The world inside and out is reflected in the depths of the heart
Every moment at a touching place leaves an imprint on the soul
There is room for spiritual growth at every corner of the earth and in every state

Friends often ask me why, every time I return to Taiwan, I rush around exhaustively visiting artists and photographing scenes all over Taiwan—what exactly am I searching for? What is the true reason for returning to my hometown? My direct answer is that I return to my homeland to search for myself; within this reply lies an exploration of my own soul and a journey of footsteps. Although I reside in Paris, the art capital everyone dreams of—a romantic homeland envied by many—for someone like me who loves art and beautiful things, Paris certainly has its own enchanting and captivating aspects. Now, this foreign land has become my home, constructing my entire knowledge and aesthetic perception, shaping my intellectual and emotional outlook on life, and becoming my physical body. But what is the ultimate scenery of life? This seems to be what I am desperately seeking through my consciousness as I wander to the ends of the earth.

Recently, I happened to watch the film "Scream of the Ants" by the renowned Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, which moved me deeply. It depicts an Iranian newlywed couple (a theist and a communist atheist) traveling to India for their honeymoon, coming to this mysterious country in search of a saint. Along the way, they encounter various miraculous events: an old man who stops a train with his gaze, a philosopher herding cows, people who believe bathing in fire can lead to rebirth, and children who trap shadows with stones. These experiences spark intense debates between the two about the existence of God and a rethinking of life's essence. Makhmalbaf believes that film should be a "mirror" reflecting real society and the true soul, not an "escape window." The conclusion is so dramatic: "I crossed seven seas, climbed seven mountains, walked all rivers, traversed vast plains, experienced all seasons, traveled all over the world, and when I returned home, I was astonished to find the whole world in a dewdrop on a leaf in my garden."

From "Scream of the Ants," I came to understand that life is so subtle—it seems to have become my own story. Seeking and searching, crossing mountains and oceans, I made a pilgrimage to the civilized nation of France and the holy land of art in Paris, never imagining that the most beautiful scenery of life was hidden in my own backyard or secret garden. It made me suddenly realize: the realm arises from the mind—this is the most beautiful spiritual scenery of life, bearing witness to the state Teacher Chen Shih-Ming often cited: "One beauty, all beauty."