(Today, their physical bodies will be cremated)
And it represents their final departure from this world.
But in living out the value of their lives
(they have left a legacy in this world)
During our lifetime
(we make use of the body)
When we pass away, the body begins decomposing inside the coffin.
Body fluids will come out from the body, and bacteria will eat away the flesh.
Finally, the body dries up and all that's left is a pile of bones.
It's hard to say how long this process takes.
See, it's truly very frightening.
If the body is cremated, the body is burned in a big blaze of flames.
And want's left?
A pile of ashes.
With such being the reality of life can we deny how unclean the body truly is?
That's how unclean the body is.
But, what gives our life value is what we do with this body when our mind is still clear, our body still healthy, and we can still move about freely.
We should be our own master and not be led astray by temptations in our external environment.
One wrong step and we'd stray far off course and create a lot of bad karma with this unclean body of ours.
The karma we create will follow us to our next life.
Although we will be reborn into a different body in our next life, we'll carry the karma we've created with us.
So, in our lifetime, when we understand the truth in life, everything we do will be fair and reasonable and in line with Truth (which is the pure)
(original nature within us)
To return to our true, pure nature, we must learn to deal with people and matters in a way that resolves everything perfectly.
Then our life would be whole, complete and perfect.
That's why I often say to everyone that we should do things in ways that foster harmony.
If there's harmony between people and in matters we do then it'd be in accord with true principles.
To achieve harmony in whatever we do is not an easy task.
But, as long as we have the will everything is attainable.
The six body donors for the surgical simulations this time had truly led a whole and complete life by making the fullest use of their body to complete the mission of their life.
Take Mr. Qin for example.
I'm sure many of you know him.
Mr. Qin and his wife have been serving as Tzu Chi volunteers for over 20 years.
He knew about plumbing, electricity, and machinery.
During the time when our hospital in Hualien was being constructed Mr. Qin and his wife became certified Tzu Chi members.
Ever since then, he could be seen at the construction site of every one of Tzu Chi's construction projects.
He was truly a good disciple of mine.
Not only did he and his wife walk on the Bodhisattva Path together, but his mother also stayed at the Abode (to be closer to me).
Everyone at the Abode calls her "Grandma"
Mr. Qin & his wife often came to visit his mother and every time they came.
They'd walk around the Abode with Grandma while talking to her softly and gently.
That was how he loved and cared for his mother.
It has truly left a deep impression on me.
We also saw another body donor, Mr. Xu Zeng-ci.
He joined Tzu Chi in 1999.
The first time he went with Tzu Chi volunteers to visit an elderly man who lived all by himself.
He smelled a very strong stench as soon as he stepped into the house.
At the time, the first thing that came to his mind was to leave.
But, while standing outside he saw how the other volunteer cared for the elderly man without worrying about the stench and with such loving care so he went inside to help without giving it a second thought.
They helped to clean up the elderly man with care and mindfulness.
(so that his body no longer smelled)
Having helped him get all cleaned up at that moment.
Mr. Xu felt a sense of great peace and happiness.
So, though earlier, he had been ready to leave from that moment onwards he vowed that he would never waver again in his resolve to serve others.
So, he served as a regular volunteer at our hospital in Yuli and he helped provide care to people living in 22 villages in Yuli township.
He would pay home visits or provide care to those whose mobility was restricted.
He knew the conditions of every family in the community like the back of his hand.
When he was hospitalized for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, I happened to visit our hospital in Yuli so I quickly went to see him and asked him.
"How are you doing now?"
He said, "Master, I'm fine and at peace"
"Although I know I'm in the terminal stage,"
"I'm very much at peace"
"I don't feel any pain. As long as I'm alive,"
"I'll go on with Tzu Chi's work"
"I know what I should do"
"I'll always be a Tzu Chi volunteer"
"in this life and in my future lives"
See how carefree he was.
This year when I went to Yuli again,
(he was there under palliative care)
Be mindful.
Be sincere and pious at heart.
Remember what I've said.
Just let things take their course.
Don't forget what you've vowed to do.
Leave your body in the doctors' hands and just see where karmic affinities take you.
Open up your heart broad and wide.
When you come back, return to the Bodhisattva Path.
You've lived your life to its fullest and have made very good use of your time.
You've truly done a lot.
You all heard my conversation with Mr. Xu just now.
See, he even wrote a letter to all Tzu Chi volunteers reassuring them that joining Tzu Chi is the right thing to do.
His only regret was that the time he spent in Tzu Chi was too short
Having joined for only 10 years, he felt he should have joined even earlier.
See how he never regretted serving as a volunteer and caring for people so selflessly.
That was something he never regretted.
There's also another body donor, Chen Tian-fu.
He was an honorary board member as well as a Tzu Cheng member.
He carried out Tzu Chi's work very diligently with love and mindfulness.
Like the other two volunteers, I will always remember him in my heart.
All of them, upon joining Tzu Chi, walked on the path firmly and unwaveringly.
Be it contributing their efforts, donating money or material supplies, they did it all steadfastly, never having second thoughts.
See, how they harbored a heart of great loving-kindness. great compassion, and great joy without any regrets, complaint, or worry.
See how at peace they were.
Even at the very end.
(with a heart of selfless giving)
They donated their bodies for medical use so that doctors and medical students could gain medical knowledge through
(performing surgical simulations on their body)
That was what they wished.
All in all, among the six body donors, four of them were either commissioners, Tzu Chengs, or honorary board members.
(Today, they'll be cremated) and bring their meritorious life to perfect ending.
We must express our utmost respect for them.
(for being exemplars of character and virtue)
I am truly very grateful.
回歸本性會真理
載道之軀竭其功
無用之用展大用
人格圓滿竟功德
慈濟大學97年學年，第3次模擬手術教學順利結束，6位大體老師功德圓滿，今天早上慈大為他們舉行莊嚴的送靈儀式，證嚴上人在志工早會時，感恩大體老師的無私大愛，用生命付出，大慈無悔的走入菩薩道，造福人群。
莊嚴的送靈儀式，醫學生及志工們，最恭敬的心來送別，六位大體老師有形的身體，也正式向世間告別。他們的生命，除了遵循大自然的生死法則之外，把身體奉獻給醫學，讓醫師及醫學生，得以學習臨床技術的那一份愛，讓有限的生命，發揮無限的效用。
大體老師開闊了生命宏觀，化無用為大用，提升生命價值，不只牽引著醫學生進入生命的殿堂，也實踐了菩薩捨身為眾的精神。
用愛鋪路，大體老師無聲的說法，寫下人間大藏經，也在無奈的人生自然法則中，成就最美的循環。
2008-11-03 20:19:30
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: It is through learning from the trials of everyday life and human affairs that wisdom is attained.
今日靜思語: 智慧是從生活.人事的磨練而得來
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