970827人間菩提英文版Creating a Cycle of Goodness with Love

Creating a Cycle of Goodness with Love 每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜ 56K

人間菩提--啟動善的循環

 

We need forests on this vast piece of land to absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So that there will be fresh oxygen, so that the land we live on can be safe and well.

So that living beings can be healthy.

But instead we see that the climate is imbalanced with natural disasters occurring frequently.

Forest fires once started are very hard to put out.

Floods and droughts are also frequently occurring.

In places where there drought it continues to be dry and arid.

In other places it cannot seem to stop raining leading to serious flooding.

There are also disasters of the wind such as hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, etc.

And the force of the wind is getting stronger.

That's what we often hear.

In the U.S. alone, from January to July in 2008 in a period of just seven months,

Tzu Chi volunteers have already gone to 12 states to carry out relief work and distributed aid for 42 times.

So, I often say that recently our Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. have been very busy.

Because there aren't many volunteers in the U.S., our hearts go out to them to see them working so hard.

It's truly very tiring for them.

The 12 states span such a large area.

So, Tzu Chi volunteers in different states have to join together for one relief project.

Sometimes, it took them many hours. In each relief distribution we held, we not only gave out material supplies.

Most importantly, our volunteers would interact with the people with sincerity and love and share with the people the story of how Tzu Chi started with people saving a coin every day to help those in need.

Everyone was deeply moved by the story.

We'd also gave them thermal blankets.

When our volunteers handed them the blankets, they would explain to them that

Each blanket was made from 70 recycled PET bottles.

Everyone would be very surprised to hear that and was amazed at how recycled PET bottles could be turned into such wonderful things.

In fact, one material resource can be made into many different things that take on different forms and serve different purposes (They derive from one single material)

Likewise innumerable principles all come from one.

All the things of this world contain within it, a very profound principle.

Only with the wisdom of (our Buddha-nature) can we come to perceive and fully understand the true principle behind all things innumerable teachings come into being because living beings have innumerable afflictions. That's why we say that affliction is Bodhi (enlightenment).

It is because mundane beings have innumerable afflictions that the Buddha has to lay out innumerable paths to lead these different beings to the Buddha-way.

So, the Buddha came to this world, mainly to open living beings' eyes to the

Buddha's enlightened knowledge, show it to them and let them comprehend it and enter into its Way.

Just to do this, the Buddha had to open up innumerable paths (to suit every person).

From that, we can see how many different kinds of afflictions there are and how many different forms of suffering there are. Our mind is never at stasis. When we give rise to a good thought,

It isn't very long before it changes and gets replaced by a bad thought---.

It isn't very long before.

greed, hatred, ignorance take over he mind again.

When we listen to the Dharma we'd think

"Yes, I ought to have a broader heart" 

"and let go (of all the bad things)"

That's what we'd think to ourselves.

We have many realizations in that moment.

But when we encounter difficult circumstances, the Dharma and understanding we had gained

Would be forgotten and we'd give rise to afflictions.

That's why people have all sorts of afflictions.

Because they have many afflictions, they'd act upon them and create bad karma.

When many people create bad karma collectively, the bad karma builds up.

(and it will bring destruction to this world)

(and disrupt the balance of the Four Elements)

When the Four Elements are imbalanced living beings on this land will be endangered.

See how in the U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers have been flat off their feet going to 12 states to provide aid

for 42 times already from Jan. to July this year.

Despite that they still give of themselves with utmost sincerity to embrace those affected by the disasters.

See how they interact and embrace one another with love.

Why should we discriminate between people and differentiate between race or nationality?

As long as we have love in our hearts, we can be everywhere to give love widely.

Seeing that is truly very touching, I saw on Da Ai TV early this morning, that the mother of one of our little volunteers in Sichuan, China was diagnosed with breast concer a year ago.

So, our volunteers kept persuading her to listen to the doctor's advice to undergo surgery.

But she was worried about having no money to pay for the medical bills and also whether the procedure was safe. So, Tzu Chi volunteers kept staying by her side to try to set her concerns at ease.

This mother has now agreed to receive treatment and has been sent to a hospital.

Although Tzu Chi volunteers from Taiwan have already come back local Tzu Chi volunteers in China are continuing this relay of love to give their care to these people in Sichuan.

Seeing that, we feel much assured. Before they came back, our volunteer, Mr.Chen, gave our volunteers in China" seeds of remembrance" as a reminder for them to continue Tzu Chi's love and spirit there and to always give of themselves to care for all those in need. We also see that in Myanmar, a cyclone survivor has also become our volunteer. He even reports cases to Tzu Chi volunteers and takes Tzu Chi volunteers to visit them. He has even mobilized the locals in that area to join forces in helping the most impoverished families. See, in this world, we are all one family so there's no need to discriminate between people.

Seeing how Tzu Chi volunteers give of their love to others every day. I am very touched and also very grateful. With time, we can accomplish many things (and overtime, we can spread love)

Everywhere throughout the world.

 

 

天地萬象一法生
跨州救災秉至誠
愛心匯聚無遠近
同啟良善菩提門

天災無常的降臨，不管是經濟弱勢的緬甸，或者豐衣足食的美國。今年以來，八個月的時間，美國就發生四十二次大型天災，災區廣達美國十二個州，而全美慈濟人也以最快的速度動員救災。證嚴上人在今天的志工早會提到，不論多麼富足美好的土地，都無法避免地水火風四大不調的風險，唯有愛的存在，才能跨越國界與種族，在災難中帶來希望。

美國年初至今，八個月就發生了四十二個重大災難。加州的獨立市，兩年前才遭受到林火肆虐，現在又因為一場大雨，引發土石流。看到災民的無助，慈濟志工獻上最及時的幫助，給予溫暖的擁抱。

證嚴上人開示：「不管美國有多大的土地，那慈濟人的確是無所不在，那就是因為有愛的力量， 所以人人很誠懇的、很願意為不請之師。」

在災民最無助的時刻，慈濟志工即時帶來慈悲的關懷，在無情的災後，更顯珍貴。伊利諾州勞倫斯維爾市長一度哽咽感謝志工不分種族、國界，陪伴災民走過傷痛。

證嚴上人開示：「這種地大不調、風大不調、水大不調、火大不調，四大不調，就可以讓大地上的眾生危危難安，只要心中有愛，那就是最普遍無處不在。」

人間溫情，無所不在，藍天白雲愛的接力，撫平災民的傷痛，也帶給災民無窮的希望。

 

 

Best Regards, Jenny

思慧合十

Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Tolerance and accommodation can prevent disputes; Gentleness and great love can transform disasters into blessings.

今日靜思語: 忍讓可避免爭執, 柔和大愛可轉禍為福.

 

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寄件者: Christine [mailto:mai.hsu@msa.hinet.net]
寄件日期: 2008年8月27日 下午 07:28
收件者: JennyWu
主旨: Re: 970825 人間菩提英文版

 

Dear Jenny:

Again, thanks for sharing with me the English version. I did watch it last night, but totally forget the part about the TIMA's doctor in Philippines. Your e-mail remind me and the story is touched.

 

Christine