As long as everyone gives rise to love, there'll be seeds of kindness all around the world. That is the goal of our missions.
At present, an issue that concerns everyone is the global financial crisis.
Some call it the financial storm.
Indeed, many storms that occur around the world are a result of the imbalance of the Four Elements.
When the Four Elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are imbalanced, natural disasters will happen.
When balance & harmony is lost in the human mind, it will lead to chaos and turmoil in society.
That's why I often share with everyone that global warming results from the imbalance of the Four Elements, and the financial storm originates from a similar "lack of balance" in people's minds.
What causes this "lack of balance"?
People's greed, hatred, and ignorance (When people do not know to be content,)
They keep wanting more. A truly rich person isn't one who knows how to make money but one who knows how o spend money wisely.
These are truly rich people (who lead a spiritually rich life)
Those who have money, but don't know to give and don't use the money in a meaningful way by donating it to benefit others will always be poor spiritually.
We see a grandma teaching her granddaughter.
(how to make good use of old clothes)
Her family is actually well-off, but their wealth comes from leading a diligent and frugal life.
She is able to alter an adult dress into a small dress to fit a child, to make short-sleeved clothes into long-sleeved ones and to patch up pants artfully so that these altered clothes can fit her grandchildren nicely.
See how a set of clothes can be altered to fit several generations.
The children are also very happy to wear them.
Some say that secondhand clothes don't look good, so they don't like to wear old clothes.
But I think wearing secondhand clothes is good because though they are not brand-new..
They are donated by many loving people so wearing them makes me feel very blessed and very special.
Actually, it warms my heart a lot.
My favorite secondhand clothes are those tailored by my grandma as they're so unique.
You can't find them in shops.
They are made with Grandma's loving care.
Likewise, they are also very happy to wear the clothes collected from our recycling stations because the grandma said that these clothes actually come from many people's love.
They are clothes that contain many blessings.
See, in wearing clothes recycled with such love.
They're truly very blessed.
When people cherish their blessings they are purifying their hearts and minds.
In knowing to cherish their blessing they'll be more frugal.
They can save money they would've otherwise spent on new clothes and donate a portion of the money to charity.
When many people do this, we'd be able to provide the hungry those who have no clothing to wear and those who are disaster-stricken with clothing to wear.
So, when we feel like buying new clothes (we can suppress the desire) and instead donate a portion of that money to charity.
That why, we'd be spending less and donating more and be able to help those living in poverty.
Take a look at the disasters in
In the immediate aftermath of these devastating natural disasters (Tzu Chi members mobilized to bring aid)
They witnessed the impermanence of life can came to realize where the value of life lies.
They gave of themselves to care for the locals out of their own accord.
They took this opportunity to sow blessings and were very grateful for it.
So, when I called upon Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide to help the disaster survivors everyone responded quickly and contributed their money and efforts.
The donations we solicit have specific uses (such as building schools,)
(permanent housing, etc,) that will stand for centuries to come, thereby leaving a legacy of love for all of time.
This is using our wisdom and blessings.
By doing so, we're cultivating both blessings and wisdom.
A few days ago, Mr. Huang, our volunteer in the
"Master, the wildfires in
"are now under control"
"We pretty much know"
"what we need to do to help the fire victims"
"Now we're thinking about going to
"to see how we can help the people there"
I asked, "How far is
He said, "Not very far"
"It's only a few hours by plane from the
"plus a transfer"
I said, "Then it sounds quite far"
He said, "We know Master is worried about"
"the people in that country"
"as some people only eat mud cookies to survive"
"So, we're anxious to go there to"
"understand their needs"
After our volunteers went to
we know there's one more country in need of our care as some people there can only afford to eat mud cookies.
With the current economic downturn, we must realize that wealth comes from frugalness.
At a time like this, everyone in the family must realize that the economy is doing poorly and so we must (guard our minds against desire and craving)
And learn to live more frugally.
We can use this opportunity to teach our children to cherish what they have and count their blessings.
This is a very good opportunity to educate our young.
(If we try to stimulate the economy at this time)
(by promoting consumerism and giving people)
(money so they can spend it,)
They may well spend over the limit.
(and end up with an even bigger financial strain)
What our society actually needs now is to learn how to temper down our mentality of consumption.
Only then will there start to be fewer people developing depression and other similar emotional disorders.
If people keep spending money will it really bring better fortune?
I'm actually quite worried.
If the money the government plans to give out as shopping vouchers to each citizen can be focused on helping the poor……
People like you & I don't really need the voucher as we can still get by without it.
But if this money were to be used to help people who are in need then it would be very good.
Look at the people in
(They are so poor that they eat mud cookies)
In this world, there are people living like this.
So we truly must reflect upon how we lead our life and not live so misguidedly anymore.
We see in the news that due to the slow economy, even the Queen of England is recycling her old outfits.
So, we should learn from the Queen of England and not buy more new clothes but just wear the clothes that we already have.
All in all, we must choose good examples to follow.
Only then will our society have peace and harmony and every family be wealthy.
Changing our mentality and tendencies is the real solution that gets at the root---
We must address the root of the problem.
Otherwise, (it's just like using antibiotics to control)
(symptoms without treating the underlying cause)
(This can sometimes harm our health)
Such a practice can, in the same way make things even worse for our society & country.
All in all, it's our mentality that needs to be changed.
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
舉世不調起風暴
小富由儉守自心
環保回收福報衣
清平生活度危機
在景氣低迷的時刻，許多人為了節省開銷，拿出舊衣物稍作修改後，拿來舊衣新穿，不僅延續物命，也是節約惜福。證嚴上人在今天志工早會中期許大家，在大環境不景氣的時刻，人人應該守住自己的心，要懂得勤儉與知福惜福。
小女孩身上所穿的服飾，原本是環保站回收的二手衣，但經過阿嬤的巧思改造後，退流行的衣服也變得很有時尚感；這麼做，不只達到節約惜福，也能減少買新衣服的開銷，而省下來的錢還可以轉為慈善捐助，讓受寒受凍的人，擁有一件禦寒的衣服穿。
舊衣新穿，讓二手衣擁有全新的價值。而在花蓮環保站的惜福屋裡，慈大學生跟著志工，親手整理成堆的二手衣物，再依質料、樣式新舊逐一分類。雖然是二手衣，但偶爾還會發現未拆封的新品，或是名牌貨，同學看了，實在不捨。
開啟善門、啟發悲心，期盼人人減低欲望，就可以節省許多物資，造福更多人。
2008-11-20 20:48:44
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Only by working together with one heart do we have the greatest strength.
今日靜思語:人人合心.協力,才能發揮最大的力量
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