When Tzu Chi started 43 years ago, we had no resources at all.
So, we encouraged people to put a coin into a bamboo bank every day and told them that the money that everyone pooled together could help the poor.
By saving a little every day, people's daily living wouldn't be affected.
(So, many people were inspired and) put away 50 NT cents every day in the coin bank.
Because people continue to pool their love together like this, Tzu Chi has been able to carry out its relief work to this day in every part of the world.
Lately, we've often heard people talk about the global financial crisis or financial storm.
In truth, what's worse is the spiritual storm in people's minds.
Such a spiritual storm of greed, hatred, and delusion constantly rages in people's minds and that is indeed very worrying.
Over the last few years, we've seen many disasters occurring all around the world.
To rebuild places that have been devastated by disaster we must first help people recover spiritually.
Take
When wildfires occurred in
(While the material aid was helpful,)
(most important was the spiritual support)
The Tzu Chi volunteers were truly sincere and showed the people genuine respect
Before giving the aid, they comforted the people by speaking to them gently with love and warmly embracing them in their arms.
At the same time, our volunteers also told people the story about Tzu Chi and how it started 43 years ago in
Hearing that, a woman named Lisa was very touched.
So, she took home a coin bank with her.
Later, when she went grocery shopping, she told people in the store about the story of Tzu Chi's bamboo coin bank.
After listening to her, the store owner was very touched and made his contribution by putting coins in Lisa's coin bank.
Seeing that, several people there in the store followed suit
With that, Lisa became even more confident so she began to solicit donations from her friends and neighbors.
Everyone supported her and donated money.
So, she was full of confidence and joy.
The next day, she went back to our volunteers with a coin bank full of coins
Before she left, she took another coin bank.
The next day, she returned it full of coins again.
She continued to do this for several days.
With a heart full of love, she went around introducing Tzu Chi to people she knew hoping to inspire their love and pool everyone's contributions together no matter how tiny the amount was because even a penny was helpful.
What's even more touching was that when Lisa's daughter saw how Tzu Chi volunteers cared for those affected by the fire she also asked for a coin bank and brought it to her school.
So, both Lisa and her daughter collected donations for Tzu Chi very happily.
Truly, the love we give. Gives people a sense of self-respect
In the face of sudden disaster, we not only provide material supplies, but what's most important is we help them regain self-respect.
But self-respect shouldn't turn into arrogance instead, they should give rise to love for others
So, this is how Tzu Chi volunteers care for people all over the world---
Whatever their ethnicity or religious belief, we embrace all with the same spirit of Great Love.
(This is the "mindset of equality" in Buddhism)
In practicing kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, we treat all equally.
In truth, this can inspire live in those we aid.
For example, in
Apart from donating money the locals also donate their rice.
They put aside some rice every day and put it in a plastic jar or an urn
(to donate to hose in need in their village)
A farmer said that the rice they put aside each day could help those in their village who were worse off than him---
What wisdom he has
With Buddhism being the predominant religion in
After Tzu Chi volunteers went there, (they learned that they had to sow blessings)
(by benefiting others)
Behind the rice seeds that Tzu Chi volunteers gave them, lies their love and care.
(that will last into eternity to come)
Receiving such pure love from our volunteers, the locals in turn give of their love to others by donating money and rice to those in need.
So, one seed can give rise to innumerable seeds.
The rice seeds we gave them have flourished giving rise to golden fields of rice plants and an abundant and plentiful harvest.
Seeing that, I am truly very grateful.
This is an example showing that when there are favorable climate and land conditions and moreover, harmony between people, people's lives can be restored.
However, recently, we have been hearing people talk about how they will make use of
the shopping vouchers what
Yesterday, I saw a news report on Da Ai TV about students from Taichung Elementary (talking about how they'll use the money)
Their teacher asked them to write about what they would do with their shopping vouchers what they would do with their shopping vouchers.
One student very wisely said:
I saw on the news that many charity organizations and orphanages now receive less donations than before because the economy has been slow lately.
So, I want to donate the voucher to them.
Then, you''ll have no voucher to use.
I talked to my sister and she'll share her voucher with me.
See, such is wisdom.
How exactly should we use our shopping vouchers?
We should return to an industrious and frugal lifestyle and work hard to cultivate the field of our mind.
(by eliminating greed from mind)
To do that, we must only buy things that we need in our daily life rather than things that we want.
(When we keep having wants)
(our greed and craving will grow)
Everyone, we truly must uphold the spirit of Tzu Chi's humble beginnings.
Many donors now say:
"The economy is doing badly now,"
"so I'd like to stop donating for the time being"
There are many people like that.
If we can inspire them to continue their acts of love then their Bodhi seed within won't wither and their Bodhi mind will be nurtured and continue to grow.
(and the donations accrued can help others)
Wouldn't it be better if this can happen?
So, the present circumstances provide a good opportunity to educate them on this concept.
We must give of our love and when every small donation is pooled together.
Those in need can be helped.
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
心靈風暴導禍端
竹筒歲月歸真淳
聚沙成塔不可輕
智慧布施富法財
回顧過去一年間，世間苦難偏多、天災人禍不斷，慈濟人不管是美國南加州野火或是遭受風災的緬甸，都在他們最艱困的時候伸出援手，真誠的關懷與膚慰，也帶動他們效法慈濟竹筒精神，從手心向上變成手心向下，心存感恩、發心回饋。期盼大家能一起響應竹筒歲月精神，善的力量繼續延續，傳承擴大，幫助天下每一個受苦難的蒼生。
美國南加州野火中受災的麗莎母女，因為慈濟人在她們最艱困的時候伸出援手，真誠的關懷與膚慰，感動更帶動母女倆響應竹筒歲月。一次次向志工領竹筒，一次次帶竹筒回娘家，滿滿的零錢和鈔票，代表的是滿滿愛心。
證嚴上人開示：「我們給的不只是及時應急的物資，最重要是修復他的自尊，但是自尊不是傲慢，是要發揮愛心，所以這都是我們慈濟人在全球國際間所付出的。」
愛的種子在各地萌芽，愛的行動沒有種族的差別。遭受風災侵襲的緬甸在接受慈濟幫助後，心存感恩，也發心要回饋；效法竹筒精神，一把米、一毛錢，點滴累計，是奉獻。
證嚴上人開示：「這樣的從積少成多能救人，不管是在災難中啟開心門，或者是從土地受災之後，我們給予這樣的種子，人人靠自己的勞力，都會粒粒米都很飽滿。」
滴水成河，粒米成籮。期盼大家一起響應竹筒歲月精神，善的力量繼續延續，傳承擴大，幫助天下每一個受苦難的蒼生。
2008/12/10
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: The key to doing good is not the amount done but doing whatever should be done.
今日靜思語: 做好事, 不在於做多少, 只要應該做的,就要去做
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