Associating with Nankai Alumni

Abstract

Zhou Enlai began the year 1918 with writing a diary. In fact, it was his New Year’s resolution. Zhou writes:

Today is January 1 of the solar calendar and the Republic of China [ROC] Year 7. I begin writing this diary today. I hope to write it every day, without missing a day, and keep it as a memento. It might be interesting to turn pages of this diary when I become old and reminisce about scenes of my youth. I have no intention of writing my accomplishments down in order to show them to people nor do I think that I am able to achieve great accomplishments. I am nineteen years old now. Looking back on my life so far, I have accomplished nothing and led an empty life. I cannot face my deceased parents who are buried. I cannot face my uncles, teachers, and friends, who at present love me, teach me, and take care of me. From a larger perspective, I have done absolutely nothing for the country and society. Buddha teaches that repaying indebtedness [debts of gratitude] is of the utmost important, but I have not even repaid my indebtedness. How can I become a Buddha? They say, “People must have a resolution.” I will now follow this saying and make a resolution to repay my indebtedness, accomplish something worthy, relieve the worries of those I am indebted to, and not waste my life. I have benefited from the word “affection” [qing] since my birth. Regarding the mind of ababy…¹