人間菩提--以愛平息災難
Giving of Love to Bring about a World Free of Disasters
There truly have been many disasters happening around the world.
Yesterday, I learned that several places in Malaysia have been affected by floods.
Likewise, Fiji also suffered from its worst flooding in recent history.
Days of torrential rain have resulted in several casualties and injuries and around 10,000 Fijians have been evacuated.
The local government has declared a state of emergency in the worst-hit areas.
However, there are also things to be grateful for
Our volunteers have already arrived in Haiti to prepare for the oncoming aid distribution.
We see that Mr. Chang’s employees have all mobilized to join or volunteers (in the preparatory work)
They didn’t stop to rest even when they were already drenched in sweat from working.
According to Mr.Chang, this was originally supposed to be overtime but who’d have known that everyone would join in so willingly.
Mr. Chang almost couldn’t believe it.
So, I’m truly grateful to them for dedicating themselves so willingly out of love.
Indeed, only when people give love and care can everything in the world be in balance.
Otherwise, the Four Elements would be imbalanced.
When the Four Elements are imbalanced, (there’d be disasters and trouble would)
(break out among people)
See how such imbalance has led to so many natural and manmade disasters around the world.
Moreover, the spiritual unrest in people’s minds has created the global financial crisis.
This spiritual unrest was brought on by the greed in people’s minds.
This insatiable greed is what has led to the financial crisis of today.
But, as long as we treat all equally with the spirit of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, we’d be able to give of our love, and help to bring balance and harmony to the minds of the suffering and further inspire them to give too.
Take a look at the local volunteers in Haiti
They gave of themselves so joyfully working all day to the point where their shirts were all drenched in sweat.
They also shared their feelings with us---
When asked why they were giving of themselves so willingly, they said:
“Tzu Chi volunteers came all the way here”
“to help our fellow people, so”
“we are very happy and willing to help as well”
See, everyone can be inspired to help others.
As long as we give them a wholesome environment, be honest, trustworthy, sincere, and upright and give of ourselves sincere and give of ourselves sincerely with respect and love from the bottom of our hearts.
I am sure that the unrest in people’s minds can also be balanced and tamed.
It’s not an impossible thing.
It’s just that nowadays most people’s minds are covered with ignorance and delusions and so they are not able to open up their hearts to give of their love and bring out the kindness that is inherent to human nature.
When people’s loving-kindness is inspired so that they know to benefit others, society and people would be in peace and safety.
But truly, most people still think that doing good is one thing while having fun is another.
So, despite the fact that they’re doing good, they spend most of their time having fun.
Given that, I’d be a surprise.
If an economic downturn didn’t come about.
This is because people give rise to greed and seek to indulge themselves.
This truly isn’t good.
The time they spend having fun could be used to benefit those in need instead.
If they saved up the money from taking vacations, the money could help many families in need.
In the footage, we see that in Japan a large group of Tzu Chi volunteers braved the cold winter to cook and serve hot miso soup for the homeless in Hibiya Part in Tokyo.
Why is it that this group of people came to be homeless?
Why did they become unemployed?
I heard many of their stories, and they’re all very repentant now.
When the economy was good, they aimed very high and were very picky about the jobs they took on.
So, they kept changing jobs and this carried on until one day they really couldn’t find a job and ended up homeless on the streets.
That’s the story behind some people.
There are also those who were laid off because they didn’t work hard enough
In all, there are many stories.
(behind the plight of these people)
Among this group of homeless people, most are repentant and regret having been the way they were.
They used to be too arrogant.
(and weren’t satisfied with what they had) so now, in the cold winter.
They have to suffer such hunger.
(It’s truly too late to turn back)
But Tzu Chi volunteers show such kindness and compassion---
They not only gave them steaming hot food, but also hope that they can have self-respect.
So, because the toilets in the park are very dirty.
Tzu Chi volunteers helped to clean it for them as a way of teaching by way of example.
So, they were very moved from the bottom of their hearts.
They were not only moved but also repentant.
Seeing that, Tzu Chi volunteers began to share with them that when they have a job.
(they must cherish it and work diligently) no matter how hard the work is
Our volunteers further told them about Tzu Chi’s spirit of diligence, frugality, and persevering in the face of hardship.
Most of them were receptive to this message.
As I often say, when the Four Elements are imbalanced, there’d be natural disasters.
When people’s minds are in disharmony, there’d be manmade disasters.
When people give rise to greed it’d lead to the financial crisis facing us now.
When the gap between the rich and the poor widens, the economy would be affected eventually.
So, we must treat all equally with kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity and help to bring balance and harmony to people’s minds, especially at a time like this.
To do that, we must give of our love.
Only love can achieve that.
See how the large group of Tzu Chi volunteers work in concerted efforts.
Isn’t it very beautiful?
For a large group to work in such concerted efforts, everyone’s body and mind must be in balance.
When everyone’s body and mind are in balance, I am sure that the Four Elements would be in equilibrium as well.
Whether the difficulties we face can be overcome all depends on the state of people’s minds.
If people’s minds are peaceful and harmonious, and they care for people equally with compassion many more people could be inspired to give of their love and thereby help to bring about a world free of disasters.
So, be it natural or manmade disasters or the financial crisis affecting us what’s most important now is for everyone to calm and pacify their minds.
(and lead a simpler lifestyle)
(by being more diligent and frugal)
If everyone can be like this, (they would still be able to get by)
All in all, how to bring balance and harmony to the body and mind
(of people we serve in every part of the world) is a very important task.
So, we must seize time to carry it out.
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