(With the abnormal climate of today, storm forecasts always make us very worried)
A few days ago, Typhoon Nuri was heading in the direction of
Thankfully, the typhoon's direction veered slighted toward west, so it missed
We are truly very grateful.
But two days ago, the typhoon swept through
Flights were cancelled due to the wind and rain.
Yesterday, the typhoon gradually left Hong Kong and headed for
(the capital of)
Tens of thousands have been evacuated from the coastal areas.
See, when one of the Four Elements is out of balance, if will bring about disasters and losses.
This is why we must follow Nature's laws to bring the four Elements back into balance.
Doing this must begin with the heart and mind.
When our mind and behavior is upright, the world will be in harmony and balance
with all being well.
Before the seventh lunar month---ever since the Chinese New Year,
We've been working to dispel superstitious beliefs.
The mission: 'work for Buddhism and all beings' means to make effort to enable people to have a correct understanding of Buddhism.
(and learn to cultivate their mind)
So they can fnd their own Buddha-nature within their mind.
In my dharma talks, I've shared with people that the essence of the mind, the Buddha and all beings are in face the same.
Even though we're called mundane beings now.
Yet, within our hearts, we all have the Buddha-nature.
But this Buddha-nature (has been obstructed) and bound up by the ropes of ignorance
So, within each of us, there's an inner Buddha imprisoned by afflictions.
But though it is imprisoned by afflictions, this inner Buddha remains pure and untainted.
It is just blocked by our ignorance and delusion.
It is like the light bulb that has been cover with a dark cloth.
The bulb's light itself remains unchanged.
All in all, our true original nature is very bright and clean.
It is the Buddha-nature. How can we let it reveal itself? By having correct faith(non-superstitious beliefs)
If our faith is correct, our mind will not be so confused and disordered.
When our mind is not confused and disordered, our wisdom is able to come out.
In fact, everyone inherently possesses wisdom just like the Buddha.
So, the Buddha-nature is pure wisdom. Pure wisdom is the Buddha-nature.
So, as long as we have correct faith, naturally, the minds disorderliness and confusion will fall away, and our bright wisdom will then shine through.
Once we manifest this bright wisdom and are guided by it, we will not lose our way.
That is why right now Tzu Chi people are working hard in the community
(to help dispel superstitions) and promote correct understanding.
We also work hard at our charity mission. Tzu Chi volunteers are very diligent and very mindful in helping people. Wherever a disaster occurs, they will quickly go to the disaster site.
For example, one time, in Minsyong town
We can imagine the magnitude of the explosion.
After the accident happened, Tzu Chi volunteers quickly went to that area.
When the local residents saw Tzu Chi volunteers, they reacted as if they were like parched and suddenly receiving timely rain.
They said"Tzu Chi volunteers are here!"
The expiosion them a big fright.
But when they saw Tzu Chi volunteers, they started to calm down and feel more secure because our volunteers would embrace them.comfort them and try to ease their anxiety, comfort them and try to ease their anxiety and calm their hearts.
When the people are calm, the area they live in will be stable.
So, their community will also be stable.
This is why two months ago when I was in Laohsiung.
One of the schools there asked me if I could send Tzu Chi volunteers to their school to regularly give talks to their students.
The local college and district chief told me they would like to
Dedicate one day each month as Tzu Chi Day.
(Such is their affirmation of Tzu Chi)
It is because Tzu Chi volunteers have worked very mindfully in the community helping people in need as well as taking actions to promote a culture of humanity in order to raise the quality of life.
For that we need to do away with ignorant superstitious beliefs.
If the public holds to superstitions, the society will always remain at a lower quality of life.
So, a higher quality of life is to be achieved by rectifying people's views, which will have effects on the family, then the community.
If people have correct views, they won't be superstitious.
Then we will have a more enlightened society with a more elevated culture.
For the Buddha Day ceremony in May,(instead of a "Buddha-bathing" ritual)
The Buddha is pure, so why should he need us mundane beings to cleanse him?
It is really just a ritual begun in ancient times when people felt that since we cannot
Physically cleanse our inner Buddha and external representation could be used instead
Given that all of us have an inner Buddha. Why do we not pay attention to
Cleansing our inner self.
So that our inner Buddha can remain clean?
Every year, we hold a Buddha Day ceremony to let the public know about the Buddha
(and what he contributed to humanity)
(We hold a very dignified ceremony)
To express our reverence for the Buddha and express the beauty of religion.
Before April, Tzu chi volunteers had been going around the community
Posting Jing si Aphorisms in local shops.
After April, we worked on raising the culture of humanity in the community
(by guiding people to understand)
That the seventh lunar month (is not unlucky)
So they can let go of misguided views and do away with ignorant superstitious practices and instead do things that show true respect and care for Mother Earth.
And work on building collective good karma by dedicating themselves to
Working for the good of the community
如來本性清淨慧
在纏真如祛塵垢
四大調合順天理
遠離苦難度群心
整個農曆七月，慈濟人在全球各地舉辦感恩吉祥祈福會，深入社區將正信的理念，傳入人心，同時在每一個有災難的地方，就能看見慈濟人藍天白雲的身影。証嚴上人在今天的志工早會上，除了感恩全球志工一步一腳印，走入社區之外，也勉勵大家要繼續用愛，來淨化人心造就祥和社會。
看著自己的房子，因為爆竹爆炸意外變得滿目瘡痍，住在嘉義民雄的何阿嬤，回想爆炸當時的情形，仍然心有餘悸；慈濟志工在意外發生後，第一時間趕到現場，希望趕緊把祝福送到九十戶受災居民的手上。
慈濟人聞聲救苦的大愛，也獲得高雄縣政府的肯定，邀請慈濟志工與三百多位高雄縣，各鄉鎮社會課的課員分享，在賑災和急難救助的過程中，如何讓災民的身、心、靈都得到膚慰。
佛法如水能洗去心靈污垢，慈濟志工以身作則，為民眾正心導正信念，祈求四大調和化解天下災難。
Best Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Transform greed into contentment, and contentment into compassion
今日靜思語: 把貪念化為滿足, 把滿足化作慈悲
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