gold Medal Award and Book Prizes

Couple of days ago, 云大师 and I went to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for the Lotus Gold Medal Award "PART 2". The College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) was having its annual awards ceremony -- the Lotus on Water Book Prizes were awarded as well.

Along with the Lotus on Water Gold Medal, the Lotus Book Prizes are our annual commitments to support and promote the study of Chinese and Chinese culture. They are not awarded to the ones with the highest GPA or results, but the students with excellent final year projects in specific specializations -- I am sure you know by now. You can know more about these unprecedented awards here::

From NTU:
http://www.soh.ntu.edu.sg/Programmes/chinese/en/Undergraduate/scholarship/Pages/Lotus-on-Water.aspx

From Master Yun:


"It is while doing the dissertation that there is training of reasoning power. And self-learning ability is enhanced. It is in true self learning that the "fisher of fish" is nurtured." (http://lotusonwater.blogspot.sg/…/fisher-of-fish-lotus-on-w…)

"Because it is a great sin to plagiarize, we are forced to come out with new ideas. We are forced to ask more 'why' and more 'how'. And as a result, a better 'what' is created." (http://lotusonwater.blogspot.sg/…/it-is-not-charity-lotus-o…)

 
Lotus On Water | 云龙子旺财馆
...is a rather peculiar institution. We are not really interested in how others look at us and even less concerned about their standards. I quote from Master Yun: "If Lotus on Water can be considered as 'above mediocrity', in making a difference in lives of individuals and in society, a large part of it is due to the habitual thinking skills I acquired when I was taught how to write my thesis paper, and all other essays of a similar nature and a smaller scale."


The Lotus is about creating standards, since day one. To be the cure, not the decree, to revolutionize and glorify the Chinese and fengshui culture, to sell only the authentic and best earthly treasures, to sell only above A grade jadeite...yes, we have gotten numerous brand awards -- appreciated, but I would say that the Lotus has outgrown them.


The Lotus has a greater cause that overwhelms the standards of others. It is necessary to do what is right by us and the heavens, rather than what is right by others.

And it is with such "defiance", that the Lotus commits to the Gold Medal and Book Prizes. We believe strongly in our conviction, and the recipients of the Gold Medal and Book Prizes -- congratulations, you have proven that such an otherworldly pursuit is sensible, and possible. 

-- Kan Ying Loong, Executive Director
 (originally posted here: https://www.facebook.com/yingloong.kan/posts/1218097761595433)

No comments:

Post a Comment