China has no organised religion but practises the natural "dharma" of truth, love, compassion, non-violence, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, cleanliness, righteous conduct, and protecting the environment.
In 20 days of stay in different cities over in China, I discovered its true faith. All vehicles in China move in respective lanes at moderate speed with no honking, though the country has more population than India. It is possible only when people have patience and self-control, both inseparable parts of dharma.
Using an elevator at Shanghai Metro Station, I slipped. Not only the two bags I was carrying rolled down but also from one came out my articles such as wallet, and spilled on the floor below. A boy and a girl, who later I came to know were on a leisure trip, not only restored the bags with all the items but also got me the ticket to my next destination, Hangjhou.
At Xian city later, I was looking for somebody who could guide me to my hotel. A gentleman read the address on my booking confirmation copy and asked me to accompany him. Being older, I struggled to keep pace with him, so he stepped back and took my bag. We communicated by facial expressions, as he didn't understand much English.
Inside the hotel, we shook hands and he departed. A woman at the front desk told me I was booked in the sister hotel 300 meters down. As I pushed the door to move out, I saw the man running back. "I am sorry, this is not your hotel, come with me," he seemed to say. He took my bag again and we hurried to the right hotel. He was probably to getting late for office, so he raised his hand to take leave, and was gone without waiting for my gesture of thanks.
{{/usCountry}}Inside the hotel, we shook hands and he departed. A woman at the front desk told me I was booked in the sister hotel 300 meters down. As I pushed the door to move out, I saw the man running back. "I am sorry, this is not your hotel, come with me," he seemed to say. He took my bag again and we hurried to the right hotel. He was probably to getting late for office, so he raised his hand to take leave, and was gone without waiting for my gesture of thanks.
{{/usCountry}}Next day, I was with a university professor, and we were chatting about our countries. "I read that there is no religion in China but I have seen Chinese people endowed with the virtues that are integral part of dharma," I said. He chuckled and said: "Thanks for your compliments. But human values have existed since man. Without these, humanity would not have survived for so long."
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