Lei Cheng
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
So the ultimate state of being is to be serene.
But you can't get there until you've exhausted the other extreme, anxiety, pain, despair.
And now I'm giving a TED Talk.
Thank you.
And when we are serene, we can choose kindness.
When those guards watched me,
at all times.
I would still say good morning to them.
I didn't hold it against them when they enforced the strict rules, because I saw that they suffered too.
During the shifts, they couldn't talk, drink water or even go to the toilet.
They had to watch me shit, shower and sleep.
Later in detention, I would still show courtesy to the officers, even when they were rude.
even when they encouraged us to snitch.
I still chose to forgive my cellmates and empathize.
If I become vengeful and petty, then they've taken away more from me.
I was in a cell for a while with a terrible bully.
She made my life hell.
but once called for a midnight interrogation.
She was so scared, she asked if she could hold my hand.
I hugged her and comforted her.