人間菩提--三施並行度群生
Simultaneously Carrying Out the Three Forms of Giving
“To all the Dharma masters of the Jing Si Abode”
“and Tzu Chi volunteers around the world:”
“May you have a happy and auspicious year”
“Volunteers form Modesto, USA”
“with Master and Abode’s Dharma masters”
“a Happy Chinese New Year”
“Happy Chinese New Year”
“We wish Master good health”
“Happy Chinese New Year”
Best wishes to Master.
There are Tzu Chi volunteers all around the world.
Thanks to modern technology.
(we’re able o connect to one another) via video conferencing.
Since the first day of the CNY (Jan 26) our volunteers have been giving me Chinese New Year greetings.
For our overseas volunteers, through video conferencing, they are able to see me just as though they’re here at the Abode and it’s just as if I’ve gone to visit them where they are.
For example, yesterday I connected with people in China’s Sichuan Province.
Thank you, Master for your loving-kindness and compassion in caring about us quake survivors in Sichuan and helping us rebuild our homes.
We promise to serve as bodhisattvas who light the way for others.
They wished me a Happy Chinese New Year.
Among them was a local official as well as three principals of a local school, our local Tzu Chi volunteers from the city of Chengdu, and or volunteers from Taiwan.
(It was truly a big reunion for the CNY)
Everyone was very happy to see one another
There was joy and harmony all around
Indeed, isn’t the world one big family?
At Sichuan’s Luoshui township we held a reunion meal at the Tzu Chi activity center.
Our Tzu Chi volunteers including those from Taiwan, went to Sichuan to be with quake survivors on this first Chinese New Year after the quake.
I’m also very grateful to many locals for helping to cook the reunion meal, cleaning up the place, and other work.
We can feel that in Sichuan, there is a big family there, and everyone is reuniting with great joy.
Besides Sichuan, we also see the city of Fuding in Fujina Province.
Local Tzu Chi volunteers in Fuding carry out all four Tzu Chi missions of Charity, Medicine. Education, and Culture, just as we do in Taiwan.
We see that they also serve as volunteers in the hospital and have gone throughout the hospital to express thanks to the medical personnel because the medical team are a great support to us in our charity work.
(They provide treatment to those under our care) enabling the people to get comprehensive care.
Right before the Chinese New Year a fire broke out in a village up in the mountains of Fuding City.
Upon learning of the fire, Tzu Chi people immediately went there to survey needs and prepared the needed supplies.
The supplies they gave were all necessities for daily life.
Many supplies were given so the people could have a good Chinese New Year.
Look at the way they cared for the people.
It was such heartwarming care.
These are all local volunteers
See, haven’t the seeds we planted with love already taken root locally?
These bodhi seeds planted there in that land have already grown into big trees.
We also see our volunteer, Lin Zhi. She is only in her thirties.
Four years ago, feeling unwell, she went to see a doctor, and was diagnosed with cancer in a late stage.
She encountered Tzu Chi sometime after that and began to bring life’s value into full play.
At that time, I thought that I was really unfortunate to have such a serious illness.
I had thought it was really a bad thing.
But, now that I think about it, I feel that I am quite fortunate.
I’m fortunate to have this illness because it enabled me to come to know Tzu Chi.
(Though she had cancer) which the doctors said was in the terminal stage, she still participated in Tzu Chi’s volunteer work.
Despite her physical condition, spiritually, she was always at peace and carefree and determined to live out the value of life.
Let us all sincerely pray for her and give her our best wishes.
I hope that with such a spirit as hers, (she can prevail against the cancer)
She is truly a remarkable person and I ‘m grateful for her contributions.
(She helps people to find courage)
This is called “the giving of fearlessness”
Tzu Chi people are very giving. (Firstly,) they give material aid.
We can see that many people in the world are impoverished.
Last night, I heard Dr.Ye speak about the recent aid mission to Guizhou, China and to Hebei, China.
He shared his experiences on the aid mission along with our volunteer. Mr. Gao.
Mr. Gao showed pictures of Guizhou to let us see how the local people’s lives have changed after having received.
Tzu Chi’s aid over the past decade or so.
See, this is the giving of material aid.
We gave people winter jackets, blankets, and built a residential community for them so they could come out of poverty.
These projects came to fruition through time and they represent material aid.
But the most important thing given is the giving of Dharma through sharing with them Tzu Chi’s principles and guiding them to understand important life values and the way we should live.
Without patience and love, Tzu Chi people slowly guided these people to learn how to live out a life full of beauty and meaning and guided them to know the selflessness the Buddha teaches and Tzu Chi people’s spirit of Great Love where one’s heart is so broad that it embraces the universe so there are no divisions of nationality or divisions of race and ethnicity.
Such a broad, all-embracing heart such Great Love that Tzu Chi people have is being carried out in countries around the world and with this spirit, Tzu Chi people
There is also another form of giving---the giving of fearlessness.
When people are suffering due to external circumstances be it because of hardship or disasters, Tzu Chi people will give people support.
They comfort them and soothe them, saying:
“Don’t be afraid. Come with me”
So, step by step, they lead people out of (their state of fear and helplessness)
They also guide people spiritually by sharing with them life’s meaning and encouraging them to face life’s challenges with courage.
“You may be helped by others, but you can also”
“help yourself and even help others, too”
Tzu Chi members are there for people and guide them and support them both physically and psychologically.
They do all three forms of giving---giving of material things, giving of Dharma and the giving of fearlessness.
Together, this is “great giving”
Such great giving is the first of the Six Paramitas, a method to guide people to of suffering.
Tzu Chi members practice the Six Paramitas and go into the community, employing various methods to gradually guide people to (a better life)
There are truly many cases of this.
We have spread the seeds of love around the world.
As long as there is land, our seeds can be sown. As we can see the Jing Si Dharma lineage and Tzu Chi path is about going into the world to uplift people both materially and spiritually.
I’m very grateful.
There are too many thanks to express.
Every day, Tzu Chi members are giving of themselves all across the world.
I am truly very grateful.
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