人間菩提--以慈運悲‧以智導慧
Loving-kindness, Compassion, Wisdom in the Time of Chinese New Year
I often say there’s much suffering in the world.
But on major festivals such as the Chinese New Year the poor feel their wretchedness even more acutely.
The sense of despair and anguish is even greater.
So, Tzu Chi volunteers strive to be there for these people in suffering.
This is loving-kindness
(I often speak of loving-kindness and compassion)
Loving-kindness is to offer care to people so that there’s someone they can turn to so they can be warmed knowing they are not alone.
What about compassion?
Compassion is to fulfill people’s needs so that they do not feel they are lacking in anything.
Tzu Chi volunteers embrace all people and while they might feel they are lacking something either materially or spiritually.
Tzu Chi volunteers enable them to feel satisfied.
This is what compassion is about
But, enabling people to feel that they lack nothing neither materially or psychologically is indeed hard to accomplish.
But Tzu Chi volunteers will try their best.
Because of their loving-kindness, they will be inspired to acts of compassion.
They cannot bear for people to suffer.
So, their loving-kindness inspires their compassion (and propels them into action)
For instance, in Malaysia, local Tzu chi volunteers apply their wisdom to bring their love to others.
(A few days before the Chinese New Year)
Tzu Chi volunteers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia went out into the streets to offer care to the homeless.
Every year, when Chinese New Year comes, ethnic Chinese will return to their hometowns to reunite with their families so the city becomes especially empty of people.
The place feels empty and forsaken.
For the homeless out on the streets, they feel even more alone and forlorn.
Even though Malaysia has a warmer climate and we can see from what people are wearing that it’s not too cold there out on the streets, but still, in their hearts, they feel abandoned.
When these homeless people saw our volunteers……
On Jan. 24, the day before Chinese New Year’s Eve, Tzu Chi people set out at 9 p.m.
The group of Tzu Chi people included staff of our foundation’s social welfare dept., our volunteers as well as doctors.
They delivered hot food as well as daily supplies.
Doctors also were on hand with their medical kits.
Tzu Chi people treated the homeless with great respect.
The first gently awakened them and then chatted with them.
Only when the homeless felt comfortable accepting goods from them did they offer them the supplies.
So, just to give the supplies, Tzu Chi people first spent time establishing rapport with them.
This is wisdom.
They don’t want to injure the people’s pride
After establishing rapport, they then asked about their health.
I think there’s something wrong with the inner part of your eye.
You ought to see a specialist.
I can’t see, but I don’t have any money.
Look at such a heartwarming scene
Tzu Chi people brought clothing, medicine an daily supplies and also delivered hot food so that they can enjoy he warmth of the Chinese New Year festival.
In this, we really see the Four Immeasurables. Loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.
This is Great Love and selfless compassion.
Tzu Chi people truly are walking the path of Great Love everywhere in the world.
Because such care for the homeless, the local social services agency would also refer those in need to Tzu Chi
For example, last December (a grandma was referred to Tzu Chi)
She has breast cancer and the doctor has pronounced that she has only three months left to live.
Learning that, Tzu Chi volunteers decided to care for her and bring her comfort at the last stage of her life.
So, Tzu Chi volunteers first went to help clean up her place so that she can have a comfortable environment to live in.
On her birthday, Tzu Chi volunteers invited her neighbors to celebrate her birthday with her.
On the Chinese New Year’s Eve, Tzu Chi volunteers also prepared a hot pot and had the reunion meal with her.
The grandma was very touched.
She said that in her 64 years of life, she has never had a reunion meal and didn’t know how CNY is celebrated because ever since her childhood, she has had a hard life.
Her parents gave her away to another couple.
Her parents gave her away to another couple and her adoptive parents didn’t treat her warmly.
So, her entire life has been very hard and full of suffering.
I come over to see her once every couple of days because I’m worried that something might happen to her.
She is very kind-hearted.
She often looks after y kids for me and even buys them gifts.
Fortunately, her neighbors would check on her once every 2 or 3 days and now, there are Tzu Chi volunteers caring for her and they guide her to donate a little every day so she can sow blessings at this last stage of her life.
Yesterday, (via video conferencing)
I saw our volunteers in Malaysia.
For the past two days, our staff and volunteer bodhisattvas in Malaysia gathered at the local Jing Si Hall.
(for the Lotus Sutra bowing practice)
Yesterday, there were around 1,000 people there engaging in the Lotus Sutra bowing ceremony.
Seeing such a large group of Tzu Chi members and seeing such unity and order, I was very touched.
Yesterday, our Tzu Chi volunteers from the U.S. and an official from the Embassy of the Republic of China to Haiti came to Taiwan to see me.
They’ve come to see me to ask about how to help the people of Haiti.
See, although the U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers live so far away from me, the compassion and Great Love that they have is very close to mine.
Haiti is quite far away from the U.S.
Yet they are wiling to travel such a far distance to help the people in Haiti.
Thus, I’m very grateful to all our Tzu Chi volunteers.
At the time of the Chinese New Year, they go out to bring warmth and love.
(no matter what country they are in)
What they’ve done is very touching.
I hope that everyone can tune into Da Ai News.
(Even when volunteering at the hospital,) if you have the time, I hope you can (catch the Da Ai News at noon or in the evening)
(Through the news,) though we’re in Taiwan we’re able to see what’s going on around the world.
How are other volunteers helping us to spread compassion and Great Love?
As Taiwan is Tzu Chi’s birthplace, Tzu Chi volunteers in Taiwan should all know this.
There are so many things to say, but not enough time to do so.
In all, I’m very grateful to everyone.
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