“Mei ge ren, dou you mei ge ren de yong chu.”

This phrase means: “Every human being has a purpose.” It means we should consider every person a blessing and a worthy person, a person who has usefulness to us, even if we don't know what the purpose is.

There is the story of the Shaolin novice monk who was very proud of his skills and knowledge. He went to a local village to participate in fighting on the Lei Tai (raised platform). He did well in the first eliminations, but was beaten by a youngster who, at first, had seemed to be out of place in the competition.

Very unhappy, he went back to the temple to discuss his failure with the Abbot.

He said to the Abbot, “Master, how could I lose, when I am a Shaolin Monk?”

The Abbot said in reply, “How could you win, being a Shaolin Monk?” And he walked away, leaving the young monk to ponder over his words.

The next day during his chores, he thought about the Abbot’s words. During his meals, he thought about the Abbot’s words. At night he could not sleep for tossing and turning over the Abbot’s words.

Then he realized his problem.

The young monk went back to the tournament and entered again. This time he did even better than his first visit, but ended up being beaten by an old gentleman. After winning, the old man hugged the young monk and said, “three years.”

The young monk returned to Shaolin and discussed his second failure. He asked the Abbot what “three years” meant. The Abbot said, “the old gentleman was telling you that in three years you would be able to defeat him.”

The young monk’s face lit up with joy and he said, “Only three years! Master, do you think it could be true?”

“No,” the Abbot said. “At least five years.”

“But why?” asked the young monk.

The Abbot looked at the young man and said, “Because if all you think about winning a competition in the future, you will miss everything that is in the here, and now.”

The young monk pondered this a while, then asked, “Master, should I not try to become good enough in three years to win the competition?”

The Abbot said, “Which is more valuable, a pile of gold coins, or a pile of mud?”

“The gold coins, of course.”

“But to a seed, which is more important?”

The young monk was suddenly enlightened.

“Mei ge ren, dou you mei ge ren de you chu.”