人間菩提--勤儉固本耕福田
Learning the Way of Blessings & Wisdom in this New Year of the Ox
Today is the fifth day of the new lunar year.
So, there are 360 days left of the year.
In this new year, let us return to the fundamental values of life which are about leading a more grounded life by working hard and living frugally
(Only then can we attain the much-prayed-for)
(good and stable life of security)
However, we see how some people and very misguided---wanting to be “blessed,”
they pushed and shoved to be the first to place their incense in the burner.
If people can apply that kind of “diligence” to their life every day how good that would be.
If people could be this hardworking and diligent at work, I’m sure that there wouldn’t be an economic downturn like this.
(But everyone jostled to be the first to)
(put in their incense,)
(thinking that would give them blessings)
But, if we don’t work to sow blessings,
How could we possibly gain blessings?
It’s like if we don’t eat, how can our body be nourished?
When can this kind of superstitious belief be corrected?
People do this because they (have greed)
The Chinese characters for “greed” and “poverty” are a actually very similar in form.
With one stroke being moved from the top to the bottom of the upper half of the character, the word changes from “greed” to “poverty”
People shoved each other in the temple like that all because of their greed.
When people are greedy, they can never become rich because (greed makes us poor)
See how deluded people are in their views.
So, it is my hope that everyone will approach things with wisdom instead of misguidedly seeking wealth and good fortune in superstitious ways.
Instead, we must look within ourselves and see how we can give of our strength.
Only when we give of ourselves can we truly gain blessings.
We ought to explore and find out about the principles of life.
Look at how staff at our hospitals are (working during the CNY holidays) to safeguard people’s peace and safety and most importantly people’s health.
Take our hospitals in the rural areas of Guanshan and Yuli for example
Each day during the holidays, they treated over 100 patients who came to the ER.
These people had gone to their hometowns for the family reunion and injured themselves while having fun carelessly.
Others ate too much and had digestive conditions.
So, during the CNY holidays, Tzu Chi hospitals are never closed and there are still medical staff and volunteers taking turns to take care of people’s health.
We see how even the corridors of our hospital were filled with patients.
See how our doctors are busier than usual during the holidays.
Not only doctors, but nurses and the specialists in every dept. are all very busy.
As part of the medical team, our volunteers do not rest during the holidays either.
Some people think that going to the hospital during New Year’s is inauspicious, but our hospital volunteers.
(know that hospitals need more help)
(during the holidays, and so)
(they make time to volunteer in the hospital)
Not only are they not superstitious, but they further dedicate themselves to care for the sick in the hospitals out of great compassion and wisdom.
See, compared to those pushing and shoving in the temple---
If not for this group of volunteer bodhisattvas, when so many patients came to the ER to seek medical treatment who would’ve been there to care for them?
Our volunteers are truly living bodhisattvas who rise above superstition.
Such is compassion and wisdom.
Besides Hualien, our other hospitals in Taipei, Dalin, and Taichung are also doing the same.
The superintendents, asst. superintendents, went around to show their appreciation went around to show their appreciation to each of them medical staff who were on duty.
In the past, on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, I’d go to our hospital in Hualien to express my thanks to the medical staff.
However, in recent years, I have not been able to do so---
Now that we are encouraging people to reduce their carbon emissions, I have been telling Tzu Chi people they need not specially travel to Hualien for CNY, but can send their well-wishes via video conferencing.
So, every day during the New Year holidays.
There are Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide sending their greetings via video conferencing.
For example, yesterday, I received greetings from Singapore and Chicago, USA.
Chicago is 14 hours behind us.
It is very cold there.
Despite that, I saw a room full of volunteers from the Chicago area.
Everyone sincerely expressed how much they missed me and wished me a Happy New Year
It was all very touching to see.
There were also our US volunteers who live in Long Island, New York.
There were all very orderly and we can sense their unity.
From that, we know how our local chapter has grown.
A little girl represented everyone to sing the song “Our Vow” to me.
Precious is this karmic affinity with Tzu Chi.
The essence of the Jing Si Philosophy is the teaching of Innumerable Meanings.
Turing to Fuding in China---
This year, doctors from the Fuding Hospital gave a sign language performance
Our local Tzu Chi volunteers and students receiving our aid also performed onstage.
We, college students receiving aid form Tzu Chi, would like to wish Grand-master, Dharma maters of the Abode and Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide a Happy New Year,
Grand-master, Happy New Year.
We little bodhisattvas in Fuding with Grand-master a Happy New Year
It was truly very moving.
Among them were those whom we’ve aided in the past, and they are now also serving as our volunteers.
There were also those whom we’ve helped with tuition fees.
Tzu Chi’s Four Missions have all been carried out there.
Yesterday, when they offered CNY greetings to me via video conferencing, I was truly very moved.
So, Tzu Chi volunteers have spread seeds of love all around of the world.
I hope that every Tzu Chi chapter can carry out all four of Tzu Chi’s missions, and be very close to me in heart.
Yesterday, Tzu Chi volunteers in Pingdong also sent me New Year greetings via video conferencing.
At our cultural center in Taipei, entrepreneurs, journalists from a newspaper, and professors also gathered together (to send me New Year greetings)
Many thanks to them.
In all, we must truly face each day with wisdom.
Today is the 5th day of the new lunar year.
With it being the year of the ox, everyone must give rise to the persevering spirit of the ox in bringing forth endurance and forbearance.
In cultivating the field of blessings we must take each step firmly & steadfastly as an ox does.
In practicing spiritual cultivation, if everyone can have the spirit of endurance and forbearance like that of the ox.
I believe that the coming year will be one of auspiciousness and prosperity.
All in all, everyone must live each day with diligence and frugality and treat one another with courtesy and respect.
Living with these values. (will bring about peace & harmony in our society)
Therein lies both blessings and wisdom.
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