Dr Luke's Story
I was born at the beginning of China's Cultural Revolution when Mao Zedong was determined to wipe out all wealthy and educated Chinese citizens. My family was among this group and I was separated from my mother at birth and handed to my ailing grandmother to survive on the streets. My father had been thrown in jail already, and my mother was immediately exiled to the remote countryside of China. Her life was spared because, as a physician, she could be useful to Mao's people.
For 11 years I lived with my grandmother on the street, where I endured hunger, beatings from the Red Guard, and other forms of abuse. But my grandmother fought for me. I remember the deep love she shared with me during those years. Even more fortunately, I was nurtured by a Buddhist monk, who has been my mentor ever since. Amazingly, my mother, father, grandmother and I all survived that decade and were reunited as a family when I was 11.
I could have become bitter from the experience, but that would not have honored the compassion, wisdom and courage shown me by my grandmother and my mentor. Their commitment to me during that time demonstrated what a powerful gift it is to commit oneself to children so they can continue to have hope for their future.
Once reunited with my family, I became an avid learner and received my M.D. in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing. After working one year as a medical doctor, I served for four years as a research scientist in the College of Chinese Culture at Peking University, studying healers, such as Tibetan Healing Monks, Tao Healing Priests, and others. I later received a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I now serve as an assistant professor of research. I also founded Golden Courage International (GCI), where I now serve as president.
"When we say we love children, we must love them all."
– Rev. Pang (my Grandmother and my dearest friend)