人間菩提--溫暖與誠懇之愛
Genuine Love that Warms Quake Survivors' Hearts
We want to give the best quality rice to the villagers.
This time, Master particularly asked us to give them rice that is not over-polished.
Master said that we should give others things of good quality and be considerate as to their needs.
Since some villagers are elderly people, we want quilt covers that feel soft and not too rough.
Time truly passes by very quickly.
In May 2008, Sichuan province in China as well as Myanmar were devastated by disasters.
I’m sure this is still fresh in everyone’s mind.
So, since May, Tzu Chi has been carrying on a relief mission in these parts.
In Sichuan alone, for the first stage of our relief mission 18 aid teams from Taiwan took turns to carry out a relay of love.
After the first stage of the relief mission ended, our construction volunteer bodhisattvas continued to stay in Sichuan to construct temporary classrooms for the local children
They’ve stayed there for over six months now.
Besides the construction work, they also went with our volunteers to visit the quake survivors helped make up a roster of those who require aid and organized the goods to be distributed.
Our construction volunteers have been there for over six months now.
As our winter aid distributions are approaching, previously, they were busy purchasing relief goods.
There were many tasks involved.
If Tzu Chi volunteers’ love can inspire shop owners, then the shop owners will put their love into the relief goods which are to be distributed to villagers.
Such Great Love is what we hope to give to villagers.
See, the distribution goods were continuously pouring in, and there are so many kinds of them.
Just purchasing clothing was a lot of work.
How are our volunteers to allocate the goods?
They have to know the number of people in each village that require aid and their age and gender, and then they need to transport these goods which include food and things for their daily living to the local areas with the exact amount for everyone.
Some of our volunteers have arrived earlier to make preparations for the aid distributions.
Our two activity centers in Sichuan will soon open for use.
(and this year’s Year-end Blessings Ceremonies)
(will be held there)
So, the activity centers should look very stately and dignified.
Besides the building materials, we also needed to purchase chairs, tables, etc.
Do you know when the local volunteers went with our volunteer, Mr. Lin and our staff, Mr. Huang, to purchase chairs, though it was just chairs, they were still very particular about it.
(They gave thought to) what kind of chairs the elderly would find most sturdy and comfortable to sit in and also what would be the most comfortable position to sit in.
They wanted the chairs to be sturdy, of good quality & at a modest price.
Indeed, a local volunteer even said that it was an eye-opening experience
At first, I only though that we could definitely buy chairs here so we came here to take a look.
But I never thought there’d be so much to consider such as the elderly’s needs
(and whether the chair makes them feel separate)
(or connected with others)
The volunteers we went with were truly mindful and I really learned a lot.
She thought that purchasing would be very easy but it turned out there was a lot to it.
This morning, our volunteers who’ll be distributing aid in Sichuan left Taiwan.
This time, over 200 volunteers will be participating in the upcoming winter distributions in Sichuan.
Among them are local businessmen and volunteers from Taiwan as well as local volunteers amounting to over 200 people altogether.
It is clearly a very large group.
In addition to distributing material goods, they’ll also be holding groundbreaking ceremonies for the schools we’ll be constructing and opening ceremonies for the two activity centers we’ve built as well as the Year-End Blessing Ceremonies
I also saw a news report on Da Ai TV where a teacher said:
“Those who used to serve as”
“little Tzu Chi volunteers,”
“please raise your hands”
At least half the class raised their hands.
The teacher then asked these students to be little helpers and teach everyone in the class how to perform sign language.
I can’t wait to see you again because I haven’t seen you for a long time. The construction work for the activity centers is nearly finished so I hope I can serve as a volunteer again soon and that you can come to Luoshui soon.
They intend to do a sign language performance at the groundbreaking ceremony.
(to show their gratitude)and show our volunteers what they’ve learned.
See how caring these children are and how they bear in mind Tzu Chi’s spirit and persevere in upholding it and pass it on to others.
I’m also grateful to the local teachers for passing on the humanistic values of Tzu Chi’s Education Mission.
They instill these values in the local students and encourage them to practice them.
So, seeing how the local teachers and students attach so much importance to our humanistic values.
I truly feel much hope.
Following the earthquake disaster, we now see such rays of hope in Sichuan.
Their future is truly very bright and hopeful.
All in all, this is the first winter after the earthquake devastated Sichuan in May,
(and it’s been snowing in many parts of China)
The rich may do snow activities and enjoy themselves while the poor will have to endure the freezing cold weather as they don’t have (enough clothing to keep them warm)
So, we’re now bringing warmth to those in need by giving them clothing, blankets, food supplies, etc.(as well as holding Year-end Blessings Ceremonies)
(to give them our best wishes,) and guiding them to welcome in the new year.
(with a positive mindset of hope)
So, before Tzu Chi members in Taiwan left today for the winter relief distributions in China, yesterday, everyone met with me via videoconferencing, connecting four places.
I shared with tem that Tzu Chi first gave aid in China in 1991, are for the past 18 years, Tzu Chi volunteers have been caring for the people in China, continually, thus paving a path with their love.
So, I hope that those who are going this time can continue to pave this path through their love and also cherish this path that others have paved by taking each step mindfully along every inch of the path and further pave it for others to come.
That was what I shared with them yesterday.
I truly wish I could go to Sichuan, but I cannot
So, when they called me early this morning before they boarded the plane.
I told them:
“Please bring my heart with you
(“Everyone must remember what I said”)
“When interacting with every person”
“who comes to receive the supplies,”
“please give him or her your fullest love”
I also asked them to express to the local volunteers my gratitude and to the local authorities as well for the support they’ve given us.
And for all the volunteers who went there earlier to make preparations as well as those.(who had surveyed the locals’ needs)
(and made rosters of aid recipients---)
I have also asked our volunteers who left today to express to them my gratitude.
It is my hope that our volunteers can speak the words that I want to say and carry out the work with the same attitude that I would if I were there.
I also hope that everyone can truly love and care for one another in the team.
There are too many things to be grateful for.
After this group of Tzu Chi members arrive, beginning tomorrow and through the week, they’ll give out supplies attend the groundbreaking ceremonies of the schools we’ll be building for them and hold Year-end Blessings Ceremonies.
It is our sincere and earnest hope that the locals who are to receive our aid can have adequate clothing and food this winter.
That is what we earnestly hope for
9:23
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