【Description】
An orphan who polishes shoes for people in a train station lives a life of poverty and struggle. No one pays any attention to him. So how does he become a phoenix and soar? What makes him stand out in a vast sea of ordinary people and become a famous and brilliant actor?
Please listen to Grandmaster JinBodhi tell this touching story.
【You will learn】
- An inspiring story
- The power of the most precious quality of human nature
【Content】
(A director was preparing to shoot a film. At a station, he met a little beggar. This chance encounter changed their destinies. This is the “backstage story” of Central Station.)
Kindness requires no assessment
This is a story about a Brazilian film director, Walter Salles Junior. In 1998, he wanted to shoot a movie titled Central Station. During the casting process, he passed by a train station. The station was busy with people coming and going. There was a 10-year-old boy who yelled to him: “Sir, please come and I can polish your shoes.” The director was busy and weary from the casting process. He said, “I am in a hurry.” Then he left.
As he was waiting for the traffic light so he could cross the street, the little boy ran to him and said, “Sir?” He was shy and embarrassed. “May I borrow a bit of money from you? I haven’t eaten anything today. When I have the money, I will pay you back. I promise. Please.” Walter thought, “There are lots of these little swindlers in Brazil. Luckily I am a director and can make some money. If he cheats me, I don’t care.” “Here you are. You don’t need to pay me back.” He still thought the boy was a swindler. The boy took the money and said, “Sir, I will pay you back.” Walter thought the boy was lying.
A couple weeks later, he’d forgotten about it. He was the key man, and was busy and stressed with his work every day. He forgot about the boy. However, 2 weeks later, he went to that train station again. Out of the crowd, the boy appeared and said, “Sir. Sir.” Walter didn’t know it was for him. “Sir. I am paying you back the money.” It was the first time that a beggar paid him back money. How strange! The little boy kept his promise and surprised Walter.
When the boy gave him the money, it was wet. He had been waiting for Walter, though he was not sure if he would come back. As the little boy handed him the money, Walter thought, “I don’t need this.” But he was interested in the little boy, as he wasn’t a liar. He really paid him back the money. Although it was a trivial thing, it inspired Walter. He needed an actor to play the role of a 10-year-old boy in his movie. He had been looking for someone to play that role, but he never thought that he would meet the shoe-polishing boy.
Walter, seeing the boy again, was impressed by his earnest smiling face. He felt that this little boy’s presence was nice. He told the boy, “OK. Please don’t go yet. You can keep the money. I want you to do something. Tomorrow, go to this address and meet me, please. This is my film company. Come to see me, my name is Walter. Don’t forget. I will be waiting for you tomorrow morning.” The boy asked, “Director? Wow! You’re a film director? I love watching movies. Will there be food tomorrow?” Walter said, “Of course. You just come.”
The next day, his security guard said, “Director, there is a gang of beggars. Please come and take a look!” Walter went downstairs, and wow, he saw there were about 20 to 30 little boys, little beggars. He said, “Why are they here? I invited only you.” The little boy replied, “These kids and I are orphans. We are wandering kids. Sir, can they be with me and enjoy this surprise, please?” Listening to this kid, Walter was overwhelmed. This little kid had a big heart. Other kids might only enjoy themselves, but he brought other orphans to Walter and asked if, as a film director, he might find a more suitable kid to act in his movie.
Can you see what the kid was thinking? Walter took his advice and prepared a basin of water. He asked the kids to clean their faces so he could see them clearly. Their faces were covered with dirt. After the kids had cleaned themselves, Walter found some of them very cute. It was sad that they were orphans. Some were even smarter than the one he met at the station. Walter thought carefully. Although the one he met was not the best choice, the way that he felt and cared for others, and his kindness, moved Walter so much.
Walter made a decision and said, “I pick you. But I will also feed the other kids and give them some money. If there are other roles, I will cast them.” Finally, he signed a contract with this kid. The name of the movie is Central Station. It is very famous and has won several awards for outstanding film. This little boy’s name is Vinícius de Oliveira. He is an adult now. He is also the director of his own cinema communications company.
He published his autobiography. He wrote about the journey of his life and acting. Also, for the title page of his book, he invited the kind director who found him to write something. What did Director Walter write to him? He wrote: “Kindness requires no assessment.” Also, he made a comment: “Kindness lets you offer opportunities to others; in the same way, kindness won’t let the opportunities pass you by.”
I am very touched by this story of a Brazilian film director and this little wandering kid. I am so moved; I feel comforted and encouraged.
(Vinícius became a national hero of Brazil. Kindness let him offer opportunities to others, and kindness let opportunities come to him.)