助他人觀照己心

「安穩的心是常觀照內心，不隨境轉。你我都可享有。」這是楊佩在社交平台的帖文，「觀照」是佛學觀念，意即觀察和看見己心，不受外在環境影響。楊佩現為執業輔導師，此前修畢佛學、輔導兩個碩士。假如這是她人生的下半場，上半場就是紡織生意。

本科畢業後，楊佩就創辦公司，貌似與新傳關連不大，其實不然。她說，新傳所學非常有用，她修讀「學生為本課程」一科，在時任教授李少南指導下撰寫論文，學到做研究的思維方式，如何由假設、找尋解決方法，到總結導致事情發生的條件和限制，從而應用和修正，「所謂『大膽假設，小心求證』，到我做生意完全一脈相承。我是開拓者，無前車可鑑，但我覺得自己很富有，新傳給了我很多招式使用，令難題迎刃而解。」

由深水埗鋪頭做起，廿多年間規模愈做愈大，更與多個國際知名品牌合作，楊佩卻決定暫停，將工作交由第二梯隊，開啟觀照己心之路。

她想起在西藏自駕遊遇到的當地人，還有管理泰國項目時遇到出家的泰國員工，出於好奇人心如何從宗教支取力量，於是修讀佛學碩士，其中一門輔導課關於臨終關懷，召喚從心而發，「爸爸在我31歲去世，之後有同事、朋友的親人去世，我會自發關心他們。很多年後，他們跟我說，謝謝你當時這樣開導我。那刻我覺得爸爸送了我一份禮物，讓我在年輕時面對和思考生死課題，得以幫助他人。」

她開始擔任佛教院侍部義工，探訪住院病人，為了進修臨終關懷技巧，又修讀輔導碩士。第二人生展開，楊佩現為執業輔導師，專長癌症病人、青少年及家長輔導，幫助他人觀照己心。

她憶述李教授有次分享，傳播有不同層面，大眾傳播旨在讓廣泛受眾接收訊息，他卻對自我、人與人之間的溝通很感興趣。過了很久她才開始明白。她現時的志向都與傳播有關，只是輔導更著重聆聽：「你愈主動和願意聆聽，反而你跟個案說的那句話，愈能進入對方內心。」

「當你聆聽對方的困難和處境，就能以他的方式幫助他。我不是叫他要如何做，而是讓他意識到自己可以怎樣往前走。」

簡介：
楊佩，1990年香港中文大學新聞與傳播本科畢業，從事紡織生意25年，為公司創辦人之一；其後修讀佛學、輔導碩士課程，現為執業輔導師。

Helping Others Reflect on Their Inner Selves

“A peaceful mind comes from regularly observing your inner thoughts, not being swayed by external circumstances. This is something we can all achieve.” This message appears in one of Betty Yang’s social media posts. The concept of “reflection” she references comes from Buddhist philosophy, referring to the practice of observing and understanding one’s own mind without being influenced by the outside world. Today, Yang works as a practicing counselor, having completed master’s degrees in both Buddhist studies and counseling. If this represents the second half of her life journey, then her first chapter was dedicated to the textile industry.

After finishing her undergraduate degree, Yang established her own company—a path that might seem disconnected from her journalism and communication studies. However, she insists this wasn’t the case at all. “What I learned in those programs proved incredibly valuable,” she explains. She took a “STOT” course and wrote her thesis under the guidance of Professor Lee Siu-Nam, Paul, where she developed critical research skills: forming hypotheses, finding solutions, and identifying the conditions and limitations that lead to specific outcomes. “The principle of ‘bold hypothesis, careful verification’ aligned perfectly with my approach to business. Though I was breaking new ground with no precedents to follow, I felt incredibly well-equipped because journalism and communication had given me so many tools to tackle difficult problems.”

Starting with a small shop in Sham Shui Po, she grew her business significantly over more than two decades, eventually partnering with several internationally renowned brands. Yet at the height of this success, Yang decided to take a step back, passing the leadership responsibilities to her second-in-command team, and embarked on a path of self-reflection.

She recalled the local people she encountered during a four-wheel off-road driving tour in Tibet, and several employees who had become monks while she was managing a project in Thailand. Curious about how people draw spiritual strength from religious practice, she enrolled in a master’s program in Buddhist studies. One of the counseling courses focused on end-of-life care resonated deeply with her personal experience. “My father passed away when I was 31. In the years that followed, whenever colleagues or friends lost loved ones, I found myself naturally drawn to supporting them. Years later, many told me, ‘Thank you for guiding me through that difficult time.’ That’s when I realized my father had given me a profound gift—by facing mortality at a relatively young age, I had developed the capacity to help others through similar experiences.”

She began volunteering at a Buddhist hospital visitation department, visiting hospitalized and palliative patients. To further her end-of-life care skills, she pursued a master’s degree in counseling. As her second life unfolded, Yang became a practicing counselor, specializing in counseling cancer patients, adolescents, and parents, helping others reflect on their hearts.

She recalls Professor Lee once sharing that communication has different levels: mass communication aims to deliver messages to a broad audience, but he was more interested in self-communication and interpersonal communication. It took her a long time to understand this. Her current aspirations are still related to communication, but counseling emphasizes listening more. “The more actively and willingly you listen, the more your words can penetrate the client’s heart.”

“When you listen to someone’s difficulties and circumstances, you can help them in their own way. I’m not telling them what to do, but rather helping them realize how they can move forward on their own.”

Profile:
Betty Yang graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication in 1990. She was one of the founders of a textile business that she ran for 25 years. She later completed master’s degrees in Buddhist studies and counseling and is currently a practicing counselor.