The Hong Kong man who chose to be homeless, and still has no regrets
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- čas přidán 27. 01. 2019
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Unlike many bloggers in Asia, Simon Lee does not live a glitzy, luxurious life. Lee chooses not to have a home or a job, and says his situation is a source of happiness. For the past seven years, the 52-year-old had been sleeping rough in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park not far from the upscale Causeway Bay shopping district. He is unmarried and has cut off all ties with his family, spending his days writing his blog in public libraries.
I hope he is safe during this covid 19 outbreak
I hope too
Yeah...... Me too
@SprinklesCakebottom *tears*
*F*
Vitriol03 S yeah...it must be hard with all the shops closed down and eating leftovers might not be the safest thing to do rn...
salute to SIKH brothers for their selfless service.
Yes, that's the power of Indians
He should have swept the floor or clean the temple to repay his daily free meal.
@@98854arjun No its not, its the power of Sikhs not Indians, ones a religion the other is a people group.
Now I want to learn Punjabi lol
@Piyush Singh Indian = race, not an ideology
"I'm happy being alone, i don't need to depend on others for emotional support."
The highest peak of freedom a person can be.
I truly agree you
Agree..
I have that and didn't have to go through homeless but had to go through other long kind of suffering.
Relationships are tough and often it leaves you disappointed. Every time you trust someone, you are vulnerable, and you can get hurt. But sometimes when they do work, it is well worth it. The reward is worth the risk. People like this man has already given up on life, on hope, on giving chances. He is completely defeated.
@@carrickmchwain2296how has he given up? hes happy by himself why does he need people
Perhaps he is houseless rather than homeless, his home seems to be within. An admirable trait. I wish him well during this time
Well said
He’s dead.
Rotmg Troller Fan source?
@@AphoticGoblin source
@@joroh-4403 you know how he has like that website thing? he hasnt posted for a loooong time
“He is richest who is content with least.”
-Socrates
On stoicism?
*Cries*
"Who is not happy with little, will not be happy with much"
-Lao tse
“Set aside a certain number of days during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with coarse and rough dress, saying to yourself the while, ‘Is this the condition that I feared?” - Seneca.
@@plusxz821 This dude is definitely manifesting some Taoist ideals I think
Pro-tip- Sikh temples exist in countries all over the world and all offer free food. All they ask in return is that you show them respect by following two of their rules- cover your head and remove your shoes. Temples usually have spare extra head covers, so don’t let a lack of one stop you. They are happy to feed anyone, from the religiously curious to people struggling to make ends meet. No preaching, no attempts to covert you, nothing but kindness and compassion and hot food.
That's right! 💞💞
That’s better than any religion nowadays
Sikh people are great, unlike those major religions saying they are the most holy while create suffering for many people. I hope sikh become major religion one day.
Unless it’s Islamic countries like Saudi
They are the people who are moving to relieve the burdens of the society.
So he's like a modern day Diogenes? That's cool.
Pog
Pog
Pog
I was thinking the exact same thing.
@@maximgavrilov2977 Sam O'nella!
Hope he’s okay during these times
I admire this man's psychological quality.
@@blacksea5398 totally agree if someone is at a point to hate his family he is beyond useless
@@adamsmith282
You don't know his backstory, don't you? Some families can be extremely toxic and horrible. I don't see how him preferring to stay away from his "family" makes him useless. Also we have no idea who even is included in his family, that could be like 1-2 people only.
black sea His mind set is amazing for anyone never mind a homeless person , he keeps busy and knows how to keep his mind active . Also looks like he is clean from the usual drugs and alcohol . And well done to the Sikh community , i have always respected these people. He did not say he hates his family ' who is a failure'
@@adamsmith282
You guys never had an Asian parents.
@@adamsmith282 His family could have been abusive in many ways. We have such a limited amount of information about his life to make absolute statements
Shoutout to the loyal bunny keeping him accompanied while sleeping >.
This is the bunny's friend
/\ /\
>.<
》》 hug?
Jadi Alkhulaifr
{\_/}
( >.✉️
v v
*Just pretend i made a cute looking bunny*
Yasin Sultani lol
Group hug everybody!
He's not homeless. This man is at peace with himself.
Something extremely few are truly able to attain in this world.
I hope homeless people are staying safe in times like this.
props to that sikh place
Sikhs are generally really cool. Years ago, I lived in a rough part of London and one evening I was almost home and two guys who'd been catcalling me since I exited the tube took it a step further and stood in my way. They were intimidating, big guys and I'm a small female. One of them had hold of my arm and I was genuinely terrified...it was quite late at night.
We were close to the little grocery store owned by a Sikh family. I used to go in there almost daily but never really chatted to them much...as these guys were hassling me, the door to the shop banged open and the two brothers of the family came charging out...each with a bat. They were big...bigger than the guys hassling me. The guys took off SO fast it was almost funny. I've moved away a long time since but I never forget those men or how their Father cried in the shop on the day after 9/11.
Complete pacifists but mess with their friends, family or neighbours and you'd live to regret it. I realise now that as a neighbour I belonged in their fold...part of their community and they'd always look after me.
@reshi p I wouldn't have even known where they worshipped and I wasn't in a place to donate anything. I was very poor then.
@@slydoll7877 what happened to them? About the 9/11 thing, did something happen?
@@fendy5124 What it was was that the Father knew how ignorant some racists are. He knew that because they weren't white and some ignorant people don't know the difference between a non-white person and a terrorist, he was worried people would be more racist towards them. He was Sikh but he know many Muslims in the community too...he felt that people would call all Muslims and all non white people in traditional clothing, a terrorist.
@T hddh bro can you spell?
It takes courage to cut off all ties and not care what society thinks. I give him credit for living his best life as he sees fit.
but society thinking him and sincerely help him
Beside, his expense is rely on other’s generosity , thus he is not living off the grid
I'm jealous, I've been homeless before and I understand a glimmer of what he's talking about. It's impossible to feel shame or misery when you discover the things those feelings are based on are empty of any real permanent and important nature.
how are you?
you deserve to suffer in homelessness.
unfortunately he's dead
@@birgio1363 You're referring to the commenter or the man in the video?
@@TheMundusvultdecipi man in vid
What I like about him is that he doesn't have to struggle to pay the rent. That doesn't means being poor, it means being free
While relying on others kindness to eat food. Not very free or independent.
@@drac124 you rely on people all the time, whether with or without money. i dont suppose one person grows their own food and cooks their own food in urban areas?
@@paulgeorge9228 i agree. there's no people who really an independent entirely. no man is an island
@@9gene406 ppl dont realize this though, yet somehow independence is preached so much lol, i wanna be more independent tho cuz i dont trust food much
We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone. - Orsen Welles.
That's a little depressing but... True....
we are borned alone but with family love,we liveds with familes and we one day will die alone with memories left for love ones to remembered
What a pessimistic view in life.
Sid Michael Fajardo You see it as pessimistic. I see it as the truth.
Leroy Lee but is it the truth? maybe for you. loneliness is a feeling. right?
He got nothing to lose. Hence he's free.
True..only a brave person can make that kind of decision and lead this kind of life..me? Nope. I rather hv a small life..
He got nothing to lose, therefore nothing to fight for.
This is his way, not at all someting to admire though.
@@lazarus5603
Of course, there are downside to that kind of life too. But what I admire about him is the mind is not enslaved by materialism. A lot of people fight for a battle that only benefits their paymasters/pockets. They were taken for a ride. While they may received a lot of worldly benefits, they soul are empty and devoid of happiness.
Not free from himself, not free from his nature... I can go on if you want.
2:00 I'm so proud of the Sikh Temple. During COVID-19, many of them have stayed open to provide food to local communities. It's great to see this happening all over the world.
I still think about this man often.
Some chooses to live in a luxury condo, some chooses a van, some chooses the sidewalk. I believe if you have a positive mindset with your current and future prospect then it doesn’t matter where you call home.
Well said
Most people dont "choose" to live in a van or the sidewalk. They are forced to.
Tried two out of the three, luxury condo is the only thing left.
@@hannee19951 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙌🙌🙌🙌😼🥺🥺🥺🥺💖
You can live in a boat
The part about him craving knowledge gave me the feels.
There are hundreds of people working hard so that a library can exist and function for him to 'crave for knowledge', not forgetting those who work to provide power (electricity) and those old uncles and old aunties who keep the library clean, including the toilets he visits when in need
Loneliness and being alone are two different things though and he's merely a patron to a library and using the library for its intended purpose. Homeless or not - it doesn't matter, in this sense.
Your mother gave me the feels.
She has a sweet, soft touch.
Craving for knowledge gave him positive mindset.
respect to this man. he has found his true happiness and unlike most of us its not a materialistic one.
didn't seem overly happy to me tho
@@jtta7919 hes starving malnourished and lonely...
If a guy in Florida did this, the response would be way different.
"florida man writes a vlog about eating other peoples left overs."
he probably doesn't know it, but he's living what the ancients would call a stoic lifestyle, at least as much as he is able or willing to.
"If not Alexander, then Diogenes."
He may not know it as Western Stoic philosophy, but there are similar doctrines in Chinese culture.
@@wojomojo Taoism is kinda similar to it.
You mean Cynyic. He's more like a Diogenes to me, not a Marcus Aurelius.
@@MoreEvilThanYahweh "And were I Diogenes, I would still wish to be Diogenes"
Problem is that Hong Kong's too expensive...
@@lookingfortruth1930 not really. population in general are growing. not enough room. no ones buying buildings like before.
@@lookingfortruth1930 I heard from my friend who currently studying this that it is not that simple. The government of HK is also involved in that they don't make enough use of the land i.e. they don't build enough buildings for the huge demand. This shortage causes the prices soar. The government doesn't really do anything about it because there are rich af people that buy them anyway. The government earn the most from these sales and that's also the reason why taxes are very low there (and mainlanders come barging in to benefit from it).
@@Daisy-lb1ge It's really just not enough supply that's all. I stayed in HK from 2000 to 2018, disregarding what I saw when I was small there, saw huge difference in terms of the increase in crowdedness within that 18 years alone. Think back to year 2000 when you visit CWB, TKO, Kwun Tong, SSP, etc and go there now and take a look. It's totally different isn't it? You needed to twist your waist a bit more getting into MTR yes?
It came down to simple math, HK didn't increase in size yet population kept growing. Supply and demand really.
Homelessness is everywhere...
And so is everything too ..its expensive...everywhere..not just Hong Kong...
@@bronney When did you end up going after you left HK? Leaving after 2018 was a solid time, enter 2019 to present all we now have are protests
don’t judge him. he’s just doing what makes him happy
Wow sikh brothers are everywhere in the world helping people. ❤️
jah bless
True
Sikh people are big hearted, thank you to them for their kindness
I wish I was as positive as this guy.
every one want to escape from this dog eat dog cycle, but this is clearly not the way.
@@godzillamothra5983 You mean this is not "your" way.
I wish your mother was more positive, Joel.
Positivity can always be achieved, but the mind set is only important.
@Blue True, I can't disagree with that fact.
I think Buddha would be proud of him. He sounds enlightened and free. Thank you for another excellent video💚
He should become a monk
This guy has taught himself what we couldn’t learn at school.
When you're homeless in a homogenous society like Hong Kong or even a city in Japan it's easier because it's safer and there isn't a drug epidemic raging around you. It's like he is permanently camping recreationally.
lol very racist comment.
@@BrownTingz what’s racist?
@@rex8873 op is implying racial segregation ideas, which can be categorized as racism to some extent.
He'll struggle in America
He's very articulate and seems very intelligent.
I would argue that by blogging and providing tours, he does desire emotional support from others. Humans are social and that’s ok.
Yeah. It's hard to b truly cut off from society
a very interesting observation/interpretation... and i tend to agree.
@@collinsa8909 it seems he’s found a nice balance, a way to have human connection in a way that feels right for him.
I really hope he’s doing okay with all this covid stuff as well as the rest of the homeless people
They probably have him a nice cot in their nearest labour camp.
Joshua Gross try and be more optimistic
@@nrlscoding8500 And yet, here's a video from China of ethnic-specific prisoners being loaded onto a train, to be sent to "prison camps." Sound familiar?
When China took Hong Kong, it was due to a law that was somehow passed that illegalized their people's right to criticize Chinese interests. Hundreds have been arrested for even passing thoughts spoken aloud. This man's association with the Sikh temple would be the biggest nail in the coffin, given The CCP's animosity to the faith's regional origin.
There's a serious concern that China's experiencing a modern ethnic and religious "cleansing," similar to _that big one_ eighty years or so back.
czcams.com/video/Fh1jkChzd20/video.html
Joshua Gross I didn’t ask for an essay, I just said hope for the best lol.
Joshua Gross however, your point is entirely correct.
He is brave and well mannered. He still looks nice and proper despite of being homeless. Hope that he will safe, healthy and happy
I agree with the fact that it's a "relief" from having responsibility but I would rather pay my rent once a month and have nutritional food than to live like that. I also agree with letting go of your ego and dignity, but to a certain degree. Sure, we don't need egos but to have the dignity to take care of your body shouldn't be forgotten.
Imo you need a certain limit of ego to push you further and keep yourself stronger
polly10022 well said. I don’t know what to think of this guy. It’s hard to watch him eat leftover food but on the other hand he seems happy.
Sometime great insight about life come when u are in solitude .
@@obiwan8393 true
I think using the word "dignity" was meant to drive home the point about ego. It was a very Tao choice of words he used. Taoist sayings are like that.
I'm a Muslim, and I love sikh people, and today I saw it...♡
That Sikh temple food sounds delicious. Sikhs are fantastic!
the guy has an ultimate plan, to experience life as homeless, then write a book about it, get rich and start a new family..if ever that book is written i will buy it and go to hk for signature...kudos!
@Blue perhaps fate plans to make him a writer
@@kazuyakenzaki1320 he has a Blog already so
Interesting take
@@xthecubenot3902 do you know where to find his blog?
Yall dont understands him, He is not interested in money ,all he wants is freedom
Born and raised in that nut house we call hong kong, I completely understand what he thinks. Life and possessions drive people nuts in that city
Like what he say, ego and dignity is what many people couldn't let go off
Caged in Concrete jungle,
Wanting to be Free from shackle of society burden: this is a true reality for 95+% of city people.
to have a job, need to work extremely hard to have if at all any hope to have a deposit for a very small apartment, then work 40 years 6 days a week to pay it off...
If it's lucky enough get marry, may avoid divorce other challenges to raise,...feed children, chidren may die, or they grow up to have family problems with you...such is life.
At the end, it's time to go to hospital to collect hospital bills for the health problem accumulated through the years...eg Diabetis, Cancer, stomach ulcers, thyroid issues...on & on
Undoubly the reality, people want to & willingly put it out of their mind, and hope for their luck.
Just like all other living things on earth, to live and hope
In this becoming homeless may be a relief
I'm surprised you're not using your verified account to make this comment. 😅
I’m came here at 14 I’m still feeling the pressure of living here and starting to feel the pressure for my daugther, the Pressure here for eduction is crazy 😓
Born and raised in HK... I JUST WANNA LEAVEEEEE
Everybody going their homes but this guy is already at home.
The whole city is his home. I could not do that, I need private space, we treasure people like these cause they have no dignity or ego but its in a way where they still maintain decency.
"If you want to be happy you have to live like an animal. If you dont let go of your ego and dignity, you will never be happy." Powerful.
Yes, he is free in a way..but totally dependent on others to be different than him..if all were homeless, there would be no scraps to eat...or toilets...or restaurants !!!
If all were homeless, we wouldnt need toilets and restaurants
Nam Hoàng lol.
Nope,it wouldnt happen. Your way of thinking is just too lame!!!!
If we are all homeless,a whole new societal function and system will be in play. What you are assuming is mere trash!!!!
I dunno how true is to my opinion, through my 40 years of observstion, chinese are are materialistic and measure their success through money. This kind of person is very hard to come by😊
I like that he's really honest. No living style is perfect and he's doing ok. I always feel burdened down with my parents constantly nagging about career while I get by fine whatever happens. So I get where he's coming from. Much respect to him.
This guy is smart, he earns money by not earning money.. Simple from the outside, complex on the inside.
????? What? The Quarter he picked up doesn’t really count
earns money while not earning money? so he is basically not earning money, whats the point?
@@sharasarah3026 yeah sounds dumb, but i think his point is money is just tool to get daily necessities. the guy got all his necessities fulfilled precisely because he lacks it. while other earn money only to realize it didn't enough. this is what separate them, the people who keep working never get "enough" to be comfortable with life, while the guy does. It's not so simple to get that mindset, especially for people who grow up in the city.
Nama Asliku I would never be content with this. Forever wandering the street, leeching off of others, not trying to better my living conditions
Nama Asliku oh
When he talks it reminds me of the Buddha's teachings. He's not attached to anything or anyone, and doesn't try to prove himself or worry about his image.
Well, at least he is happy, thinks positively, content with his life, knows himself well, doesn't think he is a victim of circumstances, blame everyone but himself, demand jobs and charity from everyone else like it's their right and then go disturbing the security of the city.
He is not the victim, he is the assailant. He survives by leeching off of people's goodwill and doesn't care to return it, even though he has the ability to work. If everyone in the world lives a life like this man, society would crumble.
He's right about the sharing part. True happiness comes from giving other people happiness. That's the truth. Give the needs of others, make them happy and you will be happy.
Can i have 500 dollars it will make you happy
I wonder how he got in this position. He's an educated man, as evident from his use of English words, here & there.
He said he chose to do that, if you look up his name - Simon Lee, he was a university graduate apparently
Man if this guy can survive being homeless outside all day he could maybe someday also survive this COronavirus he’s gonna surpass us.
What..
Only issue I took was the statement about him avoiding reality, it was beyond untrue. As a former homeless person myself, it's clear what this video highlights, just how little wisedom fortunate ppl have and understand about life and others and how much more the homeless person expanded his perception.
Being homeless is his reality, and he chooses to live this way because you yourself have not been in his shoes to understand how close to impossible and dangerous it can be to try and sustain poverty. Being homeless in this situation is mostly likely the best of the these scenarios, being homeless and trying not to be homeless. But since these ppl aren't looking deeper they won't arrive to the real answers.
preach, oh preach!
"If you don't let go of your ego and dignity you will never be happy" My man sounds like Lao tse lol
So true..
“If you want to be happy you have to live like an animal,
If you don’t let go of your ego and dignity you will never be happy”
-Simon lee
This is the definition of a free spirit. Not a care or a worry in the world. Like a man strolling through a park.
A modern day roaming monk.
If he can pull it off while living in the street, he'll be much better when he'll be ready to rejoin our crazy world.
Best of luck to him! 🙏🙏
Yaa I have the same thought. Sometime in ruin u find a treasure
Without the kindness of others(strangers) this guy wouldn’t survive.
Pretty much what I just said. A true "animal" lives in world where there is no kindness. The animal world is cruel.
He’s just like Linus from stardew valley
But with more social interactions with the modern world
He’s a free man. Wishing him all the very best! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Honestly Hong Kong doesn't seem like a bad place to be homeless. It's super clean and safe.
except for the wet markets😔
Yea try living in california as a homeless or la
And it's not -15C like Toronto ;)
Until they outlaw it!
@@jnkyjm . Have you seem most wet markets ? I doubt.
He deals with stress, but different stress than us who work.
As long as he is happy, I think is ok, is his life, he can live it however he wants.
He got nothing to loose... No desire to get anything...
Basically he's free and independent creature
*"If you never let go of your ego, you will never be happy"*
Sounds like a man who could teach in schools about many life skills that seem lacking in many these days. Wish him well & hope he’s not impacted by this pandemic.
This man adjusted his psychological attitude abd his mindset to being homeless. In the process he acquired a way of thinking and living homeless on the streets. It's a smart and reasonable way to be homeless.
This is the richest man in Asia. Be blessed. I would love to meet him.
The Sikh organization does humanity great service. Thank you brothers and sisters! And stay safe on the street, my HK brother!
Wow!
This man is so happy living on the streets I wouldn't of been happy if I lived on the streets. Props to that wonderful man. 😊
This man has got to be one of the most admirable people I've ever seen in my life. Kudos to him ♥️
Sikh people, always caring and compromising everywhere they go.
I see in the comments that many now aspire to be homeless
Many aspire to be free of stress and burden.
Amazing enough AMERICA has a big homeless problem.
@@wojomojo many supportive comments yet no one would switch places with this guy probably.
Me: *Intense thinking if I should do this when I’m older*
What a legend! He speaks truth. This man is truly free, not tied down by societal norms or other people's opinions. Respect 👍
He just followed his heart and lives to life's fullest form in his heart. ❤️
This is a perfect example of an ego death, what every single one of us need
Much respect to this guy.
Homeless but not a beggar or drug addict. Much props to him
He’s so well spoken, i learned alot.
Wow this is so interesting and it shows a different perspective. It’s so cool how he still works to be an active person and do something, to learn, and to teach others about his experiences.
Respect for Sikh from Pakistan🇵🇰
this man has acquired a heightened state of mental and emotional wisdom. the ultimate stoicism
His choice is much better than the 99% of choices we make everyday.
KRAKEN T i bet with covid now he can’t do this anymore
oneng kusumah He had died in August last year lol, because of cancer.
For real? Uhm, how do you know?
I am raised under parents known by the media as "tiger parents" that made studying my identity. They restricted my social life and made me a miserable mess growing up. You could argue that they were trying to look out for me, but in the end since I had no one to let my feelings out (because I was often antisocial, coming to school depressed) and I knew that I coulden't talk to my parents (at that time I thought they never loved me) i often botteled my emotions (don't do it, worst mistake you could do). I was thought to believe that material wealth was what gave you happiness in life. My parents would often point at homeless people on the street and give me lecutres daily about what its like to be a failure, and that itself acted as a motivator yet a detterent to living my youth. I would like to say that this video has strengthen my insight in practice what happiness actually means. Thank you south china morning post.
I know that feel of cutting off everyone you once knew from life... I am living it now. It is sad... but not all the time. You get used to it. It is like losing someone you deeply loved. But in this case, you must lose yourself first.
I wonder how he's able to sleep without being afraid of being robbed or bothered
The determination this guy have is beyond heaven
Now that's owhat u call a mature men accepting his mistakes and willing to accept the changes and peoples opinion don't jugdge him I sure envy u sir
HK is not a free economy but a tycoon economy.
This video is so humbling :), Im happy for him, Adding to that, he mentions the act of sharing as well. That true happiness isn't just about ourselves 🤧
Im also humbled by the Sikh people offering food. Such a selfless act, this is beautiful. Im bouta cry 🤧🤧🤧
Salute to this man he does not want anything he is free and happy he is enjoying his life that's all , a great man
He deserves to have a family
Love Sikhs also really
I'm really amazed by the Sikh people they're really givin out food for free, they really care for each other. Also their food is great (in a field trip I went to a Sikh temple they've given us some too) they're really interesting people.
"If you have nothing you will not be sad by the lost of possessions"
*Who is the person in your thumbnail? I've seen 3 or 4 different users w/ the same pic in this thread.*
*Just curious.*
@@jebbie2595 it is a meme just search up oh yeah yeah you will see alot of poeple comment that
RIP Simon Lee 😢. Died of lung cancer on December 4, 2021. I don't personally know Simon, but his life story has changed my view on life and how we shouldn't focus so much on material possessions to derive happiness. Happiness comes in many forms, and having more money and power does not necessarily make you more happier. It comes from within - both spirtually and mentally. We should not judge people who have less money, but respect everyone who chose the life they lived.
I read through Simon's two blogger and found that they were not updated since 2019. How do you he has passed away?
Having Sikh people as citizens of India is such a great thing in itself for us Indians. They are one strong pillar of our Nation which they have proved time and time again. So proud of you guys ❤️
I think there is one thing about all this, acceptance. It’s a pretty positive view about his situation and that’s it is a choice or so he says.
Despite getting free meals and navigating the charity system-he contributes to society in his own way.
“I have fallen, and I choose NOT to get up”
This man is my spirit animal
I used to live like this and every word this man said resonated with me.
May I ask why you don’t live this way anymore?
@@WindsongPodcast I initially moved in with a girlfriend who after dating for a couple of months insisted I move in with her and leave my cave. After we split (almost 8 years) I was no longer accustomed fo living rough and rented a cheap studio apartment. I never chose to be homeless.