My First-Year Journey with Pangu Shengong — by Yinuo Zhang

I am Yinuo Zhang, a new student of Pangu Shengong. I began my graduate studies in New York in September 2023 and was fortunate enough to meet Ms. Zhihong Han and her daughter, Shuying Zhu. We became housemates for the year from September 2023 to the summer of 2024. During this year, I started learning about Pangu Culture, which has brought positive changes to my life and social relationships. I would like to share the personal transformations I’ve experienced over this past year with everyone here.

A year ago, I was going through some difficult times. During my undergraduate studies in the U.S. and the first couple of years after graduation, I encountered significant disputes due to my accumulated negative tendencies. However, after learning about Pangu Shengong and Pangu Culture, my life and the path I was on started to brighten.

Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with interpersonal relationships, largely due to my negative personality traits and an upbringing that prioritized academic performance and rankings. From middle school to graduate school, I placed immense importance on my own grades and rankings, often neglecting genuine care for others. This approach eventually led to roadblocks in both my academic performance and job search as I progressed through college in the U.S.

Since I started learning about Pangu Culture in October of last year, the first major shift I noticed was the improvement in my relationships. I used to compare myself to my peers rather than sincerely caring for them. However, Ms. Han shared insights with me on how to approach job hunting with the right attitude and encouraged me to read Master Ou’s speeches on life choices for young people. This led me to adjust my expectations for myself in both academics and work. I started to open up and care more genuinely about my classmates, and my relationships with those around me became more authentic, harmonious, and supportive. In the past, I used to awkwardly stand on the sidelines when I saw classmates chatting and laughing, yearning to join but feeling restrained. Now, my social anxiety has significantly improved because I’ve learned to treat others sincerely and consider their needs. As a result, my relationships have become much more harmonious, and I’ve formed meaningful friendships.

Master Ou’s teachings also guided my job search, leading me to a successful internship, and helped me significantly improve my performance during that internship. In the spring semester, I faced pressure to find a summer internship. In the past, I would have put enormous pressure on myself, aiming for cutting-edge or highly popular roles and industries. However, some of Master Ou’s ideas in his writings, along with Ms. Han’s explanations, inspired me. Concepts like, “Don’t feel you must also have what others have when you see them getting something,” and “If you can’t find the ideal job right away, it’s okay to start with something less ideal and work from there,” helped me reassess my past experiences and adjust my job search goals to something more realistic and suitable for myself. Although I had limited time to apply each week due to academic pressures, I maintained a calm mindset and held the belief that I would put my best effort into whichever internship I landed. In the end, I was fortunate to be offered an internship with a company I greatly admire.

During this internship, unlike in my previous work experiences where I struggled with relationships due to a narrow mindset, I was more open and communicated with kindness. This allowed me to maintain a positive, friendly relationship with my supervisor, and I was able to complete more tasks with higher quality during my internship.

Since studying Pangu Culture, even relationships I thought were beyond repair have gradually thawed. My cousin and I had a strained relationship for the past five or six years due to my self-centered and domineering nature, compounded by family comparisons of our academic achievements. We had little to no contact for years. However, during my return to China this summer, I kept in mind to show respect, kindness, and consideration for others’ feelings and interests when interacting with her. As a result, my relationship with my cousin has significantly improved.

I am deeply grateful for Pangu Culture and have come to realize that humanity’s understanding of the natural world is still limited. I hope to continue my journey by learning Pangu Culture more sincerely and diligently, and to grow alongside other students in cultivating both mind and spirit.

[Written on October 2024.]