"Old people usually (have nothing to do )"
"I thank the Buddha and Master"
"for giving us the opportunity to do recycling"
"We must quickly do this, or it'd be too late"
"I'm very happy to be able to come and weed here"
"The more I volunteer here, the happier I become"
It has been 42 years since Tzu Chi was founded in
But, what is it about Tzu Chi's work. That gives people so much joy from doing it and
Make them dedicate themselves so willingly?
It's because of the blessings and joy, we gain from giving.
(Tzu Chi members) give unconditionally and on top of that even thank those they help.
(Isn't that a most noble spirit)
(that takes human nature to an even higher level?)
Everyone, think about it carefully.
Doesn't that bring us the greatest blessings in life?
We should strive not only to cultivate blessings but also nurture wisdom as well.
Wisdom is……?
"Being understanding which lets us attain peace"
Being understanding is truly very important.
Everyone, why is it that we humans have to go up against one another and compare and compete with each other?
Why is our society in such chaos?
Why is our society in such chaos?
Why are there so many disasters around the world?
The root cause lies in people's hearts and minds.
Because people's minds are afflicted they have trouble understanding others.
When we are riddled with afflictions we'll go up against one another.
On the small scale, (we'd bring disharmony to our family)
Every family has some sort of trouble and problem of its own.
So, in walking the path of cultivation, we should strive to be more understanding by trying to feel what others feel.
In other to understand others, we must put ourselves in others' shoes.
If we know to put ourselves in others' shoes then we'd know to be understanding towards one another.
If we can do this, there'll be harmony within the family.
We can then expand this harmony to our neighbors to our community, and to our society.
Wouldn't that be purifying people's hearts?
It is my hope that everyone can work to purify people's hearts and minds by ridding people of delusions and afflictions so that everyone is able to return to their pure, true nature of kindness, compassion and Great Love that is the same as the Buddha's
Can every one of you do that?
"Yes, we can"
That's right.
Not only are you able to do that you've already been involved in that.
See how Tzu Chi volunteers go amongst people be they living in the mountains or by the sea and how they go into the community to help people clean their houses or see if people need help with fixing their roof or cleaning up their surroundings.
See how they reach out to the elderly, the sick, or the physically impaired, etc., treating them like their own siblings.
Though they may not be able to stand on their own we take the initiative eto care for them.
In doing so, aren't we all opening up our hearts to embrace all suffering beings with Great Love?
Indeed, this requires that we open up our heart, which is usually so self-centered, so that we identify with the collective humanity and think of the greater human family and thus together care for our fellow man.
This is what charity work is all about.
Because of our kindness, we cannot bear to see others suffer so we will give rise to a heart of compassion.
After I'm done seeing patients on Saturday, my wife and I drive all night to be here.
One time, I asked her:
"We have to drive so far away"
"to come to
"Don't you feel tired?"
To my surprise, she said:
"Tzu Chi volunteers always talk about"
"gaining joy from giving. That's why we come"
Being on the giving end is always better than being on the receiving end.
That is why we often bear a heart of gratitude.
When we give of ourselves and have helped relieve the suffering of others,
we'd have inner peace.
We'd think, "I feel at peace now"
"Having helped them"
"so that their suffering is relieved,"
"I feel at peace"
This is how we gain a sense of inner peace and joy.
Everyone, (Tzu Chi's mission is to)
purify the hears of humanity (and we can do it with the efforts of)
each and every one of you.
So, we must believe that I can be done and when human hearts are pure.
It'll naturally bring peace and harmony to society.
If society can be in peace and harmony, there will naturally be fewer disasters or no disasters at all.
We must believe that and we must have greater wisdom.
But, we must believe in collective karma.
If everyone can create blessings, then we will accumulate greater blessings as a whole and form a strong force of blessings.
When everyone prays with sincere piety, our prayers will resonate to reach the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and all heavenly beings above.
When I was expounding the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, I spoke of how all things have deities.
There are deities of trees, rocks, water. wind, and fire.
They do exist.
So, throughout the universe there are deities guarding over different things.
So, the heavens are watching everything we do.
We should work more (o inspire goodness & piety)
This year, you have all been working hard to put up Jing Si Aphorisms in storefronts.
In May, you also held ceremonies to honor.
Buddha Day, Mother's Day, and Tzu Chi Day
In the so-called "Ghost Month", you also,
(helped change wrong, superstitious practices)
Didn't the events you put on create an atmosphere of peace and harmony?
Didn't everyone survive the month just fine?
Wasn't everyone very joyful about it?
More people stopped burning paper money and so, less carbon dioxide was emitted.
(If people have)
(greater wisdom and no more superstition),
There will be more peace and harmony in society.
Every one of you bodhisattvas, I truly need your help.
You all have wisdom and live within you.
Every one of us has the same nature as the Buddha's.
Not a bit less.
It's just that. as ordinary people, we are entangled in afflictions.
But, as we get rid of our afflictions bit by bit, our Buddha-nature will be revealed bit by bit.
As we get rid of our ignorance, we will gain wisdom.
Who can untie the rope of ignorance that binds us?
Yourself.
No one can help you but yourself.
So, we must seize every moment we have without letting any second slip by emptily and be diligent in getting rid of our greed, ignorance, etc.
This is what our Jing Si principles are about.
We need to pass on the Dharma to others.
Actually, I go to your home every day---
As long as you turn o the TV and turn in to Da Ai TV, you'll see me talking to you.
You must to be diligent in listening to the Dharma I teach and discipline yourself to cultivate spiritually.
We must furthermore have the mission.
(to walk the Bodhisattva Path in society)
We must take in and use the Dharma on ourselves and bring this Dharma into society.
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
無明繫縛蔽真如
四無量心映佛慧
傳法行道恆精勤
人生福報自在心
2008-11-07 20:41:08
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: The more we do, the more we gain--- in blessings and wisdom. So in doing less we lose out on much.
今日靜思語: 多做多得, 福慧雙修; 少做多失, 福慧雙休
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