Monday, June 1, 2026
LAN XIN INTERVIEW
NILAVRONILL TALKING WITH
POET OF THE MONTH
LAN XIN
JUNE 2026NILAVRONILL: Why do literature and
poetry in particular interest you so much? Please give us some idea about your
own perception of literature or poetry in general.
LAN XIN: Dear Editor NilavroNill, it is my great honor to be interviewed by you. We have connected through poetry, which may I say has become the bridge between us—and now, the bridge between myself and the world. On United Nations World Poetry Day, my poetic tribute Poetry Exists in All Things, Light Shines Upon the World was published on international platforms. To me, poetry is the light of all creation and the love of the universe. It carries boundless love and eternal light, enabling all things to bloom in their most beautiful form within the embrace of light and love. It is a cosmic angel from beyond the firmament, using the heart as its gate, love as its key, and poetry as its bridge to unite the human community with a shared future. It is also an ambassador of love and peace, inspiring poets across the globe to send the most beautiful language into heaven and earth. Poetry mirrors the joys and sorrows of all beings, soothing hearts with compassion and awakening the world with strength. It is the truest voice from the depths of one soul to another, purifying minds and enlightening all. More than that, it is a ray of light from higher dimensions, a wisp of love from the Universal Mother, illuminating every corner of the world and every reader’s heart.
My obsession with literature is innate—a destiny as well as a mission. I was born into a scholarly family; my father was a talented man deeply devoted to both classical and world literature. Raised in an atmosphere rich in literary spirit, I found my greatest joy in childhood reading Chinese and foreign classics. In an era with limited transportation and underdeveloped communication, I eagerly absorbed immense spiritual nourishment from world literature. Reading global masterpieces opened a window to the world for me, allowing me to hear different voices across the Earth, understand shared emotions, and explore the complexity of human nature.
As a child, I was introspective yet rich and original in thought, with countless inner feelings but no one to share them with. Writing became the perfect way to express what lay in my heart. My compositions were often read by teachers as model essays for the class—those were my shining moments in childhood.
Writing has been the finest companion on my journey of growth. Stack after stack of diaries recorded the unspoken voices of my heart along the way. In the darkest hours of my life, literature was a guiding light, a beacon leading me forward. In times of adversity, it was the driving force that inspired me to strive upward. Literature was the helping hand that led me out of the swamps of my soul.
From this innate passion, I vowed in childhood to become a writer. As I grew older, I was deeply gratified to see readers enjoy my works and find spiritual nourishment in my best-selling books. My understanding of literature has evolved: from satisfying my own inner spiritual world as a child, to benefiting Chinese readers, and now to the greater wish of benefiting readers worldwide through my literary and poetic works.
Although I also write essays and novels, poetry holds a unique charm. Within concise language lies infinite meaning. It naturally carries the light of wisdom. For me, poetry first began as a medium for expressing youthful longing for love, with my early works focusing on love transcending cycles of reincarnation. One of my poems, Meeting Beneath the Magnolia, was awarded the Premio Letterario Internazionale Francesco Giampietri in Italy.
My literary and poetic creations have evolved alongside my own spiritual awareness and cultivation: from the ego to the higher self, from personal love to universal love, from small wishes to great vows. My poetry has shifted from writing about romantic affections to using poetry as a medium, composing with love, and connecting through verse to spread universal love and peace, calling for boundless coexistence and harmony between humanity and nature. Examples include Universal Mother: To My Beloved Earth Daughter and We Are All Children of Mother Earth, both widely published in international journals recently. In my other literary works, I have also moved from lyrical essays to interpreting higher-dimensional wisdom.
Today,
poetry has become a sunlit path to the world, a warm bond connecting human
hearts, a bridge for mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations,
a messenger of spiritual resonance, and a chant of love and peace. I am
grateful for the kindness and recognition of OPA and journals worldwide. I wish
to use poetry as my voice and my heart as a lamp to convey the universal wisdom
of boundless love, so that poetry may cross mountains and seas, civilizations
may illuminate one another, and the world may become warmer and more united
through poetry.
NILAVRONILL: We would like to
know the factors and the peoples who have influenced you immensely in the
growing phase of your literary life. Do you think society as a whole is the key
factor in shaping you up as a poet, or your poetry altogether?
LAN XIN: I was born in China, a time-honored nation of splendid civilization spanning thousands of years. The fine traditional Chinese culture and the wisdom of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have nourished my heart and my writing deeply and consistently, endowing my words with innate compassion, integrity and profound cultural heritage. Before founding the Dongba Culture Academy, all my best-selling books were completed during secluded retreats in temples. Buddhism and spiritual cultivation have exerted a profound influence on my literature, leading me to always write with a compassionate heart and observe life with an enlightened mind. Ten years ago, I secluded myself in Lijiang to write. During those days, I created day and night, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably, filled with immense compassion and spiritual joy. Words flowed effortlessly from my pen as if inspired by divine power, as though higher cosmic beings resonated with my frequency and co-created with me. It was during that seclusion that I experienced a vital spiritual awakening and transformation, and discovered my greatest life mission: to create and spread the wisdom of love. I firmly believe that all confusion and suffering in the world arise from a lack of love and wisdom, and that only the wisdom of love can redeem oneself and illuminate others.
I once pursued advanced studies at Lu Xun Academy of Literature in
Beijing, making me a junior fellow of Nobel Laureate in Literature Mr. Mo Yan.
This experience further solidified my literary foundation and broadened my
vision.
Yet what truly shaped my soul as a poet and lifted me to a higher realm was never literary technique, but years of spiritual practice, higher-dimensional guidance, and soul awakening. It was those destined connections and sacred encounters that unlocked the inherently abundant higher-dimensional power within me. And what truly changed my life and sublimated my literary soul was my extraordinary and sacred fate with Dongba culture. Dongba culture, recognized by UNESCO as a World Memory Heritage, is an ancient wisdom and cultural treasure of the Naxi people of China, passed down for over a thousand years.
In 2017, guided by destiny, I met my master — Master Aheng Dongta, the 17th-generation inheritor of Naxi Dongba tradition. We connected instantly, engaging directly in higher-dimensional soul communication. He recognized at first sight that I carried a divine mission and extraordinary talent. Since ancient times, Dongba culture has followed the millennium-old rule of being passed down only within the ethnic group and to male heirs, never to outsiders or women. Historically, there had never been a female inheritor, let alone a Han Chinese one. When my master decided to take me as his disciple, he faced strong doubts and opposition from many Dongba elders. They feared that granting secret rituals and incantations to a woman might bring uncontrollable consequences, a prejudice rooted in ancient beliefs and a cautious desire to safeguard their culture. However, my master overruled all objections. He stated that Dongba culture was on the verge of being lost and must be revitalized through openness and innovation. He declared that I was sent by heaven to save and inherit Dongba culture, and that he would prove everything with time. After a year of rigorous testing, during which my master comprehensively observed my compassion, universal love, wisdom and sense of mission, he finally broke the millennium-old tradition and accepted me as his only female disciple, imparting all the esoteric wisdom of Dongba to me without reservation.
In 2019, at the Aming Spirit Cave in Shangri-La — the sacred cultivation site of the founding ancestor of Dongba, Aming Shiluo — my master held a solemn initiation ceremony for me. In that moment, I made a vow: I would take the inheritance of Dongba culture as the mission of the rest of my life. My true soul transformation began with the dream revelation of Panzi Samei, the only goddess in the Dongba scriptures, honored as the Goddess of Wisdom and the Ancestor of Human Divination. The goddess appeared to me in a dream, revealing my past karmic connections and future mission, bestowing a wisdom totem upon me, entrusted with the great responsibility of liberating all beings and safeguarding civilization. In accordance with the divine revelation and my dream, my master bestowed upon me the name Lanxin Samei, combining my original name “Lanxin” with “Samei” — meaning wisdom and light — signifying Lanxin bearing the light of wisdom. From the moment I adopted the name Lanxin Samei, the hidden higher-dimensional power and energy within me were fully awakened, my spiritual consciousness fully enlightened, and my life structure completely reorganized. I truly found my multi-dimensional, higher-dimensional self. In recent years, together with my Dongba master Aheng Dongta and Mr. Wan Yilong, a philanthropist and higher-dimensional wisdom mentor, I have restored a millennium-old ancient temple in Lijiang and founded the Yulong Wenbi Dongba Culture Academy. With a public welfare spirit, we safeguard, inherit and promote this World Memory Heritage.
The Dongba elders who once doubted and opposed me have completely
changed their minds after witnessing my sincere aspirations, actions and
mission. They have finally received me with the highest Naxi etiquette,
honoring me as Panzi Samei. I have
completely transformed from Lan Xin, a best-selling
Chinese author, to Lanxin Samei, an
international writer and inheritor of Dongba culture. I have also made a grand
vow: to evolve from China’s Lan Xin to the world’s Lanxin Samei, and let the light of Eastern wisdom, Dongba civilization and
universal love shine across the globe. Thus, it is clear that what shaped my
identity as a poet is not only the times and society, but also the nourishment
of Chinese cultural heritage, the accumulation of spiritual practice, the
guidance of higher-dimensional awakening, the compassionate guidance of heaven,
the full blessings of cosmic destiny and sacred karmic connections, as well as
the calling of a mission I am destined to fulfill in this life. My literature
has long transcended personal creation. It has become a mission and spiritual
practice of transmitting the wisdom of universal love, connecting Eastern and
Western civilizations, safeguarding world cultural heritage, and illuminating
the human soul.
NILAVRONILL: Do you believe that all
writers are by and large the product of their inherent culture or nationality?
And is this an incentive for or an obstacle against becoming a truly
international writer?
LAN XIN: I have always believed that every writer is first and foremost a child of their own culture and nation. Our roots, our soul, and our essence are all deeply embedded in the land and civilization that gave birth to us. If a writer loses their cultural roots, they are like a tree without soil, a river without a source. Their words will lose their most authentic power and soul. The five-thousand-year-old Chinese civilization, the wisdom of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and the ancient literary heritage of the East are the profoundest foundation of my creation, as well as the firmest ground for me to step onto the world stage. I love my motherland deeply, I cherish the fine traditional Chinese culture, and I have always taken pride in being Chinese, taking the inheritance of Chinese culture as my own responsibility. Yet true global vision never means abandoning one’s own culture. Instead, it starts from one’s own culture and extends toward the broader human spirit and cosmic consciousness. Cultural and national identity is never an obstacle to engaging with the world, but our greatest strength. It is our confidence, our bridge, and our unique mark in dialogue with the world. The more rooted one is in one’s nationality, the more one belongs to the world. The deeper one takes root, the higher one can reach toward the stars.
Through my ever‑elevating higher-dimensional awareness, I have come to understand more deeply the ultimate wisdom that the universe is boundless and love knows no frontiers. On the level of the soul, we are all part of a community with a shared future for humanity, interdependent lives on our common planetary home. Though I was born as Lan Xin of China, my heart embraces all humanity. I love my motherland, yet I equally respect the civilizations of all nations, and cherish every country and every reader who is sincere, kind, and pursues light. My wisdom does not belong to me alone, but to all humankind. My words are not meant to please any single group, but only to warm every heart in need of light, love, and strength.
With a borderless heart, I wish to practice boundless love, serve as
a friendly bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations, and act as a peace
messenger for cultural exchange. I will firmly safeguard the roots of Chinese
culture while sincerely embracing the beauty of world civilizations. With a
shared‑destiny vision and compassionate, equal
universal love, I will let my words cross borders and touch souls, so that
wisdom may be shared and light may walk together. My creation journeys from
China to the world, from the nation to humanity, from the three-dimensional to
the multi-dimensional, from the human heart to the cosmos. A writer with
true international vision carries in their heart not only their own nation, but
also the destiny of all humankind, our shared emotions, and eternal light.
NILAVRONILL: Now, if we try to
understand the tradition and modernism, do you think literature can play a
pivotal role in it? If so, how? Again,
how can an individual writer relate himself or herself to the tradition and to
modernism?
LAN XIN: Certainly. Literature not only plays a central role in integrating tradition and modernity—it is itself the tenderest yet most resilient bridge between the two. Tradition is not a relic displayed in a museum, nor is modernity a severance or rejection of the past. Literature is the finest medium that keeps ancient civilizations alive in the present and helps the contemporary soul find its spiritual home. In my view, the most important mission of literature is to bring traditional wisdom closer, to free it from obscurity, and to let it truly enter the lives of modern people. I have long devoted myself to interpreting those profound ancient Eastern wisdoms—including the spirit of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, Eastern aesthetics, and the Dongba culture I have dedicated my life to inheriting and spreading—using modern language, modern perspectives, and modern emotional structures.
This is especially evident in my book Decoding Dongba Culture, which will soon be released globally in multiple languages. This book is not only a systematic interpretation of Dongba culture, a UNESCO World Memory Heritage, but also an in-depth exploration of higher-dimensional cosmic wisdom and the path of harmonious coexistence among diverse civilizations. What I present in the book is the millennium-old core of ancient civilization and the Eastern philosophy of harmony between heaven, earth and humanity. Yet I always express it in ways that modern people can understand, resonate with, and take to heart, exploring universal emotions and values that touch all humankind, so that readers worldwide can grasp the life force, spiritual belonging, and inner answers hidden behind ancient wisdom. I myself am a living example of the fusion of tradition and modernity. My writing is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture; I am a practitioner of Eastern aesthetics and Eastern grace. My dress, image, and aura carry a classical temperament—I am often described as a soul that has stepped out of an ancient temple or academy. Yet what I do is highly modern and international cultural communication. I take tradition as my bone and modernity as my garment, moving freely and flexibly between the two, supporting contemporary expression with thousands of years of heritage, and inheriting ancient civilization through modern means.
For an individual writer to build a deep connection with both tradition and modernity, three things are essential:
First, root oneself in tradition, preserving one’s cultural foundation and spiritual integrity. Tradition is not mere imitation of forms, but a heritage and vision internalized in the soul.
Second, face the modern world, reactivating ancient wisdom in contemporary context—without obscurity, alienation, or obsolescence—so that tradition truly serves the modern heart.
Third, stay true to oneself, neither rigidly clinging to the past nor drifting with the tide and forgetting one’s roots. As I have always practiced: take the ancient as the soul, use the modern as the tool, let civilization renew itself through inheritance, and let writing take root in the times.
Literature is precisely such a power: it keeps tradition from
fading, keeps modernity from losing its way, enables East and West to
understand each other, and guides humanity toward a more inclusive and warmer
future through shared emotions and wisdom.
NILAVRONILL: Do you think
literary criticism has much to do with the development of a poet and the true
understanding of his or her poetry?
LAN XIN: I believe that truly valuable, well‑intentioned, and broad‑minded literary criticism carries positive and essential significance for the growth of poets and for readers to truly understand poetry. Good criticism is sincere communication, rational reflection, and kind guidance. It helps poets see themselves more clearly and enables readers to enter more deeply into the soul of a work. Yet I have always believed that the core life of poetry lies not in definitions from criticism, but in spiritual resonance, soul awakening, and the transmission of love. Everyone has the right to express opinions, and this applies to poetry as well. We may hold different understandings and voices. Yet I believe the world needs more beautiful hearts and eyes to discover the goodness in the world, in humanity, and in poetry itself.
Personally, I have never favored criticism or blame. I prefer to see, uncover, and praise all that is good and bright from an inclusive, warm, and positive perspective. This is both my consistent attitude toward life and my commitment on the path of spiritual cultivation:
With
beauty in the heart, all things appear beautiful;
With
light in the heart, everywhere is bright;
With love in the heart, kind connections follow everywhere.
In my view, true wholeness never comes from standing in opposition to judge others, but from accepting with an integrated mind, seeing with compassion, and embracing with boundless love. If one always views others and the world through a critical lens, the heart becomes trapped in division and estrangement, and can never attain inner wholeness. Precisely because I consistently choose to see the world with compassion and treat all beings with universal love, my life has gradually grown clear, peaceful, and complete, and my words have thus been filled with warmth and strength.
My
poetry springs from spiritual practice, from awakening, from mission, and from
profound love for humanity and the world. It comes from higher-dimensional
awareness and inner truth. It is not written to satisfy judgment nor to please
the secular world. Those who truly understand my poetry do so not through
technical analysis, but through spiritual alignment, compassionate resonance,
and matching realms of consciousness. Criticism may be referenced, but need not
be followed blindly; voices may be heard, yet one’s original aspiration must never waver. A
poet with true mission should grow amid well‑intentioned feedback and walk forward in
firm faith—open
and inclusive, yet preserving integrity; humble yet grounded in inner strength.
My poetry is
written for every heart that longs for light, love, and awakening. If it can
bring warmth, strength, wisdom, and healing to others, that is its greatest
value and meaning.
NILAVRONILL: Do you think people in
general actually bother about literature?
Do you think this consumerist world is turning the average man away from
serious literature?
LAN XIN: In an era of rampant consumerism, noisy information, and the rapid rise of AI, literature is far from outdated. On the contrary, it is more important and indispensable than in any other age. The more restless the outside world, the more temptations and fierce competition, the more it tests whether a writer can truly settle down and create works that touch the heart and penetrate the soul. Precisely for this reason, genuine masterpieces are increasingly rare today. Many writings remain superficial and can hardly engrave themselves into life and linger deep in the soul as the classics of the past once did. Yet I have always believed in one principle: only when a writer first touches their own heart can they touch the hearts of readers; only when one moves oneself can one move the world. Take my poem When You Cry, for example. I wrote it in tears and recited it through tears at a moment of spiritual awakening. It deeply moved me first, and only then did it gain the power to move the whole world. That is why it has crossed borders and languages to strike such a strong chord internationally. It expresses neither a Chinese nor an Eastern sentiment, but the shared vulnerability, longing, pain, and hope of all humanity. When you feel like crying, you are never alone. Everyone deserves the right to express their emotions, to be understood, and to be treated gently. This universal emotion resonates across cultures, languages, and nations because human hearts are fundamentally connected.
Similarly, for International Women’s Day 2026, I wrote To My Beloved Goddess: May You Bloom in Splendor All Your Life. With a tender heart and delicate words, I softly reminded every woman to cherish and be kind to herself. In my eyes, this is the most intimate and sincere love I can offer. Unexpectedly, this simple wish also received warm responses worldwide. I only tried to draw soul close to soul, to see their strength and softness, their devotion and radiance—and readers across the globe felt this pure, generous warmth from the East.
This
is what I have always been doing: interpreting ancient and profound wisdom
through modern language and modern perspectives. Just like my upcoming global
multilingual edition of Decoding Dongba Culture, this book interprets Dongba
culture—a
UNESCO World Memory Heritage, the spirit of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism,
higher-dimensional cosmic wisdom, and the boundless coexistence of diverse
civilizations. Those once remote and mysterious cultures enshrined in
sanctuaries, I have brought down to earth, into ordinary daily life, making
them relevant to everyone’s life, mind, and existence. I dig out the shared
emotions and universal values of humanity, so that people of all nations and
backgrounds can understand the life force and spiritual belonging behind
ancient wisdom. In this noisy era, the role of literature has grown even
greater. AI can generate words, but it cannot replace the warmth of the soul.
Consumerism can create glamour, yet it cannot fill the emptiness within. People
have not turned away from literature—they are simply waiting for works that truly soothe
and touch the soul. And the most precious gift of a writer is always this: to
move oneself with true heart, then move the whole world with true feeling.
NILAVRONILL: How would you evaluate
your contemporaries and what are your aspirations for or expectation from the
younger generation?
LAN XIN: Every era has its own writers. My fellow literary creators of this generation live in an age of information and instant gratification, where challenges and opportunities coexist. We enjoy unprecedented platforms for communication and expression, yet we also face trials brought by a restless atmosphere and diverse external impacts. We are all exploring tirelessly, striving to find our own creative direction and path to breakthrough. Such dedication to literature and sincere writing amid the tide of the times deserves respect and understanding.
Toward the younger generation of writers today, I feel both expectation and deep concern. In this era dominated by quick consumption, fragmentation, and entertainment, much content remains superficial and vulgar. Yet many young people not only fail to hold their ground but choose to drift with the tide and pander deliberately. They chase traffic, follow trends blindly, copy one another, and even rely excessively on AI to piece together words, gradually losing their integrity, bottom line, and independent thinking.
When writing is reduced to pandering and imitation, without soul, attitude, or heritage, even the most gorgeous words cannot withstand scrutiny, let alone become classics.
If this continues, not only will individual creators struggle to
produce enduring works, but the literature of the entire age may decline,
disappointing readers who truly love reading and crave spiritual nourishment.
Culture is the root of a country and a nation, and cultural confidence lies at
the heart of national confidence. As one of the most important carriers of
culture, literature bears the vital mission of inheriting civilization and
guiding the spirit. Therefore, my greatest wish for the younger generation of
writers is that they stay sober, self-disciplined, dignified, and responsible.
They must understand the duty and mission of being a writer: not to be led by a
restless era, not to cater to vulgar trends, but to uphold their inner
standards, stick to creative bottom lines, deepen their cultural roots, and
write with independent minds and sincere souls. They should take on the
responsibility of raising the cultural banner and leading the spirit of the
times. Only by refusing to pander, follow blindly, copy, or perfectively create
— only by settling down to craft powerful, warm writing that stands
the test of time — can they produce enduring works and keep
literature unshakable in this age. The hope of literature never lies in blind
conformity or pandering, but in the uncompromising dignity and perseverance of
every writer. Only by guarding our original aspiration and cultural heritage
can we keep the light of literature shining brightly upon the times and human
hearts.
NILAVRONILL: Chinese literature has a
great heritage. I would like to know your viewpoints on the contemporary
Chinese literature.
LAN XIN: Chinese literature boasts a profound and splendid cultural foundation spanning thousands of years of unbroken heritage. From the romance and simplicity of The Book of Songs and Elegies of Chu, to the grandeur and integrity of Tang poetry and Song ci, and then to the patriotism, human warmth and everyday life embodied in prose and fiction through the ages, it has long settled into the deepest spiritual vein of our nation. This heritage is not dust-laden text, but the grace, vision and fundamental soul that run in the blood of every Chinese writer — and the most precious foundation of contemporary Chinese literature.
Contemporary Chinese literature stands at a significant moment where tradition meets modernity, and the East engages in dialogue with the world. Numerous writers explore and persist amid the changes of the times, striving to integrate ancient Eastern wisdom with contemporary life experience, so that Chinese stories carry both historical profundity and the warmth of the era. We possess an unparalleled cultural soil and an inexhaustible spiritual source, unmatched by many literary traditions around the globe.
For my part, all my creative roots lie deeply embedded in the
fertile land of Chinese culture. Whether my reflections on Confucian, Buddhist
and Taoist wisdom, the inheritance and interpretation of Dongba culture, or the
portrayal of humanity, universal love and peace in my poetry, all draw
nourishment and vision from Chinese civilization. I have always taken pride in
being a Chinese writer, and I hope to show the world the inclusiveness,
profundity and supreme beauty of Chinese culture, and how Eastern wisdom
embraces shared human emotions. I also hold a deeply cherished grand vow: to
take literature as my vessel and poetry as my bridge, and do everything in my
power to let the world truly see the profound spiritual heritage, unique
Eastern aesthetics and broad humanistic compassion of Chinese literature, and
hear the sincere and powerful voice of contemporary Chinese writing. I am
committed to building a sincere and interactive bridge between Chinese
civilization and civilizations worldwide through my creative work and
international communication practices, guiding Chinese literature onto a
broader global stage. I also wish the world to understand, embrace and respect
China through my words, and contribute my strength as a Chinese writer and poet
to cultural exchange between the East and the West, and to the global spread
and glory of Chinese culture.
NILAVRONILL: Humanity has suffered
immensely in the past, and is still suffering around the world. We all know it
well. But are you hopeful about our future? What role can literature in general
play to bring a better day for every human being?
LAN XIN: I hold deep and unwavering hope for the future of humanity. Even when we look back on a history filled with vicissitudes, and even as conflicts, sorrows, and sufferings persist across the world today, I still believe that the power of goodness in the depths of human nature, the longing for light, and the yearning for peace are lights that will never be extinguished. Suffering is an inevitable trial for humanity’s growth, but love and awakening are the ultimate destiny of civilization. Many of the hardships humanity endures today do not stem entirely from external forces. To a great extent, they arise from our own spiritual disorientation: people often become self-centered, overconsume, act against natural laws, neglect the symbiosis between humanity and nature, and forget the reverence we owe to all heaven and earth. This is exactly what I have repeatedly emphasized in Decoding Dongba Culture and numerous international interviews: if humanity wishes to emerge from its predicament, it must first learn self-reflection — to examine its words, deeds, desires, and choices, and rediscover inner humility and reverence.
From the five-thousand-year-old foundation of traditional Chinese culture to the ancient and profound Dongba civilization, our ancestors have long passed down the truest wisdom: Only by following the laws of heaven can we proceed steadily and far; only by aligning with the rhythm of nature can all things live in harmony.
Heaven and earth follow a great order; the universe abides by inherent laws. Humanity is merely a part of nature, not its master. Only by revering the universe, nature, all living beings, and every creature, by acting in accordance with the divine way rather than opposing or recklessly violating it, can we fundamentally reduce conflicts and disasters.
Literature fulfills an irreplaceable sacred mission in this journey. It is not merely the art of words, but the language of the soul, the voice of conscience, and the seed of peace. Literature can soothe wounds, bringing warmth and support to weeping hearts in suffering; it can awaken conscience, enabling people to see each other’s pain and dignity, breaking down barriers and prejudices; it can convey universal love, connecting people of different races, faiths, and nations at the deepest level of the soul.
Just as my poem When You Cry has touched hearts across borders, the greatest power of literature is to make humanity no longer lonely through empathy, and to let go of confrontation through understanding.
I have always advocated boundless love and the coexistence of all life. Love should not be confined only to human beings, but extend to mountains, rivers, plants, trees, birds, and beasts — treating all life with an inclusive heart. Only when humanity ceases to exploit and confront from a purely self-centered perspective, and instead submits to the laws of nature with humility and guards coexistence with boundless love, will the world truly move toward harmony.
This, too, is the original aspiration and mission of all my creations. Whether in my poems, the various literary works soon to be released globally, or the inspiring words known as Lanxin’s Wisdom, the core is closely tied to this hope. Having witnessed so much suffering and strife in the world, I all the more wish to use words to call for an end to war, safeguard peace, awaken respect for nature and life, and inspire the inner awareness and awakening of every individual.
For instance, my recent work We Are All Children of Mother Earth stands from the height of a community with a shared future for humanity, calling on the world to lay down disputes and treat one another with kindness, reminding everyone that we share the same origin and coexist dependently. I write these words not only to express my feelings, but to use the power of literature to awaken more people to self-reflection, to change their minds and actions from within, to truly avoid unnecessary disasters, and to bring greater peace, harmony, and coexistence to the world.
Although
literature cannot immediately eliminate all sufferings on Earth, it can
gradually illuminate hearts, gather goodwill, and sow peace. I wish to use my
words as a torch and universal love as wings, conveying hope amid suffering and
guarding conscience amid noise. I will fulfill my mission through a lifetime of
creation, building a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations, so that
more people may believe in love, choose goodness, revere nature, follow the
divine way, and march together toward a more inclusive, harmonious, peaceful,
and brighter future for humanity.
NILAVRONILL: We are almost at the end
of the interview. I remain obliged to you for your participation. Now,
personally I would like to know your honest opinion about Our Poetry Archive.
Since April 2015 we are publishing and archiving contemporary world poetry each
and every month. Thank you for sharing your views and spending much time with
us.
LAN XIN: First of all, I sincerely thank Editor-in-Chief NilavroNill and the WOur Poetry Archive for granting me this precious opportunity to communicate. Although I have not been able to fully understand the entire journey of the archives over the years, I can already deeply feel the vision and significance of this undertaking simply from every question you have raised today.
The topics you have put forward are all profound ones concerning the destiny of humanity, the mission of literature, the future of civilization, and spiritual awakening — the very questions that most deserve to be asked and answered in this era. With your unique and insightful perspective, you have voiced these inquiries on behalf of the whole world, allowing me to convey my genuine thoughts, universal love, and faith in peace to the globe through this interview. This act alone is an immensely valuable contribution to world literature and the human spirit.
Since its founding in 2015, your archives have persisted in publishing and archiving contemporary world poetry every month. With more than a decade of dedication, you have built a platform for poets worldwide to speak out and preserved the precious flame of poetry for human civilization. This in itself is a great and heartwarming cause. It not only safeguards the vitality of poetry but also builds a bridge of understanding and resonance among different countries and civilizations.
Once
again, I wholeheartedly thank you and Our Poetry Archive for your devotion,
responsibility, and foresight. May the archives continue to flourish, gather
poetic voices from around the world, convey the shared love and light of
humanity, and shine ever more enduringly and brilliantly in the cause of world
literature and peace.
LAN
XIN: （Lanxin
Samei）A world-renowned cultural figure, an internationally renowned writer
of high-dimensional wisdom, poet and translator of China, winner of multiple
international literary awards and outstanding international contribution
honors, Ambassador of Great Love and Peace, the only female inheritor of UNESCO
Memory of the World Dongba Culture, Dean of Dongba Culture Academy and Lanxin
Samei Academy. She has published dozens of works, whose creations integrate the
essence of Eastern aesthetics with universal humanistic values. Rooted in the
traditions of Chinese culture, her works focus on shared human themes of love,
peace, and coexistence, and have been translated into English, French, German,
Italian, Arabic, Greek, Turkish, Vietnamese, and other languages, reaching core
readership worldwide. Her original cultural IP "Lan Xin's Wisdom
Words," centered on the wisdom of love, life philosophy, and Eastern
thought, has accumulated over 100 million readers at home and abroad, becoming
an important spiritual carrier for cross-cultural communication. She is
committed to promoting Chinese culture globally and disseminating Eastern
wisdom, devoting herself to the protection, activation, and dissemination of
Dongba Culture, transforming this endangered ethnic heritage into a shared
spiritual treasure for humanity and building bridges for East-West cultural
exchange. Widely covered by international media, she has been hailed as the
"Ambassador of Universal Love" "Cultural Envoy Between East and
West" "Epitome of Multicultural Integration" "Oriental
Philosopher" and "A Rare Gem in Chinese Literature" standing as
a model for the global dissemination of Chinese culture and the promotion of
shared human values.
LAN XIN
To Be Alive
To be alive
some live in
confusion
some live
without truth
some live in
disorder
Some are trapped
in fame and gain
some cling to
power and position
some lose
themselves in comparison
some drown in
endless calculation
Some are bound
by anxiety
some are lost in
sorrow
some are eroded
by negativity
some wander in
decadence
But those who
live brightly
optimistic clear‑minded open‑hearted
wise and
peaceful
they have
awakened in life’s trials
seen through the
impermanence of life and death
They know
themselves truly
understanding
what to pursue
what to release
what to hold
fast
what to let go
Thus
they live awake
they live noble
they live with
endless light
LAN XIN
LAN XIN: Internationally renowned
writer, poet and translator, member of the Chinese Writers Association. The
only female inheritor of UNESCO-listed Dongba Culture, International
Disseminator of Dongba Culture and practitioner of Chinese culture's global
outreach. Winner of the Italian Francesco Giampietri International Literary
Award, President of Lanxin Samei Academy and Dean of Yulong Wenbi Dongba
Culture Academy.
XRYSOULA FOUFA
Just Love
If only we love
others
our world will
turn into paradise.
People will walk
side by side
enjoying
happiness
respect and
help.
Dreams will be
painted in gold.
Deeds will be
only for a good cause.
Wars will end.
Hostilities will
not exist.
Welfare will be
attainable
for everyone.
If only we love
others
we can follow
the path of virtue
instead of vice.
©® Xrysoula Foufa
Greek Language
Oh! Greek
language!
The flower
of elegant words
that
philosophers used to ponder!
The means
by which the
scenery is depicted
and human life
is portrayed!
The voice
which carries
wisdom and knowledge!
The veil
through which
letters travel
to find sentence
destinations!
Oh! Greek
language!
You resemble
a beacon
an ancient
goddess in gold
a hidden
treasure
that transmits
tradition and culture
all over the
world!
© Xrysoula Foufa
ΧRYSOULA FOUFA
ΧRYSOULA FOUFA: She was born in 1971 in Farsala
Greece. She graduated from the Department of English Language and Literature of
the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with honors in 1993 and then worked as
a tutoring school owner for 6 years. After that, she successfully passed the
ASEP exams and was appointed to the high school in Astakos Messolongi. She has
been teaching English in the 1st
General Lyceum of Farsala since 2000. She attended various seminars on her
subject as well as on psychology, computing and environmental protection
issues. She loves literature, poetry, travelling and dancing. She writes poems
in Greek and English. She has been awarded several poetry prizes in national
and global poetry competitions so far. Her poems have been included in Poetry
Anthologies, newspapers, magazines, online magazines. Some of her Greek poems
have been translated into Portuguese and English. She participated in
International Poetry Festivals. She is an elected vice mayor in her town. She
had been the president of a local cultural club concerning Epirus traditions
and customs for six years (2018-2024). She is a member of the Board of the
Academy of Farsala and a member of the Board of the Chess Club in Farsala.
SZENTE B. LEVENTE
All Animals
all animals
spoke the same way, as did man, too,
they heard and
understood the tone, the colour,
in it the
question and the answer, that which had passed,
that which came
and that which came about, at the same time
the speech of
all men is the same,
only their
tongue differs, only they understand and interpret
the multitude of
tones and colours, in them
the questions
and the answers, in a different way
their hearts
also beat as one,
their blood
fizzes and boils as does that of the animals,
he believes that
he became civilized,
I wonder, did he
understand it all?
Translated By
Kery, Leslie A.
On The Margin Of Crossroads
when man saw a
dream,
and thought he
understood the world,
on his ways he
got to know colours, and already
saw everything
in black and white, mainly
because he
smeared blood like sacrifice on his reflection,
and kept on
saying he had connections with something
older than
religions themselves -
and he walked
around, saw, heard, then
declared views,
all of the kind
that weren’t
allowed to be pronounced for long,
that from a
spark fire should flare up,
but alas, in his
faith there
- like drifting
stones and rocks in wild rivers -
have hardly any
real traces been left.
but as others’
truth he cited if needed perfection,
for the world’s
been like that, since in the world’s eyes the land
like the image
of other skies was reflected.
because one can
never get ready for the new world, he said
god be with me,
with you, neither with, nor without you.
better this way,
forebear’s the same, space up there, carcass down here,
for one should
but kiss, love to the heavens,
give everyone
their share, bite when the pain’s there,
go, make a move
at last, into a hug
gently rush,
before it would come to an end -
oh, how many
things, how very much still to be done.
but above all to
remain human,
or become one.
for all times to come.
Translated By N.
Ullrich Katalin
Quietly Like Beautiful Words
quietly like
beautiful words,
villages
disappear, wells dry up,
also the tears,
and lakes.
like dusty roads
under our boots,
trees grow wild
in the garden,
psalms will
cease,
and evening
prayers, too.
on cracking
bricks of abandoned houses
a lace of moss,
bindweed and wild flowers appear,
man’s not merely
one
hope for being
embraced.
all things are
quiet memories, like beautiful old words.
the child within
us grows up.
the photos
remain in boxes.
our names will
be silence, sighs, woes.
Translated By N.
Ullrich Katalin
SZENTE B. LEVENTE (Szörényvár, 1972) Árpád Papp – Búvópatak Prize-winning poet,
writer, local history researcher. Since 1994, his poems, tales, and writings
resulting from cultural and local history research have been published in
several Romanian, Hungarian, and other countries magazines, anthologies, and
internet portals. He is also listed as the author of 16 independent volumes in
encyclopedias and Wikipedia. Knight of Hungarian Culture. Member of the
Romanian Hungarian Writers' League (EMIL) and the Romanian Writers'
Association. He has lived in Székelykeresztúr since 1979, and has lived in
Csekefalva since 2025. (Harghita County, Romania). His latest volume: The Light
Under Your Head Has Fallen Asleep (poems – AB-ART Publishing House, Budapest –
2024), Elfengarten (fairy tale – Fairy Garden. translated by Kornélia Dohmen,
United P.C. Publishing House, Dtschl – 2025.
SNIGDHA AGRAWAL
Winter Of Distress
Beneath the
frostbitten moon, a silence fell
The trenches
groaned; a makeshift hell.
Where brothers
once stood, now shadows crept.
And promises of
valour underfoot swept.
A breath turned
to mist, a dying gasp.
The wounded
reached out to clasp hands.
But boots were
torn from their feet,
And coats
stripped away in the bitter sleet
No hymns for the
broken, no farewell song
Humaneness,
totally forgotten in wars.
Abandoned to the
cold, their cries grew thin.
As frost painted
death on their ashen skin
What honour
remains when warmth is the thief?
When survival
devours love and belief?
In the winter of
distress, humanity died.
Leaving only the
wind to mourn their lies
©Snigdha Agrawal
Whispers Of War
In shadows deep,
where power plays
Greed ignites
the world ablaze
Leaders
possessing iron hands
Focus on
plundering fragile lands
The earth weeps
red, its scars run deep
Fields once
golden now do weep
Echoes of peace,
a fleeting song
Silenced by
those who crave the wrong
For in their
eyes, they are the rulers
Lines on maps to
erase and conquer
Vision blurred
by greed and power
Bidding for
countries to acquire
And between
them, they indulge in fights
That goes on and
on with no end in sight
The weak take
the rap, robbed of their identity
Fearing
displacement, status reborn…
Refugees
©Snigdha Agrawal
SNIGDHA AGRAWAL
SNIGDHA AGRAWAL (née Banerjee) brings
over two decades of corporate experience to her multifaceted writing career. A
versatile author, she writes across genres, including poetry, short stories,
prose, and travelogues. Raised in a cosmopolitan environment and educated in a
convent school and college run by Irish nuns, she blends Eastern depth with
Western sensibility in her work. She is the author of five published books,
spanning poetry and short fiction. Her most recent release, Fragments of Time,
a deeply personal memoir, is available worldwide on Amazon. Her writings have
appeared in numerous domestic and international anthologies and literary
journals. In recognition of her poetic craft, she was recently nominated for
the 2024 Pushcart Prize. Now in her seventies, Snigdha’s passion for writing
and travel remains as vibrant as ever.
SHERIFE ALLKO
Poetry Of Love
In your eyes I
find spring,
even when winter
surrounds me.
Your lips are
the words I don't say,
but that my
heart shares silently.
When you touch
my hands,
the pain
disappears like a light mist,
and every breath
I take, takes your name.
Our love has no
shortcuts,
it is a slow
journey to the stars,
where every
touch, every look, every smile
is a single
secret of the universe.
When I wait for
you in the morning,
the light enters
the room and gets caught in my hair.
Every coffee we
drink together
has the taste of
your smile.
Even the silence
between us is music,
a soft melody
that no one else understands.
In every
movement of your hand,
I feel the
rhythm of the life we want to build.
Even though the world is big and the roads
sometimes separate,
you are always
here,
in every breath,
in every memory, in every dream that falls on me at night.
When you are
near, the world is silent.
Only our
breathing sounds like waves in the sea.
Every light
touch of my hand
tells me more
than words.
Your lips hold
the secrets of the days,
and I want to
taste them all,
like a piece of
sun that flows in the morning.
In the dark,
when your eyes are closed,
I still feel the
warmth of your body,
and I know that
our love does not require words,
only the silent
presence that supports you.
When I touch
your hair, I feel time stop.
Every breath of
mine, is a gentle breeze
that frees me
from every worry.
When our lips meet,
there is no
winter, no distance,
only your voice
beating inside me,
and I know that
every coming day will be warmer.
When I see you
laugh,
my heart becomes
a painting of the sun,
and every silent
moment between us
is a secret that
only we share.
Even when life
takes us on different paths,
I feel your
presence in everything:
in the aroma of
coffee,
in the sound of
rain,
in the silence
that fills our room.
A Lonely Heart
Every night,
I describe the
sky
with my boat.
A nightmare
overtakes me,
when I can't
find you anywhere.
Maybe
from the
torrential rain
you've
hidden in some
shelter,
that I don't
know.
Maybe
you're
hidden
under my skin,
there you
live
without
leaving
a
trace.
Tell the rain to
wait,
and I'll come
to
hold
an
umbrella
for
every
part
of
your
body.
The wind,
whispers
to
me
alone
Makes
painful
walks
in
the
storm
of
the
rain.
My
tears
weep
in
the
darkness.
Maybe my boat will sink,
looking for,
a love,
that time will
never bring back.
So,
that I,
will row,
forever,
through the sky,
with my boat.
SHERIFE ALLKO
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