A talented math talent
Liu Zhiyu, who was born in Wuhan in 1988, is different from ordinary people, he has a high talent for mathematics and is a mathematical prodigy. When he was still an infant, he was able to easily solve the Olympiad problems in the senior grades.
In primary school, Liu Zhiyu's mathematical ability became more and more amazing, and he participated in a series of mathematics competitions and won many good results. He is immersed in the world of abstract symbols, with few playmates and no television, quietly delving into mathematical problems alone.
What seems to be a fly in the ointment is that in order to hone his math skills, Yoo Ji-woo's parents made a complicated and cumbersome Xi schedule and strictly controlled his time. During the winter and summer vacations, he was not taken out to play, but asked him to study hard at home alone.
In order to prepare for the International Olympiad, the school also specially arranged a separate classroom for him to avoid interference. This kind of high-intensity training is undoubtedly very expensive, and gradually, Liu Zhiyu's eyesight deteriorates rapidly, and he needs his mother to read the questions in his ear to barely complete the Xi.
In the long run, this has caused unimaginable damage to Yoo Ji-woo's physical and mental health.
The journey of the gold medalist
In 2005, 17-year-old Liu Zhiyu represented the Chinese team in the International Mathematical Olympiad, and in the face of the world's mathematical elites, he won the gold medal and was one of the only three perfect score winners at that time.
This honor not only won the championship for the Chinese team again, but also a historic breakthrough in the High School Affiliated to the First Affiliated High School of China Normal University, which shows the efforts made by Liu Zhiyu. However, when he stood on the podium, the camera captured a lonely and confused face.
It turned out that behind the victory, there was a huge price he paid - emotional stability and physical health. For Yoo Ji-woo, mathematics is no longer a fun-filled game, but a tool to climb to the top.
Liu Zhiyu realized that this road to the Olympiad was desperate and there was no way back. Many students who fought side by side with him were eliminated in layers of screening and needed to adjust their mentality in a short period of time to prepare for the college entrance examination.
And he has become a star-catching existence in the eyes of his classmates. Once, Yoo Ji-woo had just posted the news of the award, and the photo disappeared the next day, which undoubtedly made matters worse.
The reason for giving up a bright future
After the college entrance examination, Liu Zhiyu, a mathematical genius, was successfully admitted to the Department of Mathematics of Peking University. In this top university, he still stood out, and in his sophomore year, he was awarded a full scholarship to study computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This is undoubtedly a piece of light that opens the door to the world's universities.
However, due to the visual impairment caused by years of competition and greedy Xi, the words in front of Yoo Ji-woo's eyes have become blurred. In order to keep up, his classmates had to help him read his textbooks aloud.
This invisibly brought huge mental pressure to Liu Zhiyu. He realized that even if his eye was cured, he would no longer be able to maintain his passion for mathematics.
In addition to this, the example of the founder of Longquan Temple who is also a student of Peking University inspired Yoo Ji-woo. He found that his true inner belonging was Buddhism and helping others. So, Liu Zhiyu left a suicide note to his family and became a monk.
This choice is undoubtedly difficult for parents who have already seen a bright future for their son to accept. But Liu Zhiyu has no way back, he wants to go to Longquan Temple to realize his ideal of "purifying all sentient beings".
The tribulations of monastic life
Liu Zhiyu came to Longquan Temple and began an ascetic-like life. Every morning, I was awakened by the sound of a bell and chanted countless Buddhist scriptures. On top of that, he has to clean and repair buildings, sometimes staring at the construction site in the middle of the night and catching up on sleep during the day.
There were more than 10 monks living in the room, with different temperaments and personalities, and often quarreled over trivial matters. Because Yoo Ji-woo is clumsy and introverted, he is ostracized by his peers.
During his stay in Longquan Temple, Liu Zhiyu presided over the compilation of the Buddhist classic "Nanshan Vinaya". He traveled far and wide, sparing no effort to proofread the work. But when the manuscript was finally published, the signature became the abbot of the temple, "Master Xuecheng".
This is undoubtedly the trampling and exploitation of Liu Zhiyu's labor. What's even more suffocating is that this Master Xuecheng was later involved in a scandal. For a time, Liu Zhiyu faced a huge spiritual blow, and he had to face up to the fact that his faith had collapsed.
Confused to rebirth
The tribulations of life at Longquan Temple eventually prompted Yoo Ji-woo to leave. At first, he left his homeland, traveled everywhere, and ran into walls everywhere. With no source of money, he relied on the support of lay people and friends.
During this period, Liu Zhiyu fell into unprecedented confusion and hesitation. Until his mother took the initiative to connect him and recommended him to study Xi psychology.
Yoo has come to understand that there are many things that Buddhism and psychology have in common. By combining the two, you may be able to help those who are also disoriented find a way out of life.
So he went back out of the mountain, passed the exam, and obtained a psychological counselor certificate. Yoo Zhiyu integrates his previous Buddhist thought with his knowledge of psychology and actively provides guidance to those in need.
Gradually, Yoo Ji-woo found himself inspiring and rescuing others, bringing a great sense of accomplishment. That's exactly what he's been looking for years. In May 2022, Yoo Zhiyu officially announced his return to the world and joined a psychological consulting company to lead the team to develop relevant courses to send warmth to people in distress.
After all these years of hard work, he finally found his true home.
epilogue
Yoo Ji-woo's life trajectory is tortuous and circuitous, but it is also inspiring. He could have made a career in mathematics, but at his peak he let go and chose the path of Buddhism and psychology.
We may not understand his choice, but his courage and wisdom are admirable for always following his heart and sticking to himself.
He did not give up in the most difficult times, but was reborn hopefully and finally found his calling. Everything he does now is to help those who are also confused and in pain, which has been his dream for many years.
Yoo Ji Woo's story tells us that living oneself and finding inner happiness and fulfillment is far more important than external honor and status. Every ordinary person is also looking for our own answers.
I hope that Liu Zhiyu's experience can give us a little inspiration, know ourselves, and choose ourselves.