主教東北吉林省雙城人，後遷居於黑龍江省，生而穎悟，相貌偉然，有王者儀，長者風。立志報國救民，五四運動，參加學生示威，抗議專制，為當局通緝之要犯。避難於天主堂，受神父之影響，所謂「近朱者赤」，遂被篤信天主教徒。以表現卓絕，品德優越，遂被選為傳教佈道師。積功累行，升為中國樞機主教。任輔仁大學校長，熱心教育。提拔青年出國深造，不遺餘力。為競選羅馬教皇，遭受妒嫉挫折，卒於羅馬。壯志未酬，實為遺憾。
註解：
今天講于樞機。于樞機是中國很特殊的人物，因為他以天主教的身份，他腦袋的價錢和蔣介石的一樣高；共產黨當時買蔣介石的頭，說誰如果把蔣介石的頭獻與共產黨，他就給二十萬大頭，大頭就是銀元，二十萬銀元。于斌的頭呢，也是值二十萬。你們看看，他的影響力多大就知道了！以天主教老百姓的身份，居然就和國家元首的腦袋是一樣的價錢。你看是值錢，還是不值錢呢？你們大家應該知道這個人的身份了。
當時美國援助中國的美援，不直接交給蔣介石，要交給于樞機于斌，他居然在國際間就有這麼大聲望。國家元首沒有人相信，人相信于樞機，這是我知道的。因為當時有個李炎武，美援來了他就找李炎武，問這個錢怎麼用法，都撥給誰，哪一個部門，都先請教李炎武。這李炎武也是東北人，二十多歲的時候就給馬占山當參謀長，是一個很有為的軍人。在東北他雖然一生碌碌，但是于斌很看得起他。
那這個于斌，我和他在早不認識，一直到臺灣第一次見面才認識。因為他也是東北雙城縣人，我也是東北雙城縣人，所以這叫「人不親土親」。雖然他是天主教的神父，我是出家人，這個鄉親的觀念還是有的。所以我到臺灣，一個王冠吾，現在在臺灣臺大醫院養病，今年九十二歲了，也是東北雙城縣的人，請我到他家吃餃子，就請于斌去做陪客。那時候天主教的領袖有個趙東書趙紫陽，不是現在這個趙紫陽，也是雙城拉林附近的人，和我都是同鄉，所以就一起吃飯。
我頭一次見著他，我就對于樞機講，我說于樞機，我和你說一句旁人不敢說的話，但是我一定要說；我不管旁人接受不接受，我要告訴你。什麼呢？我說，「你應該做一個天主教的佛教徒。」他聽了好像很驚奇似的，就看著就沒出聲。我看他有一點疑問了，不明白這個意思。我說，「不是單單叫你做天主教的佛教徒，我要做一個佛教的天主教徒。我們兩個人的思想一溝通了，這個世界就沒有戰爭了。你看好不好？」
他想一想，一拍大腿，「對！我們就這麼辦。」所以以後他到金山寺，也拜佛，到萬佛城住了一個禮拜。
他對我說，做一個樞機也就等於一個王似的。他把他由小怎麼樣子，好像要講他的歷史似的，一點一點都告訴我；幾多歲幹些什麼，幾多歲幹些什麼，怎麼樣怎么樣；相面的說他可以做王，民主時代不能做王了，所以他就長者王，有一個忠厚長者的樣子：他很老實的。
「立志報國救民」：他小的時候就想為國家出一點力，把老百姓的痛苦給解除了，所以在「五四運動」他就參加示威。他當時那個步伐很整齊的，他也告訴我；他有條不紊地帶一般學生走路，也沒有出什麼意外，也沒有怎麼樣子，就那麼和平示威。因為一和平示威，這報紙上都把他的名字給賣出來了。他向當時政府抗議專制，政府就通緝他，「這個不是好東西」，就要抓他。每一個機關裡頭都有相片，說誰要看見這個學生就要把他抓來。這樣子他沒有地方躲避了，所以就跑到天主教堂裡去。所以「抗議專制，為當局通緝之要犯」；說他是一個革命黨，或者是什麼什麼的，所以避難於天主教堂。「受神父的影響，黨陶漸染，所謂近朱者赤。」因為當時的天主堂，中國政府不敢動它，因為它有治外法權，不可以到那個地方去搜查，所以他就到那個地方躲避。天天耳濡目染的，聽神父講多了，他覺得做神父也不錯的，所以也就願意做神父了。假如他要是跑到和尚廟上去呢，或者他就做了和尚，也不一定的。真的啊！這都是有可能性的。所以說近朱者赤；染於蒼則蒼，染於黃則黃。那麼他受影響了，以後就領洗。
「表現卓絕」：他表現是一個忠實的天主教徒；他認為天主就是活了，天主是萬能的，所以他就願意照著天主那麼學，就很合乎神父的口味。神父看他這麼青年，相貌又那麼好。「品德優越」：品行好，對天主教又特別忠實，所以「遂被選為傳教佈道師」，那麼一點一點的就升了。「積功累行」：他幫著天主教，人家做不到的事情他都能做到。積功立德，「升為中國的樞機主教」：這也就等於一個王了。所以他自己告訴我，說我這做樞機也就像一個王似的。我說你王什麼？我說你真是！這有什麼了不起的？你王又能怎麼樣？我問他。他是很老實的一個人。
「任輔仁大學校」：我到臺灣的時候，他也請我到輔仁大學去講演，給他們那班學生講演。「熱心教育」：由他送到國外的學生大約有三、四百人，有那麼多，由他的力量介紹到國外去讀書的。所以很多的青年人都是受他的栽培，現在對天主教都很忠心的。「為競選羅馬教皇」：他想去競選教宗，當時有青年神父就譏諷他，這個青年就說，「你都這麼大年紀了，你選它做什麼？你不能有什麼貢獻了。你退一步好。」他大約也受不了。「你一個青年人，這麼樣子來妒嫉我！」以後那個青年人果然選上了，選上沒有多久也就死了。當時于樞機氣死，就是幾個人在車裡說話氣死的，在汽車裡死的。你們知道嗎？所以就「遭受挫折」。這個在天主教裡都不講這個的，講這個很丟人，不過我知道。「卒於羅馬」他就死在羅馬了。
「壯志未酬」：他本來對我說，我現在老了，要早一點他們選我做樞機主教，那我就更能多做一點事情。我說，那你的頭會加一倍的價錢，四十萬大洋。
那時候中國的電臺，很多都是于樞機的，他很活躍的。「壯志未酬，實為遺憾」：是很遺憾的。他搞名搞得太厲害了，所以放不下就氣死了。利他是沒有什麼，到臨死他也沒有什麼積蓄，沒有什麼錢的。
待續
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Text:
Cardinal Yu Bin came from Shuangcheng County of Jilin Province in Manchuria. He was born intelligent, with a stately appearance, regal bearing, and a mature demeanor. With his resolve to serve the nation and help the people, he joined the student demonstrations during the May 4th Movement to protest against totalitarianism, thus becoming a wanted renegade sought by the authorities. Taking refuge in a Catholic church, he was influenced by the Catholic priests, as the Chinese proverb says: “Those near red ink tend to turn red,” and became a devout Catholic. With his outstanding conduct and exceptional character, he was selected to become a priest who would spread the gospel. Having accumulated numerous merits and accomplishments, he was promoted to Cardinal of China. Afterwards, he served as the chancellor of the Fu-Jen University and devoted himself to education, sparing no energy in encouraging young people to pursue further studies abroad. As a contender for the papacy in Rome, he suffered setbacks due to jealousy and sadly passed away in Rome. It is truly regrettable that his lofty aims remained unrealized.
Commentary:
Today we are going to talk about Cardinal Yu. Cardinal Yu was a very extraordinary character in China. His head was as valuable as that of Chiang Kai-Shek. Back then the Communist party had put out a bounty of two hundred thousand silver dollars for Chiang Kai-Shek's head. Yu Bin's head was also worth two hundred thousand silver dollars. The life of one Catholic civilian was actually as valuable as that of the national leader. One can see how powerful his influence was.
His reputation in the international arena was not insignificant either. Back when the United States came to the aid of China, they did not give the money directly to Chiang Kai-Shek, but instead gave it to Yu Bin. His creditability was even better than that of the national leader; this I know. After Cardinal Yu received the American relief, he frequently discussed with General Li Yan-Wu the matter of handling the American assistance. Li Yan-Wu served as General Ma Zhan-Shan's advisor when he was in his twenties. He was young and talented. Although he didn't have much accomplishment in Manchuria, he was held in high regard by Yu Bin.
The first time I met Yu Bin in Taiwan was at the residence of Wang Guan-Wu. Although he was a Catholic priest and I was a Buddhist monk, we were both from Shuangcheng County of Jilin Province and thus had the connection of sharing the same hometown. Therefore, on that occasion of eating dumplings at the home of Wang Guan-Wu (now recuperating at the National Taiwan University Hospital at the age of ninety-two), he (Wang) invited Yu Bin as guest, as well various other compatriots from Shuangcheng. At that time there was a Catholic leader Zhao Zi-Yang (also known as Zhao Dong-Shu), not the current Zhao Zi-Yang, who also came the vicinity of Lalin, Shuangcheng County. So this was a meal with people from the same village.
The first time I saw Yu Bin, I said to him, “Cardinal Yu, let me say one thing to you that others dare not say. Furthermore, I don't care if you accept it or not; I still want to tell you. You should be a Catholic Buddhist.” Upon hearing this, he gave me a look of surprise, but did not utter a sound. I saw that he was still a bit perplexed, so I added, “You should be a Catholic Buddhist, and I must become a Buddhist Catholic. Let our phi losophies interconnect, and the world shall be free from warfare. What do you think?”
He thought for a bit, and said, “Right! Right! Let's make it so.” Later, he came to the Gold Mountain Monastery, and indeed courteously paid respect to the Buddha. He even went to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and stayed for a week.
He told me that being a cardinal was like being a king. He also told me in detail about his childhood: at what age he did this and at what age he did that. A physiognomist had told him that he had the looks of a king, but in this democratic age there are no kings, so he became an elder instead. He had the appearance of a trustworthy and honest elder.
Ever since he was young, he aspired to contribute to the country and to eliminate the suffering of the people. During the May Fourth Movement, he joined the peaceful demonstrations of the students to protest against the wrongdoings of totalitarian rule; consequently, he became a renegade sought by the authorities, and everywhere there were "Wanted" posters of him. To avoid being captured, he took refuge in a Catholic church.
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At that time, the churches received special legal protection, so the Chinese government dared not enter to conduct searches. After living within the church for a while, he was gradually transformed by his surroundings. Listening to the priests day after day, he felt it wouldn't be bad to become a priest himself. Now, if he had taken refuge in a Buddhist monastery in the beginning, it's possible that he would have become a Buddhist monk instead. As the proverb says:
"Those near red ink tend to turn red. Those dyed with blue
ink become blue, and those dyed with yellow ink become
yellow." In any case, he was baptized.
He proved himself to
be a devout Catholic. He believed that God is alive and
omnipotent, and he wanted to learn from God. The priests all
liked him. Seeing that he was quite young, with such a
distinguished appearance, exemplary in his character, and
exceptionally faithful to Catholicism, they chose him to be
a priest who would spread the gospel. Little by little, he
rose in position. He contributed to Catholicism in ways that
most people could not, and accumulated merits in this way.
Soon he was promoted to become the Cardinal of China. The
position of a cardinal is nearly like that of the sovereign
of a country. Thus he told me himself, "As Cardinal, I am
just like a king." My response was, "What's this about you
being king, eh? I say you sure have the audacity! What's the
big deal? You're the king—so what?" He was a very honest
man.
During one of my visits to Taiwan, when he was the
chancellor of the Fu-Jen University, he invited me to give a
lecture to his students. He was full of fervor for
education. Through his efforts, as many as three or four
hundred students were able to study abroad. The many young
people who received his guidance and assistance are today
very loyal to the Catholic religion.
Cardinal Yu Bin wanted
to seek nomination for the papacy in Rome. There were some
young priests at the time who taunted him, saying, "You're
so old already. What's the use of running for Pope? You have
nothing more to contribute. You had better step down." He
probably found such a remark intolerable: "How can a young
person like you be jealous of me like this?" Later, one of
those younger priests was indeed elected, but he died
shortly afterwards. Cardinal Yu died of anger over the
comments that the younger priests had made in the car. Do
you know that he died right in the car? That's why the text
says that he suffered setbacks due to jealousy. They don't
talk about this in the Catholic Church; it's too
embarrassing. However, I know it to be the case. He died in
Rome.
He said to me, "I'm old already; they ought to elect
me as Pope earlier, so I can accomplish more." "Then the
price of your head would double and you'd be worth four
hundred thousand silver dollars." I said.
Cardinal Yu owned
many Chinese radio stations at the time. He was quite a
lively character. It's truly regrettable that his lofty
goals remained unrealized. He was too concerned about fame.
Since he was too attached to his reputation, he died of
anger. He didn't care much about profit, however. He didn't
have much wealth when he died.
to be continued |
