Dharma: 971111人間菩提英文版The Wonders that Recycling Can Do

The Wonders that Recycling Can Do每日播出內容｜ 300K 300K ｜ 56K
人間菩提--環保之妙用

A group of Tzu Chi members have been devoted to researching how we can make use of the recyclables we collect by restoring them to their original state and then making them into things useful for our daily life.

To this day, our recycling works still continues.

(and our volunteers continue to)

(connect recyclables diligently every day)

However, lately when they brought the recyclables to dealers in recyclables, the dealers told them that due to the recent economic downturn.

They have too many recyclables piled up already

(as the price recyclables sell for has dropped) and sales of recyclables have not been good.

So, they declined to take our recyclables.

Around a week or so before left Hualien, our recycling volunteer from Taichung came to the Abode and told me about the problems they encountered lately.

One of them told me that the money from selling a truckload of recyclables nowadays is not even enough to pay for the gas.

If that is the case in Taichung, I'm sure.

It's the same in other parts of Taiwan because of the current economic downturn.

Nearly 20 years ago when I was giving a speech in Taichung

(and the audience were applauding,)

I used that opportunity to encourage them to use the hands they applauded with to do recycling.

At the time, all I hoped was that their city could become cleaner with less garbage and that paper as well as other recyclables could be recycled and reused.

That was all I hoped for at the time.

So, that was why I first encouraged people in Taichung to collect paper, plastic bags, etc.

So that when it rained the gutters wouldn't be blocked by the plastic bags and the paper could be recycled and reused.

At the time, I didn't think about how much we could earn by selling the recyclables we collected.

I didn't think about that at all.

But I'm very grateful.

Thanks to advancements in modern technology.

We've been able to find more and more ways.

(to make use of recyclables)

Not only have we been able to recycle paper and plastics, but through our research, we've also been able to make new products from plastics.

Furthermore, we also recycle metals such as iron, copper, etc which can be sold at a fair price.

Seeing that they could be recycled and sold at a fair price.

I proposed to everyone that the proceeds could go towards the funding of Da Ai TV that was about to be set up.

I said: "Why don't we use the proceeds from selling"

"the recyclables to support Da Ai TV?"

The price of selling recyclables was relatively good compared to now, and that's why

I said that we could "turn trash into gold" and use the money to support Dai Ai TV in

producing wholesome programs that are broadcast around the world.

Everyone, people in many parts of the world can now watch Da Ai TV programs and the wholesome programs on Da Ai TV have indeed benefited many families and transformed the lives of many.

So, I'm truly very grateful that we have Da Ai TV.

Da Ai TV is truly a result of the efforts and dedication of our recycling bodhisattvas who have worked so hard at recycling.

I'm also very grateful that over the past 20 years because of the recycling work we do.

Our recycling stations have been turned into a spiritual cultivation ground as

(many people have changed as a result of doing it)

Sometimes, on our program "Guardians of the Land,"

We'd see examples of volunteers who, despite being ill, would forget about their pain while doing recycling and even become healthier and find happiness again.

There are many such examples.

At the time, it never occurred to me that taking up recycling could accomplish so much.

Not only can recycling support Da Ai TV in producing wholesome programs.

It also reduces my financial burden of having to support the operation of Da Ai TV.

That was truly beyond my expectation.

Although the prices of the recyclables we collect are much lower now, it's alright.

We can treat the recycling work as spiritual cultivation.

And moreover, just think many of our recycling stations now also serve as classrooms for environmental protection.

Even kindergarteners are brought to our recycling stations to learn about cherishing resources so that they would know from a young age that we mustn't be wasteful.

Students from primary school up to college are all brought there, and our volunteers skillfully adjust their presentation to their audience.

So, I feel that we mustn't stop the work we do but should instead work harder to do a better job.

For a few years now, the thermal blankets that we distribute to those in need are products we ourselves made---

Our thermal blankets are all made from the PET bottles that our recycling volunteers collect.

They remove the cap of each bottle cut off the ring on the bottle neck and wash and clean each bottle thoroughly.

Even the labels are carefully removed from the bottles.

Because the bottles are so well cleaned they make quality blankets.

As of now, we have already made close to 300,000 thermal blankets and these blankets have been distributed to people in the U.S., South Africa the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.

Just think, (all of you have already helped so many countries)

(that had suffered disasters)

Wherever disasters strike the thermal blankets that are made from the PET bottles all of you collected would be distributed to people in need immediately.

So, you've already formed good affinities with all those disaster victims or poor people.

(So, despite its decreased monetary value,) we should still continue to collect and sort PET bottles as before.

But what I would like to request is for the bottles to be sorted into more detailed color categories.

And, our recycling stations can always

(serve as gathering places for the elderly)

It gives the elderly a warm, friendly place that they can go to early in the morning where they have company and can share stories with one another.

The younger volunteers can listen to the stories told by the elderly while sorting the bottles into different colors.

If we can start sorting the bottles by color, we will not need to use dye to color the blankets.

Without using dye, we will not pollute the Earth.

Resources also will not be wasted as they can be made into blankets.

Everyone, by doing recycling, we are caring for our future generations and for this land that we live on.

This is especially the case given that you do such a good job of the recycling.

So, we mustn't worry about how much the recyclables sell can for or how a truckload of recyclables won't even cover the cost of gas.

As the volunteer in Taichung said:

"It's very dispiriting"

I told him, "Please don't give up, and"

"we need even more people to join in this work"

If more and more people are no longer willing to collect recyclables are no longer willing to collect recyclables.

Taiwan will soon be covered with garbage.

If we Tzu Chi volunteers haven't been doing this, wouldn't there be garbage everywhere now, and wouldn't the gutters clog whenever it rains?

Do we really wish to see all the roads become flooded whenever it rains?

We mustn't let it happen.

The more garbage there is clogging the gutters the more drainage problems we'll have.

So, garbage alone can create many major problems.

Although the recyclables we collect are worth very little money now.

(it gives everyone the chance to do good) and is a product of everyone's love.

Favorable weather and peace and prosperity.

(come about when human hearts are good)

So, our recycling station is truly a cultivation ground that gives us a healthy body and mind brings joy to our hearts, and inspires love within us.

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2008-11-11 20:34:34