Ramadan is an annual religious observance for Muslims.
During Ramadan, they do not eat and drink anything during the day,
And only take in meals when evening falls.
They have to uphold such a fast for one month.
Seeing that, we know that's the religious practice for Muslims.
By upholding such a fast, they are following their religion's spiritual discipline.
What about us Buddhists?
We also have our spiritual disciplines & "fasts"
Yet we emphasize practicing them at every moment of every day and every month.
Throughout our life, we must uphold the spiritual discipline and "fast"
This "fast" isn't only about eating vegetarian but about eating moderately.
Only when we eat moderately are we truly practicing the discipline.
When the Buddha was alive, he advised us to eat regularly and moderately.
The monks only ate one meal per day.
That was the rule then.
They wouldn't eat when it was too dark to see the lines on one's palm.
So, they'd only eat during day time.
Muslims are the exact opposite.
They don't eat during day time when they can see their palm prints, and only eat after sunset.
However, it doesn't matter what time we eat,
(as long as we take in a moderate amount of food)
That is good for our health
Though other religions have different ways of practicing fasting we should respect one another's practices.
So, at the end of Ramadan, which is a significant time of the year for Muslims, our volunteers all hoped that they could have a good festival.
So, they mindfully prepared food for them hoping that they can enjoy the festival.
(happily and peacefully with their families)
See how our volunteers give of their love without distinguishing between religion or ethnicity.
So, living in this vast world, we should harbor a broad heart.
Everyone should look to their magnanimity and virtue within and extend love and compassion to all.
See how all-encompassing such love is if everyone pooled their strength together----
By joining together everyone's efforts no matter how insignificant it may seem, with the will to serve others, we'll be able to benefit humanity.
See how many people there are in suffering.
But so long as there are Tzu Chi volunteers around they'd have the chance to live a happy life.
No matter how dirty and shabby a place is, so long as there are Tzu Chi volunteers there to reach out and extend their help that place would become bright and beautiful.
This is all the result of the abundant love of countless people.
This is the beauty of virtue and magnanimity of not being able to bear to see people living in suffering.
See, our volunteers could not bear to see people living in such untidy and dirty places living in such untidy and dirty places filled with rotten garbage and rats and cockroaches crawling about.
See how terrible such a living environment was.
How were our volunteers able to tidy the place up?
With the virtue & magnanimity they possess within.
See, with a virtuous, magnanimous heart that is broad and encompassing our volunteers are able to clean up others' homes like their own totally transforming the places and (lifting the spirits of those living there)
Such is the practice of Dharma.
The Dharma can bring joy to people.
When we take in the Buddha's teachings and learn to be broad-minded and virtuous,
and we work together with other volunteers to help such as to clean up this house so the people can live in a clean environment----this is Dharma at work.
When we practice the Dharma to give of ourselves and thereby benefit others those we help will be happy and we'll also be filled with joy.
In fact, such joy is something all people can share in.
I believe anyone living on this piece of land will feel joy at seeing what has been done.
Wasn't this a result of people's efforts?
So, nothing is unachievable as long as you practice virtue and magnanimity and make use of your life to benefit others.
Through helping others,
(we'd be able to experience our pure true nature)
As we give of ourselves genuinely and sincerely.
Truly, by having a broad, pure and simple heart, we won't distinguish between religions.
How beautiful such a world is, where all are one.
(It is the Buddha's spiritual state)
A state of purity and peace
Isn't that the most beautiful state?
So, we must give with a joyful heart---
Giving of our efforts, giving of our love,
and giving of ourselves with our magnanimity and virtue.
When everyone joins together to give of their love and care for those in need,
Isn't that a very beautiful experience?
We ourselves reap (the reward of spiritual joy)
In the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings, there's a passage that talks about how Bodhisattvas' minds abide in the Truth, so the compassion they have is real and true.
Compassion isn't practiced through words.
We need to go into the community to help those in need.
This is the way of practice in Tzu Chi.
We must uphold the Jing Si principles and follow the way of Truth as we walk the path of Tzu Chi of service in the community.
The Tzu Chi School of Buddhism is about opening people's hearts and minds and
going into the community to help those in need.
These are the teachings of the Buddha.
So, we don't distinguish between religions.
Seeing all this, I'm truly very grateful.
Religion is more than just ritual practices and it shouldn't lead to disorder.
It should guide people in the right direction and educate people (on life's principles)
(That is what religion is all about)
Practicing the teachings of our religion in our daily life is the best practice of "fasting"
In fact, we should live every day with the same humble piety and vigilance not just once a year.
We must broaden our heart and mind.
The teaching of Innumerable Meanings comes from the abode (mind) of Buddhas.
(It goes to transform the mind of all beings)
and resides where the
So, we must broaden our hearts without distinguishing between religions.
For those in suffering, they need the guidance of religions.
By the guidance of religions, I mean a set of wholesome principles.
(that prevent people from going astray)
And teach them correct practices in daily living
and the proper way to carry themselves
If we can follow the teachings of our religions, no matter what religious belief we have,
We'll conduct ourselves properly.
All religions teach us to become people of good character.
Typhoon Jangmi just left and now another typhoon has formed over the ocean.
So, we must stay on guard and be sincerely pious.
It is hoped that this typhoon, Higos, which is now a tropical storm,
can pass through without causing any damage and then dissipate.
That is our earnest hope.
We must heighten our vigilance, be sincerely pious and not let down our guard.
Everyone, such is the prudent, humble, and pious attitude we should have.
We must harbor a broad heart, and uphold virtue. Only then
(can our unadulterated true nature come forth)
That's what we should do every day and the way to ensure peace and safety.
重播 週一到週五
09:48 11:45 15:15 23:00
重播 週六
07:45 11:45 15:18 23:00
重播 週日
02:45 07:45 11:45 23:00
開闊心宅秉尊重
法度喜悅解困厄
仁德之美膚苦難
妙有之真獻良能
開齋節是全球穆斯林的最重要的日子，等同於是新年，馬來西亞與印尼的慈濟志工，也分頭為穆斯林照顧戶，送上開齋禮物；證嚴上人在今天的志工早會提到，齋戒就是遵守戒律，不論是穆斯林的齋戒月，或者佛教徒的五戒十善，都是在提醒大家，守志守戒行善助人。
結束一個月日出不食的齋戒期，對全球穆斯林來說，第一天的開齋節，就像是新年一樣值得慶祝，印尼及馬來西亞慈濟志工，特地準備貼心的新年禮，要用最誠懇的心，不分宗教，不分種族，陪伴所有照顧戶，度過新年。
證嚴上人開示：有齋戒，這就是表達了宗教徒要守規守律，不犯規的宗旨，還要就是要有在生活中進出的規矩，假如有這樣，不管你是甚麼宗教都是有教養的，也就是人品典範的教育。
慈濟人時時齋戒，就是刻刻行善，馬來西亞慈濟志工，在齋戒期間，來到獨力扶養三個子女的仄哈林家中，幫助他整理四年來，因為工作繁忙，沒時間打掃的環境，經過眾人合作，現在沒了蟑螂老鼠，更多了溫暖的愛，陪伴他們度過開齋節。
證嚴上人開示：我們雙手動時千手動，幫他整理好了，他脫離了困境，這就是法，這種的法度入他的心中，幫他整理好以後，他解困了，他笑了，我們喜悅了，所以這個法度喜悅，天地共享。
秉持人生宗旨，力行生活教育，就是宗教戒律，時刻胸懷仁德之美，就是最好的齋戒。
思慧合十
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: To be humble is to shrink our egoism until we are small enough to enter other people's eyes and reside in their hearts and minds.
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