Gilbert Renthlei

WATCHMAN NEE

            Kum zabi 16-na lai atang khan Europe leh America atangin Missionary tam takin China ram an luhchilh a, Chanchin tha chi an theh nasa hle a. Hemi kalzelah hian kum zabi 20-na a lo herchhuah meuh chuan heng mi huai kal hmasa te Chanchin tha chi theh tiak thang chho zelin a ram mi, mi tha tak tak missionary atan a chherchhuak chho zel a, Boxer Rebellion lai pawh khan martar an tam hle anih kha. Heng a ram mi, Krista chanchin thain China ram pum a tuam theihna atana mi inpe tam tak zingah hian Watchman Nee hi a lar pawl leh ngaihsan hlawh ber pawl a ni awm e.

                Pianna: Watchman Nee hi Nov 4, 1903 khan Foochow, China-ah Nee Shu-Tsu tih hming puin a lo piang a. A pian hma hian a nu unaunu hian fanu hlir 6 lai aneih avangin a nu pawh hian fanu a neih a inring hle a, chutih lai chuan fapa a awt bawk si. Tichuan fapa dilin Pathian hnenah, “Lalpa, fapa min pek phawt chuan i rawngbawl turin ka hlan ang e,” tiin a tawngtai ta a. Pathian chuan Nee-a nu tawngtaina chu chhangin fapa a pe ta a, a pianpui hming Nee Shu-Tsu tih hi kum 6 anih thleng a pu a, hemi hnu hian a hming hi Watchman Nee tiin a thlak ta a ni.

                Chhungkaw lam: Watchman Nee-a hi Kristian chhungkaw tha tak hnuai atang seilian niin a pu Nga U-Cheng hi kum 1870 chhoa American Supplies Commission-a an thuhriltu thin a ni a, a pa Ni Weng-Sioe hi Imperial Customs Service-a officer a ni ve thung. Nee-a thlahtute hi Methodist kohhran an ni a, Nee-a pawh hian a naupan laiin American Methodist Episcopal Mission hnuaiah Baptisma a chang a ni.

                Tleirawl Nee: Watchman Nee hian a naupanlaiin school pangngaiah kal lovin ziak leh chhiar chu tuition kaltlangin a zir ve thin a, thiam pawh a thiam thei thawkhat hle. Kum 13 mi a nihin Foochow-a Vernacular Middle School-ah a lut a, hemi hnu hian Trinity College-ah a lut leh a.  Kristian Missionary te din school-ah lutin Baptisma, Sunday school leh inkhawm hrang hrang te chhim ve thin mahse a piangthar lo va. Lehkhabu chhiar nuam a tiin Cinema en te a hrat ve hle thin. Lehkhabu chhiar a ngainat bakah hian chanchinbuah te article a ziak ve thin a, heng atanga a sum hlawhchhuah hian pawisa a khel leh thin bawk a ni.

                Kristian chhungkua atanga seilian nimahse sakhuana lam reng a ngaihsak lo a. Thuhriltu te chu a hmusitin Missionary ho uite ang mai maiah a ngai thin. Tumkhat chu a pain Watchman Nee-a hnenah a nu in a pai laiin Pathian rawngbawltu atan a hlan tawh tih a hrilh a, mahse chu chu Nee-a chuan a duh lo hle mai. A pain hetianga Pathian rawngbawl tura a hlan a ni tih a hrilh hian a rilru a buai hle thin.  A khawvel nun ningin pianthar te pawh duh ve mahse a pianthar chuan Pathian rawngbawl hna hna  thawh a ngai dawn tih a hria a, hei vang hian a tleirawl chhoh lai hian pianthar chu a hreh hle thin.

                Hetianga rilru buai taka a awm lai hian kum 17 mi anih laiin tum khat chu Chinese Evangelist lar tak Miss Dora Yu-i chuan Foochow-a Methodist Tien An Chapel-ah rawngbawlna a nei a. He rawngbawlna hi zirlai te tan pawh chhim phalsak nimahse Watchman Nee-a hian a chhim duh ngai lo a, chutih laiin a nu erawh chuan he rawngbawlna atang hian harhtharna nasa tak a chang thung a.

                Hetih hunlai hian a nu nen an intithiam lo va. A chhanchu a nu pot manto tak mai chu a tla keh a, a nu chuan Watchman Nee-a thiltih a nih ringin a dawp ta a, a vaw hrep a, a hrem bawk a. Mahse Watchman Nee-a tih keh ni lovin amaha tla keh a ni tih chu a hnuah an hre leh ta a. Heta ama tih nilo puia a nuin a hrem chiam avang leh a tih ani lo tih a hriat hnu pawh a a nuin ngaihdam a dil duh loh avangin Watchman Nee-a chu a inchhungeng a, a inti luhlul lui tlat a ni.

                Nee-a nu Ho-Ping-i’n  Dora Yu-i rawngbawlna atanga siamtharlehna a chan hnu hian a fapa chu a vei em em a, mahse Nee-a chu a nu laka a thinrimna a reh loh avangin a inchhungeng lui a, inkhawm ve chu a tum bau lo. Tuk khat chu chhung inkhawm an nei dawn a. A nu chuan hla sa tura piano a tum dawn lai tak chuan thlarau thianghlimin Nee-a nu thinlungah chuan thu a rawn sawi ta. Chu chu chhung inkhawm an neih hma ngeiin a fapa ngaihdam a dil tur ani tih a ni. Tichuan chhung inkhawm nei tura an chhungkua an thu khawm thap tawh tihah Pi Ho-Ping-i chuan a fapa chu a rawn pan ta a, a kuah a, a fapa Watchman Nee-a hnenah chuan, “Pot ti keha ka rinhlelh che avanga ka vuak hrep avang che khan khawngaihin Isua hmingin min ngaidam rawh aw,” tiin tap chungin ngaihdam a dil ta a.

                Hetih hunlai hian Chinese nu leh pa ten an fate tap khawpin ngaihdam an dil ngai lo a, Watchman Nee-a pawh hian a vawikhat hriatna a ni. Hei hian a thinlung nasa takin a tikeh sawm a, a nu, nu tumtlang ve tak mai thinlung pawh chuti taka a danglam theih chuan Dora Yu-i thusawi chu ngaihthlak tlak viau a ni tur a ni tih ngaihdan a nei ta a. Tichuan zan a mutnaah a inngaihtuah neuh neuh a, a tuk zingah chuan a nu hnenah Dora Yu-i rawngbawlna a chhim ve dawn thu a hrilh ta.

                Tichuan Nee-a chuan Dora Yu-i rawngbawlna chu a chhim ta. A vawikhat inkhawmna atangin a rilruah nasa takin Thlarau thianghlimin hna a thawk nghal a. Chanchin tha chu dik tiin pawm mahse a la inhlan thei tlat lo, buaina lian takin a la bawm tlat a ni. October 18, 2936 khan Kulongsu khuaa Worker’s Conference-ah heti hian Watchman Nee chuan a pianthar dan chiang takin a sawi.

                “Kum 1920-a Dora Yu-i rawngbawlna ka chhim lai chuan ka rilru a buai hle mai. Isua Krista Lal leh Chhandamtu-a pawm chu ka duh a, mahse chutih rual chuan a rawngbawl zui turin ka inpeih tak tak em? Tihah ka buai leh si. Hei hi a chhan chu Lal Isua hi ka thlang anih rau rau chuan ka damchhung zawngin a rawng ka bawl tur a ni tih ngaihdan ka neih vang a ni. Hetih lai hian kum 17 mi leh ka ni a, ka nun hmanchhoh dan turah ruahmanna tam tak ka lo siam ve tawh a. Ka nunah chuan thil pahnih- Sual leh khawvel  lak ata min chhandam turin Isua chu ka beisei tlat a ni.

                “Chumi zan chuan, zan rei tak thlengin keimahin Isua ka pawm hman ang nge hman lo ang tih ringawt ngaihtuahin ka hun ka hmang a. Chhuatah tawngtai turin ka thingthi a. A tirah chuan engmah sawi tur ka hre lo. Mahse reilote hnuah chuan ka sual zia chu thlarau thianghlimin min hmuhtir ta. Ka sual ka hmuh lai hian Isua Krista ka hmu tel a, lehlamah ka sualdum zia ka hmuh rualin ka tana Lal Isua thisen luang chhuak chu ka hmu bawk a. Kraws lera Isua ka sual tlan nana khaikana a awmlai te chu chiang em em in ka hmu a, Isua chuan “Ka hnena i lo let hun ka nghak reng a sin” a ti lai pawh ka hmu a ni. Chutianga Isua min hmangaihna ka hmuhchian em em lai chuan engtin nge ka la luhlul reng theih ang ni? A hma chuan Isua ka hnawl thin a, he zanah zet hi chuan ka hnawl thei tawh lo. Isua hnenah ka sual ngaidam turin ka dil a, ka sual ka puang a, ka phurrit chu min lakkian sak ta"

                Hetia harsatna tam tak paltlanga a pianthar tak hnu hian Watchman Nee-a nun hi nasa takin a inthlakthleng  a, a hma atanga ruahmanna a lo neih tawh hrang hrangte chu a thiah a tul ta. A nun a thlakthleng thawk a, a hma atanga alo intiam tawh angin a piangthar ta rau rau bawk a, hunpuma Pathian rawngbawl chu a tum hle mai. School-ah te hian a thiante’n novel leh comics an chhiar laiin ani chuan Bible chauh a chhiar thin a. A pianthar hnu lawkah hian Pathian rawngbawl dan tur zir turin Pi Dora Yu-i Bible School, Sanghai-ah a kal ta a, mahse rei a awm hmain Dora Yu-i hian a thawn let leh ta a ni.

                Sanghai atanga Foochow-a a let leh hnu hian Watchman Nee hian an sikul-a a zirlai puite a vei ta hle mai a. Chu chu Pathianin rawngbawl tura a kohna niah a ngai a ni. Tichuan a zirlai pui te hnenah chuan Pathian thu hrilh a tum ta. A thiam lo em em a, sawi a han tum thin a, hlawhchham chiang hle hian a inhre thin a.

                Pathian thu hril lama a beidawn em avang leh a thusawi pawh an ngaithla tha duh lo nia a inhriat avanga a mangang chuan missionary pakhat Pi Groves-i chu a bel ta. Pi Groves i chuan Nee-a chu a zirlaipui te Pathian thu a hrilh tur te chu an hming a indawta ziak thlaa an tanaa tawngtaisak hmasa phawt thin turin thurawn a pe ta. Tichuan Nee-a pawh chuan an sikul-a a zirlai puite hming chu sawmsarih chuang a ziak chhuak a, a tlachawpin a tawngtai sak ta ngat ngat mai. Chutianga a tih hnuah pawh chuan a thusawi chu an la ngaithla tha duh chuang lo a, chuvang chuan a beidawng hle.

                Chutianga a beidawn em avang chuan Pi Groves-i bawk chu a rawn leh ta. Pi Groves-i chuan tih tur dang hrilh lovin tawngtai chhunzawm zel turin a lo hrilh leh a. Watchman Nee-a pawh chuan thuawih takin a zirlai puite tan chuan nasa takin a tawngtai chhunzawm ta a. A tawngtaina chu Pathianin chhangin kawng a hawnsak ta. Thla tam a ral hma chuan hming 70 a ziah thlak zinga pakhat tih loh chu an piangthar ta vek a, amah pawhin, “Heta tang hian beidawng mai lova tawngtai sauh sauh pawimawh zia ka chhar chiang hle a ni,” tiin a sawi.

                Watchman Nee-a hian a pianthar tirh atangin Bible hi a kalna apiangah a keng thin a, a chhiar reng thin. Nikhatah Bible bung 19 chuang te a chhiar thin a, Bible bu pum hian vawi tam tak a chhiar chhuak a, a rilru chak tak chu hmang tangkaiin a chhiar tawh te hi a theihnghilh mai mai ngai lo a, a duhlai tak hi a thruchhuak leh nghauh nghauh thei mai zel a ni. Hetianga nasa taka Bible a chhiarna atang hian Pathian thu zawma Baptisma a chan ngei tulin a hre ta a. Tichuan March 27, 1921 khan Foochow khaw kianga White Teeth Rapids-ah Baptisma a chang ta a ni. Hetia baptisma a chan hian Nee-a chuan, “Lalpa, ka khawvel nun ka rawn kalsan e. I Kraws chuan khawvel lak atangin min thenhrang ta a, khawvel tharah ka cheng ta. He khawvel hi nangin ka tana i lo ruatlawk chu a ni si a,” tiin a puangchhuak nghe nghe a ni.

                Hetia a pianthar hnu hian Nee-a hian a hming Nee Shu-Tsu tih chu Watchman Nee tiin a thlak ta a. Hei hi a chhan chu khawvel hun thim tawh taka thlaraubo chhanchhuak tura thawktu nia a inngaih vang a ni.

                Watchman Nee-a hi mi rilru chak leh lehkha pawh thiam thei tak a ni kan tih tawh kha. Nee-a hian Theological Colleh leh Bible zirna sikulah te zirna hranpa a nei lem lo a, mahse amaha Bible nasa taka a chhiar thin leh Kristian lehkhabu tam tak a chhiar thin chu Pathian thu a hriatna tizau tu a ni. Kawng hrang hrangin mithiamte thuziak a rawn a, a zir a, a chhiar a, hei vang hian a hriatna pawh a thuk hle. Rawngbawlna a tan tirh lamah phei chuan a sum hlawhchhuah zawng zawng hmun thuma thena hmun khat chu lehkhabu tha leinan a hmang a, hmun khat dang chu midang tanpui nan hmangin hmun khat dangleh chu ama mamawh atan a hmang chauh thin a ni. Nee-a hian Kristian thuziakmi te kutchhuak, lehkhabu rotling tak tak 3,000 chuang a khawl hman a. Heng lehkhabu te hi a chhiar mai bakah nasa takin a zir zui a, hei hian a rawngbawl zelnaah pawh a pui nasa hle a, hriatna zau tak neih tiur tu pawimawh tak a ni chho a ni.

                Hetih hunlai vel hian Church Missionary Society hnuaia China rama missionary  Margaret E. Barber-i chuan amah chawmtu Church Missionary Society atanga indangin amahin rawngbawl hna Foochow-ah a thawk a. A thawhpui Miss LS Ballard-i nen chuan nasa takin Pathian hnenah Chinese thalai, China ram pilril zawka rawngbawl tur chher tur dilin an tawngtai thin . An tawngtaina chu chhana awmin rawngbawl duha tuihal Watchman Nee-a leh Miss Barber-i te chu an intawng hlauh mai a. Pi Barber-i hi rinnaa amah kaihruaitu ber a ni chho ta a ni. Miss Margaret Barber-i hian Watchman Nee-a chu kawngtin rengah fuihin thurawn a pe a, Kristian nun lungphum nghet tak Watchman Nee-a nunah hian a phumsak a tih theih awm e. Nee-a pawh hian Pi Barber-i hi a ngaina a, a ngaisang em em mai bawk a, “Ka damchhunga min tanpui nasa bertu chu Pi Barber-i hi a ni,” tiin a sawi thin a, “Ka damchhunga ka hlawkpui ber chu Pi Barber-i nen kan intawng hi a ni,” ti tein alehkhabuah a ziak nghe nghe a ni.Hemi ta pahnih hi an rawngbawl dun chhungin an inkawp fuh em em a, thlarau lama Watchman Nee-a nu Margaret E. Barber-i hiankum 1930-a a thih dawnin a ro thil neih zawng zawng chu Watchman Nee-a hi a rochun vek a ni.

                Kum 1923 khan Watchaman Nee hian chanchinbu hmanga rawngbawlna neiin Revival chanchinbu chu a chhuah a, hei hi a thlawna sem a ni. Kum 1926-ah Revival thlak turin The Christian tih chanchinbu chu a tichhuak leh a, a darh zau ve hle. Kum 25 a nih lai hian damlohna nasa takin a tlakbuak a, hetih hunchhung hian a lehkhabu hmasa ber “The Spiritual Man” tih chu a ziak a ni.

                       Hetih hunlai hian Nee-a hriselna hi a tlahniam hle mai. Chuti chung chuan “The Spiritual Man” bu hi volume thum lai mai chak lo tak chungin a ziak a, June 1928 khan Shanghai-a a awm laiin a ziak zo ta a ni. Hetianga a hrisel loh em avang hian amah pawhin kohhran tana a thil tih theih hnuhnung niin a ngai a, Pathian hnena chawl turin a nun pawh a hlan hman hial a, chutihrual chuan Nee-a hian Pathiana rinna nghah hlutzia leh Pathianin a ven nasat zia chiang takin a hmuh phah hlauh thung a ni.

                Kum 1920 chhoah hian khawthlang mite duhlohna thlipui Chinaah hian a tleh a, hei hian Chinese kristian te pawh a nghawng nasa hle mai. Chinese Kristian hruaitu te chuan khawthlang ram atanga missionary ten Chinese kohhran te an awpbet reng mai chuan Kristian leh Kristian te inkarah innghirnghona a chawkchhuak niin an ngai a. Hei hi Nee-a pawhin a hmuhhmaih lo. John Nelson Darby leh C.A.Coated-a te lehkhabu a chhiar atangin ngaihdan a nei ta. Chu chu Chinese kohhran te hian mahni a inrelbawl a, mahni inchawm a, mahnia rawng an bawl ve tulin a hre ta. He ‘Mahni pathum” (three-self) hi kum zabi 19-na laia Henry Venn leh Rufus Anderson-a te lo hman thin, a hnua Communist sawrkarin an copy chhawn ngei kha a ni.

                Tichuan Nee-a chuan khawthlang ram kohhrante puihbawmna telloa mahni kea ding kohhran hmasa ber chu Hardoon Road, Shanghai-ah a din ta. He hmalakna puanzarna hmasa berah hian amah chu speaker niin he hmalakna atanga kohhran din hian hming hran a neih loh avangin “The Little Folk” tiin hriat a hlawh chho ta a ni. He Little Folk Movement hian China ram hrang hrangah nghawng a nei chho a, kum 1936-ah chuan Assembly 30 lai China ramchhungah din a ni hman a ni.

                He Little Folk Movement ah Evangelist hrang hrangte chu rawngbawlin hmun hrang hrangah an vak darh a, he movement hnuaia kohhran thar a din theih nan khaw hrang hranga kohhran hruaitute chu heng  evangelist te hian training an pe a, kohhran a din fel hnuah heng evangelist te hi hmun hranah an kal leh a, chutiang bawk chuan an ti leh thin a ni. heng evangelist te hi kawng hrang hrangah Watchman Nee-a hian training pein “Apostles” tiin a ko a, an hlawh pawh Nee-a hian a tumsak a ni. Heng evangelist zingah hian Witness Lee, Simon Meek, Faithful Luke etc te phei chuan China ram chhung mai bakah ram pawn thlengin rawngbawl hna tangkai tak an thawk a ni. Tin hei bakah hian a mimal ang nilo, a chhungkua angin hmun hrang hrangah he little folk movement thehdarh tur hian an zin a, chutah chuan ringlo mite hnenah rawng an bawl ta thin a ni. Hei vang hian Little Folk Movement hi a thang duang hle a, kum 1949 a lo nih meuh kha chuan China Kristian zawng zawng zinga 25% chu Little Flock Movement zuitute an ni.

                He Little Flock Movement hian ringtu zawng zawngte hi hlawh neiloa Pathian tana hnathawk angin a ngai a, a hmaa kan sawi tak, travelling evangelist te kha khawi hmunah pawh kal se an chenna in kha Kristiante intawhkhawmna a ni mai a. He movement hnuaia kohhran hrang hrangte chuan Upa nei theuhin chung mite chuan kohhran an kaihruai a ni.

                He “Little Flock Movement” hi Plymouth Brethren te thuziak atanga Nee-a’n idea a neih nghawngchhuah a ni a. Little Flock kalpui anih hnu khan London Brethren te chuan Shanghai-ah Nee-a kawm turin an rawn zin a, Nee-a hmalakna chu an fakin Pathian thu a hriat zia phei chu hahipin an sawi a ni.

                Hetih hunlai hi China in Independence a sual vanglai a ni kan tih tawh kha. Hei hian Nee-a rawngbawlna pawh a nghawng nasa hle. Tichuan kum 1942 khan Nee-a leh a uanaupa chuan China Biological and Chemical Laboratory (CBC) an din ta a. Heta tanga an sum hlep chhuah hi Apostle te hlawh atana hman tura ruahman a ni Amaherawh chu Shanghaia Little Flock upa ten hetiang zawnga sumdawnna nena kalkawp hi an duh loh avangin an Shanghai huamchhunga an kohhranah Nee-a thusawi hi an phalsak ta lo a. Chutih laiin Nee-a leh a unaupa company erawh chu a thangduangin damdawi lama sumdawng hlawk ber pawl an ni chho ta. Chutihlai chuan Nee-a pawhin hetianga CBC sumdawnna hian Little Flock movement-ah inlungruallohna a thlen thei dawna a hriat avangin CBC chu kohhranah a chhunglut ta vek a, hei hian kohhran thanlenna kawngah kawng nasa takin a sial phah  a ni.

A tanna jail

                October 1, 1949-ah People’s Republic of China a piang a, he Communist sawrkar hnuaiah hian a hmazawng aiin Watchman Nee-a pawh a chep ta hle mai. Heti chung hian Nee-a hian a rawngbawlna a kalpui zel a, Shanghai Church-a a thusawi ngaithla turin min 3000-4000 chuang Pathianni ah an lo pungkhawm thin a ni.

                Mahse April 10, 1952 khan Nee-a chu Communist sawrkar hnuaia Department of Public Safety -in China rampuma a kohhran lian tak a kalpui danah te, Apostle te chawmna atana company a din CBC chungchang thuah te puhna hrang hrang avangin a man ta. A chungthu relsak a ni a, Harbin-ah kum 15 lungin tang tura a chungthu relsak niin he tanina a tan chhung hian a chanchin engmah hriat theih loh turin Communist sawrkar chuan an hup bet tlat a ni. Tichuan Jun 21, 1956 khan Shanghai High Court hmaah a chungthu relsak a ni leh a, thiamloh chantir vek anih hnuin First Municipal Prison, Shanghai-ah tan tir a ni leh a, hetah hian Chinese Sawrkar lehkhabu hrang hrangte English atanga Chinese tawnga lehlin hna thawhluih tir a ni a, hemi rual hian a rinna phatsan turin an nawr char char bawk a, tlang thuthangah phei chuan Nee-a hian Kristian sakhua a phatsan niin thu a thang nasa hman hle.

                Kum 15 a tan hnua a chhuah hun kum 1967 a lo herchhuak ta. Mahse Nee-a chuan nawrna nasa tak a dawn angin Krista chu a la phatsan duh chuang bau lo. Hetih hunlai hian Jail tang insiamtha lo nia hriatte chu kum 5-7 tan belh tir an ni thin a, Nee-a pawh chu insiamtha duh lo nia puh anih avangin tan belh tir a ni leh ta a ni

Hetih hunlai hian a nupui a hmangaih em em Charity Chang chuan thla khatah vawi khat a tlawh phalsak a ni a. Mahse thuneitu lam chuan Municipal Prison atangin a ruktein Tsing Tong labor Farm-ah an tan sawn tir leh a, hetah hi chuan tum khat chiah a nupui hian a tlawh a ni. January, 1970-ah White Mao Mountain Farm-ah tan sawn tir a ni leh a, a kumleh 1971 September thlaah a nupui chuan a thihsan a, hei hi Nee-a pawhin a tuar hle.

April 12, 1972-ah chuan Jail bang a zut kum 20-na a tling tlak ta. Nee-a pawhin a chhuah theih a in beisei hle a, mahse chhuah a ni lo. Hetih hunlai hian Nee-a hian Thin vung natna a nei a, rit a chawi thei lo. Zan tam tak a mut zangthal theih loh avangin a thu tlaivar zak zak thin a, chuti chung chuan Krista phatsan chu a la tum chhin eih lo. A hun hnuhnung lam a hmang chho mek ani tih hriain a unaunu chu lehkha a thawn reng a. Tichuan a natna hrehawm tak chu tuar lovin May 31 zing dar 2-ah khan a tanna White Mao lab our Farm-ah a rawng a lo bawl sak thin leh harsatna tam tak kara a phatsan phal loh Pathian angchhunga chawl tawh turin Watchman Nee-a chuan khawvel a chhuahsan ta a ni. A thih tuk hian a ruang an sawngbawlna lamah a lukham hnuaia a lehkha lo hnutchhiah chu an hmu a, he lehkhaah hian Nee-a chuan

                “Krista, Pathian fapa chuan hringfa te sual tlan nan a nun a hlan a, ni thum niah a tho leh ta. Hei tluka thil ropui hi a awm lo va, Krista hi ka tan a thi a, ka tan a tho leh ani tih hi ka ring tlat a ni,” tiin ta ziak a ni.