We truly must be humbly pious and cautious.
Being cautious is not only about being afraid as being afraid alone will not help.
What's most important is to be cautious, humble, and pious.
Indeed, when we follow Nature's order, life will flourish.
But is we go against Nature's order, it shall be our demise.
All in all, we mustn't arrogantly think that man can overpower Nature.
We mustn't think that.
We should realize that in this world, we humans are actually very small,
(very vulnerable and weak)
We mustn't think that man is the most powerful.
In fact, Nature is much more powerful than man.
When the heavens snow mercy on all beings on Earth,
Nature's Four Elements will be balanced,
And then the world will be safe and sound. And all living beings on Earth can live in peace and safety.
Yesterday, I couldn't stop (worrying about Hurricane Gustav)
But this morning, the news on TV and the news I received from our
It filled me with boundless gratitude.
Hurricane Gustav made landfall west of
After it made landfall, it started to weaken.
Indeed, having experienced the devastation brought about by Hurricane Katrina (three years ago,) everyone has been on heightened vigilance.
(taking all necessary precautions)
This is what it means to go with Nature's order.
This is also the main reason behind the weakening of the hurricane.
Because the heavens,
the heavenly beings have witnessed people's repentance and respect for Nature.
And willingness to yield to Nature's might.
And give way to the deities of wind and rain.
Since man has given way, the deities of wind and rain also became more forgiving.
Seeing that everyone is safe and well, my heart is set at ease.
Nevertheless, the powerful winds in
So, inevitably there will be damages, but the damages will be less serious than before.
We can see that in
To prepare the shelters for the evacuees.
Today, our volunteers will also begin providing hot meals for the evacuees.
However, in the
Only restaurants that have passed inspections conducted by the government can prepare hot meals to the public.
However, with what our volunteers have been doing, they have gained the trust of the local government, so they've been allowed to provide hot meals for the evacuees today.
So long as everyone's safe, that's most important.
Meanwhile, we should also keep an eye on a category 1 hurricane that just formed recently and is expected to hit the southeastern
May everyone continue to pray with humble piety that it will pass by without causing much devastation.
(or even better, if it can dissipate entirely)
However, it will require everyone's good collective karma for this to happen.
Let's pray that this hurricane will also become weaker and weaker and that it won't gain in strength.
But we will have to see. So, everyone truly must stil remain vigilant.
Today is September2, Four months ago on May 2, a cyclone hit
Ever since, Tzu Chi volunteers have been there to give aid(and our aid continues even today)
Our 7th aid team is there now, and they'll be relieved by our 8th team shortly.
In the aftermath of the cyclone, when the cyclone survivors were most in need,
(we abided by the local policies,)and provided them with much needed supplies.
For their daily living, including material supplies, food, nutritional supplements.
Next, we distributed rice seeds and fertilizers to farmers.
So, in the last few days, our volunteers have gone door to door form village to village
to ask if each household has received fertilizers and has applied it on their crops.
We've very concerned that not everyone may have received them.
See, that's how mindful Tzu Chi is in finding out whether everyone has sown the rice seeds we gave to them and applied the fertilizers we distributed on their crops as we meant them to be.
All we hope to see is the rice crops bearing plentiful golden grains.
Think about it , how can the locals not be moved by such a display of love and care?
How can they not embrace us who have shown them such selfless Great Love?
Mother, our rice plants have grown abundantly.
"Thank you, Master" "Mother---" "Master is our mother"
So, apart from giving them rice seeds and fertilizers to farm their land, very importantly, we also shared our Jing Si Aphorisms with them.
We taught them very simple ones. We went door to door from village to village to sow seeds of love in their hearts. It's truly very moving "Speak kind words,"
"think good thoughts" "and do good deeds"
That's the aphorism we share with them and encourage them to speak kind words
and show gratitude, respect, and love to one another.
Before Tzu Chi volunteers came, if we saw someone, we'd just call out their name and say:
"How are you?"
That was it.
Now that Tzu Chi volunteers are here, we've learned to greet each other with well wishes.
Each children know to wish others well.
See how everyone on that piece of land is showing gratitude, respect, and love to one another.
Both adults and children know to do this.
See how this group of our volunteer bodhisattvas dedicate themselves to the people in
Aren't they walking Tzu Chi's dharma path?
They diligently practice our Jing Si principles by serving people in society.
See how the locals are able to recite our Jing Si Aphorisms.
Though it's a very simple one, people are able to practice it in their daily living.
We not only taught them to recite the aphorism,
but we also encouraged them to give by telling them that although they're not well-off.
They can still do good deeds by giving whatever they can to help others:
and when everyone's tiny donation is pooled together, it can become a large amount to help many people in need.
They were very happy when they donated the money.
Seeing that, we know their future is full of hope.
Time ticks away continually.
My feelings right now are completely different from those of yesterday.
My heart was very heavy yesterday. But now, my heart is filled with gratitude.
As I know everyone is safe and well.
This is due to the good karma that people have created with their humble piety and vigilance.
So that they can remain safe and well.
Seeing that, I am truly very happy and grateful.
With the piety, vigilance, and love of everyone in the
I am confident everything will be fine in the end.
颶風過境幸轉弱
順應天理眾得安
世界糧倉結滿穗
三業清淨共福業
颶風古斯塔夫雖然風力減弱，路易斯安那州沿岸的民眾也及時撤離，但是對於颶風的風雨，還是不能掉以輕心。來到四個月前遭受風災的緬甸，慈濟人在當地為大地灑播稻種，也為人心帶來佛法，現在他們人人都會互相感恩祝福。證嚴上人在開示中，提醒大家善念，不只是用說的，還要身體力行，才能引領大家共行善事。
颶風古斯塔夫登陸美國，為紐奧良市帶來狂風暴雨，所幸路易斯安那州沿岸，近兩百萬人及時撤離，雖然目前風力減弱，但是還是不能掉以輕心。
四個月前同樣受到風災影響的緬甸，經過慈濟人的膚慰陪伴，在稻田裡，到處都是即將成熟的稻苗，慈濟人以身作則，口說好話，身行好事，帶動當地居民見面都會互相祝福感恩，連學校老師，也要把靜思語融入教學課程，傳承大愛理念。
靜思勤行道，慈濟人不間斷的付出，為緬甸帶來稻種米糧，更為人心帶來清淨佛法，引領走向人間菩薩道。
2008-09-02 20:29:11
Best Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Equanimity nurtures wisdom.When we concentrate wholeheartedly on the task at hand and perceive the truth
behind shifting phenomenon wisdom will naturally grow.
今日靜思語: 智慧由定而生，若能心專念一，從事入理，即能產生智慧。
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