"The sun is out. Come and walk around in the sun."
"Now that Tzu Chi volunteers have left,"
"we come to visit the elderly in their place"
"We come to help the elderly"
"and see how they're doing"
How endearing our life volunteers in
On their days off, they truly put into practice what Tzu Chi aunties & uncles have taught them and truly make meaningful use of their time.
Our volunteers taught them that doing good and being filial cannot wait, and that they should treat everyone as one family.
With that, they go care for the elderly of their own accord.
Though they have to travel a long way, they go in groups and walk for many miles to care for the elderly living on their own.
Do you live here? You sleep here?
Yes, I sleep here.
It's very convenient even at night.
"How come you didn't move to he temporary housing?"
"Oh no, that's too far away"
But it's dangerous if it crashes down.
Though they are of different ages, and attend different schools,
They all have the same aspiration (to care)
(for the elderly)
They've truly done a very good job.
They'd also ask about their medication.
"Grandma, you have to take these pills."
"three times a day"
"Take one of these,"
"and this, and this."
(They also visit the elderly living in care homes)
and take them all out to sit in the sun
and sing and do sign language to entertain them.
They also trim the nails for the elderly and serve as little doctors,
Cleaning their wound and putting medicine on for them.
See how bright and endearing these children are.
I am confident that one day these saplings (the young volunteers)
will grow into sturdy trees.
Seeing what these little volunteers are doing is very moving and makes us very happy.
The local adult volunteers are also continuing the relay of love passed on by our volunteers.
See, as a result of the earthquake in May, we were able to inspire many local people in
I earnestly hope that such a relay of love can continue to be carried on.
It is truly heartwarming to see.
Turning back to
It has been over 40 years since Tzu Chi was founded in
It was in the spring of 1966 that Tzu Chi was founded.
It started with 30 housewives sparing 50 cents a day from their grocery money.
We now have Tzu Chi volunteers all over the world.
I remember that in 1997, because the number of Tzu Chi volunteers kept growing.
I decided to regroup Tzu Chi volunteers by their area of residency.
I said to everyone:
"By serving in your communities,"
"you can take better care of the elderly too"
So, Tzu Chi volunteers not only help the poor and relieve their suffering,
They also have to care for the elderly by being a source of support and comfort to them.
So the elderly feel they have family.
Some elderly live in nursing homes, but they would feel very lonely.
Though they live with many people, but inside, they feel (old and forgotten)
Since they have no family beside them, we can be their children and accompany them in the latter years to their life.
So, in 1997, we started looking after the elderly who lived alone in the community,
(and it's been 10 years)
Since Tzu Chi volunteers started doing so.
On October 4, to mark the tenth anniversary of Tzu Chi's elderly care program,
we held a small-scale exhibit at Tzu Chi's cultural center.
(Each picture tells a heartfelt story)
From the pictures that are displayed, we can see that behind every image in the photo,
There is a story full of love.
I always say that we should try to make the elderly feel secure and at ease.
They have a wealth of experiences to share with us.
Look at Mr. Zhang Shao-nan, He's now a certified Tzu Cheng member.
When he was 19, he joined the army in
He remained in the military until he retired (at the age of 42)
He was married for a short period after that,
(but the marriage didn't work out)
He also ran a small business for a while.
When he was in his late fifties, a friend introduced him to Buddhism, and he took refuge under a Buddhist Dharma Master.
Gradually, he came to understand the law of karma.
Around this time he came across the Tzu Chi monthly and our biweekly newspaper.
So, beginning from that year, he became a donating member of Tzu Chi right up until he moved from
He lost touch with Tzu Chi but he still kept our Tzu Chi Monthly and biweekly newspaper.
After he moved to
As a Buddhist, he understood that this must be due to his own karma.
So, he didn't hold any grudges against the person who caused his injury.
He even tried to set that person's mind at ease.
Gradually, a bond was developed between them.
The person's wife felt that Mr. Zhang was a very nice person and would often go to look after him and care for him while he was in hospital.
She looked after him right up until he was discharged from the hospital and moved into
the veterans' home in
She also became his goddaughter.
I used to be all alone.
But now, they come to visit me every month.
They're like my grandchildren and daughter.
During the Chinese New Year, they even take me home to celebrate with them.
She is nicer to me than a real daughter.
I'm very content.
Although he fractured his leg in the accident, he recovered very well.
This is because he is very broad-minded and always keeps a very positive attitude.
Being a resident in the veterans' home himself he is very willing to care for others.
It just so happened that in this veterans' home,
There is an employee who is our Tzu Cheng member.
One day, he saw that Mr. Zhang was reading one of our old Tzu Chi Monthly magazines.
So, this Tzu Cheng encouraged Mr. Zhang to come help at our recycling station.
Mr. Zhang does a good job with the recycling work.
He also cherishes resources.
He said he understands that doing good is something that cannot be put off.
He also knows that living in this world people should not just indulge themselves and idle their time away.
That's why he began to give of himself.
See, although he is already 80 years old, he is still very healthy.
He is very cheery and energetic and helps guide the elderly to sing and do sign language.
(He also serves as a cleaning and)
(culinary volunteer in the community)
He takes part in many Tzu Chi activities and does everything that is part of
the duties of a Tzu Cheng member.
See, despite his age, he is very active and does everything.
Why is that?
It is because in this big family of Tzu Chi, he has work to do and duties to fulfill.
So, he won't waste time or idle away.
All this is because there is this family he can be a part of.
See how he makes use of his time to give of himself.
Indeed, this is how we should lead our life.
It is truly very heartwarming to see.
Born to this world, we're one family.
Why limit our love to only those related to us by blood?
So, everyone, please do watch Da Ai TV.
Through Da Ai TV's programs, we can see that life is filled with hope and love and how people gain joy through serving others.
Though there are people in suffering, there are Tzu Chi volunteers who go to embrace them and give them a shoulder to learn on.
In this world, is there anything more heartwarming to see than this?
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
愛心接力小志工
社區關懷慰零丁
心轉橫逆行於善
開發潛能注生機
一九九八年，北區慈濟志工從社會局接下獨居長者的關懷任務後，開啟這一段一做就十年的訪視因緣。這些年來，志工深入巷弄，從社區中建立愛的防護網，長期用心經營，把長者當作自己家人般來照顧。
證嚴上人開示：「慈濟人不只是救貧救苦，我們還要關懷長者，需要讓他們身心有依靠，有個家的感覺，老人家都把他送到老人院去，實在是太孤單，雖然是人群中，但是心裡也會有那一分凋零的感覺。」
慈濟志工持續關懷的身影，也成了啟發善循環的動力。住在高雄榮民之家的張紹南，感動慈濟人的付出無所求，也發願投入志工行列，天天環保站報到做回收；授證成為慈誠後，更是發揮良能，自立又助人。
證嚴上人開示：「他也很活潑，人家在帶活動的時候，他也跟著帶活動，走入社區關懷，他沒有一件事沒跟上，所以平時是在環保，住在榮民之家，照顧裡面的人，互相關懷照顧，跟慈濟慈誠隊同樣出勤務，絕對不輸人家。」
老有所安，老有所用。邁入高齡化社會的今天，鼓勵長者善用生命經驗，付出行善，獨居生活不孤單，歡喜有樂趣。
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Accept with a heart of joy hte obstructions brought on by karma which were caused by past actions, thus minimizing.
今日靜思語:
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