We see that in
A petrol tanker overturned along a highway spilling gallons of gas
The locals there are poor so when they learned that fuel had spilt from the tanker, hundreds of them rushed to scoop up the fuel
So, a huge flock of people pushed and shoved just to collect as much fuel as they could
(When the police saw crowds of people)
(trying to collect the fuel,)
(they tried to keep them away from the tanker)
It was at this time for reasons unclear that the tanker caught fire and exploded
More than 110 people were killed while more than 200 were injured
Just think, in an instant, so many people were killed or injured
Indeed, because of extreme poverty,
(people were pushed into doing desperate things)
(just to try to get through one more day)
It truly is very heartrending to see
This morning, I saw on the news that places like
Because of slippery road conditions, there have also been many cases of car accidents and power outages.
These are disasters caused by snow
These countries are often hailed as heaven on earth
People there enjoy very good welfare benefits.
However, the Buddha says that it is difficult to learn the Dharma in heaven as well as in hell, so it is very difficult to reach enlightenment either in heaven or hell
This is because the beings in heaven have too good a life so they know nothing of life's suffering
As for those in hell, their suffering is already more than they can cope with
So, how could they have the time and energy to listen to the Dharma or to do good and walk the Bodhisattva Path?
It's hard.
Nevertheless, the Buddha also tells us that everything results from the mind
In this world, all is created by the mind alone
Take
They met and got married in
Together, Mr. and Mrs. Lin run an eatery in
But while they were able to enjoy a very good quality of life in this country, they've always felt that something was missing
Being so far away from
In 2000, a customer who came to dine at their eatery told him:
"If you install a satellite dish,"
"you'll be able to watch a Chinese channel"
So, in 2000, they installed a satellite dish and saw Da Ai TV
From Da Ai TV, they not only could learn news about
(that can purify people's hearts and minds, and)
(learn ways to apply the teachings to this world)
So, from then on, they were inspired and resolved to spread seeds of love in
They hope that in a place like
Just think how large
It is about 12 times the size of
(Given its low population density) the people there must truly enjoy a very comfortable and spacious living environment
Because of that, inspiring people there to give rise to altruistic love is more difficult
Despite that, having vowed to do Tzu Chi's work, Mrs. Lin is resolved to overcome all obstacles she encounters
She truly has taken the Dharma to heart and is resolved to overcome any difficulties while working on this vast piece of land to spread seeds of love
Every time she goes out to collect donations, she'll visit over 40 donating members
How far does she travel each time?
Over 1,000 kilometers
It's hard to imagine
Think about it, could you do that?
She has to travel over 1,000 kilometers to collect donations every month
However, she doesn't consider it hard work at all
They wonder why I have to travel so far to collect donations
In
See how she travels across
(where most donating members)
(live in the same neighborhood)
So, it truly isn't an easy task
Moreover, in view of the current global financial crisis which has also affected
Collecting donations is now even more difficult
However much people donate is fine, yet when they stop making donations, it makes me……
She is worried that I would be very saddened to see that people have stopped donating
She is right. It is heartbreaking for me to see a seed that has just started to sprout wither away so quickly
It's truly hard to hold on to our initial good thoughts
So, truly, it is not easy for those enjoying the good life
(to develop selfless compassion for others)
However, (we do see cases of people being inspired---)
When our Da Ai TV staff went to
(Mr. Zhang served as their interpreter)
After being with our Tzu Chi volunteers for only one day, he was already very moved, as he saw how Tzu Chi volunteers conducted themselves with such uprightness by not smoking, eating vegetarian, etc.
Being with our volunteers he tried very hard to refrain from smoking and he did overcome his craving for cigarettes
So, after serving as our interpreter for 20 days, he quit smoking
See, as long as we're willing, we'll be able to touch and inspire others
(All it takes is the will and resolve to do so)
It's quite cold here, (so everything goes slowly)
But, there is still hope
There are many people here
It's just that we haven't found them yet
They are out there and they'll show up one by one
There are still many bodhisattvas here
It is my hope that this bodhisattva couple can persevere in their efforts
Where there is a will, there is a way
It is truly a bit difficult for this couple to guide people in such a well-to-do country to walk on the Bodhisattva Path and to discover their Buddha-nature within
Even the Buddha described it as difficult much less us mundane beings
However, we must also believe in what the Buddha teaches us---though it may be difficult, everyone has the Buddha-nature
(As long as we don't give up on these people)
(and on this mission)
I'm sure that we'll be able to find the way to inspire people
重播 週一到週五
09:48 11:45 15:15 23:00
重播 週六
07:45 11:45 15:18 23:00
重播 週日
02:45 07:45 11:45 23:00
警策無常於瞬息
菩薩伴侶承師志
富中之富耘福田
天堂有愛善啟發
北歐國家瑞典，國民年平均所得是台灣的兩倍之多，是富裕的先進國家，在這裡也有慈濟人的足跡，他們是黃蓁羚和林碧芳夫婦。從家裡裝的天線收看大愛台認識慈濟，進而感動發心加入志工行列，現在他們在瑞典經營餐廳生意。
在瑞典做慈濟，收善款，必須親自開車繞遍全瑞典，一趟至少一千公里路，夫妻倆甘之如飴，他們說，台灣推動的是「大愛一條街」，他們要做的是「大愛一條瑞典」。證嚴上人讚嘆，他們夫妻倆合心耕耘，把握殊勝因緣，真正做到有心就不難。
北歐的瑞典，地廣人稀，國民所得高，福利又好，是人人羨慕的人間天堂，一般人都想在這裡好好享受，不過，黃蓁羚、林碧芳這對華人夫妻，卻把慈濟人文大愛一點一滴的注入在這裡，成為這個天堂國度裡的第一顆菩提種子。
在瑞典推廣慈濟，需要恆持耐心與毅力，想收功德款，就得開車往返一千多公里的路程，好不容易累積了數十個會員，卻遇上金融海嘯，有人開始打退堂鼓，但他們堅定的心念不退轉，因為夫妻倆要努力的，就是要落實「大愛一條瑞典」。
慈濟從五毛錢起家，一念心就是一顆種子，念念心能成就大愛世界，克服重重困難立宏願，菩薩招生不間斷，才能讓愛心持續匯聚。
2009/02/03
Regards, Jenny
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Always having nothing to do, you are a consumer of life. Only when you are constructive and useful can you be a creator of life.
No comments:
Post a Comment