人間菩提英文版981021-知苦長慧自運命The Need to Inspire Love in People and Nurture Wisdom in the Face of Obstacles

The Need to Inspire Love in People and Nurture Wisdom in the Face of Obstacles

人間菩提--知苦長慧自運命

 

 

Wherever there are Tzu Chi volunteers, even if disaster strikes the people there will still be blessed.

(Take the recent floods)

(in the Philippines for example)

(Because of he scale of the disaster,)

Bringing aid to the disaster survivors the way

our local volunteers usually do to help the poor would not have worked.

That's why I often say that ever-changing circumstances serve as a chance for us to test our wisdom.

So, how we usually provide aid to the poor is different from how we bring relief in times of disaster.

(So, in the face of obstacles,) we must nurture our wisdom

And, when faced with ever-changing circumstances, we must use our wisdom
So, this time, with disasters occurring one after another, the locals didn't know what to do.

Though they had had shelters to stay in, they had nothing to do every day and not much food to eat.

Living in the crowded shelters all they saw around them was garbage and flooded streets.

It was truly hard for them to pass each day like that

So, I told our Tzu Chi volunteers there that they could introduce a relief program whereby we could provide monetary aid by paying those who helped with the cleanup work.

See, with such an incentive, more and more people came to clean up every day more and more people came to clean up every day.

What makes me happiest is to see that through inviting the locals to help with the cleanup work to love in them has been inspired.

I told our volunteers in the Philippines that besides paying them to clean up the streets, we should also provide meals for them.

We should provide them with lunch and give them our love and care.

So, that's how our volunteers cared for them and inspired them to give

See how everyone rushed to sign up for work and was all very conscientious.

They were not even deterred by the dirt and filth.

When I saw that, my heart went out to them as they're only paid 400 pesos (US$8.60) a day.

I told our volunteers there that once the cleanup work is completed, in addition to their daily pay, we should also hand out bonuses according to how many days they have worked.

Because the wages there are very low and there are not many job opportunities, we should help them and guide them to get back on their feet.

This morning I saw on Da Ai News that the villagers had contributed a peso each and collected 700 pesos (approx, US$15) to make a banner.

On the banner, (every signed their names) to thank Tzu Chi for (helping them clean up their homes)

They also held a parade

It was not a parade to protest against something.

What was this parade for then?

They wanted to go to all the streets and alleys that had been cleaned with the banner and posters they made(to show their gratitude to Tzu Chi)

(for helping them with the cleanup work)

Did you make this?

There was a lot of garbage here before but it's all gone now.

Many of us had no work to do before, but thanks to Tzu Chi, we have work to do

After being devastated by the typhoon, I thought there was no hope anymore.

Everyone had given up doing the cleanup work, but then Tzu Chi Foundation came to help us.

I am very happy.

These people are truly genuine and sincere, and are easily inspired and touched.

That's why they know to give back.

People there are truly genuine and sincere.

Everyone, it's been three weeks since our volunteers began helping these typhoon-stricken areas.

So, these areas that we had helped have how been cleaned and restored, and that is why the locals wanted to have this parade.

There are, however, still many communities that require our help because they do not have bulldozers or excavators to speed up the cleanup.

In fact, Tzu Chi volunteers have also drawn on the help of local entrepreneurs to borrow such heavy machinery but it wasn't easy.

So, through this, we now realize how fortunate we are with the resources we have here in Taiwan.

Take the Aug. 8 flood disaster for example.

(After Typhoon Morakot brought)

severe devastation to southern Taiwan, those who were not affected by the disaster were able to mobilize and go to the disaster areas and within a few days, 150,000 people had gone there to help with the cleanup work.

Tens of thousands of people went to help clean up the flood-stricken areas every day .

(The way people united together truly)

brought much hope and life to the disaster areas.

Our volunteer form Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung and other parts of Taiwan.

all went to southern Taiwan to help. Seeing that, the locals were also inspired to take part in cleaning up the flood-stricken areas.

That was they everything was able to return to normal so quickly.

But for those in the mountains whose homes had been buried or was washed away by landslides, such losses could not be recovered.

However, we are now also working to help survivors who had lost their homes to landslides by building them new homes to settle into

Everyone is working very mindfully

People in Taiwan are truly full of love as they not only donated money and gave of their time and effort to help with the cleanup work regardless of how tiring it was, but they even paid for all the expenses themselves.

(This is the love that)

(we've witnessed here in Taiwan)

Sometimes, when I think of the way people unite to help one another, my heart is filled with gratitude.

Such a sense of gratitude is not something words alone can express as it is gratitude from deep within my heart.

In Taiwan, when you first join Tzu Chi, I always give you one principle to follow.

That is give with selfless Great Love. We mustn't be afraid of hard work as giving of ourselves to benefit others is a blessing. When it's the right thing to do, we must do it without hesitation.

We shouldn't be attached to what's we've done for others and just give of ourselves with selfless Great Love.

This is what we must do year in and year out from the time we start training to become certified Tzu Chi volunteers.

Wherever disasters occur, everyone quickly teams up into groups to visit those affected by disasters, hold aid distributions, etc.

This is what we do in Taiwan.

So, despite being affected, the disaster survivors are still very blessed.

Everyone, I have said all this to you because I would like to say "Thank you" to all of you.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, you have all reached out to bring care to the villages of Taimali, Dawu and Jinlun.

However, I must also remind all of you that disasters like these will become more common in the future.

(because people have brought much damage)

(to the environment, and that's why)

The climate has also become more erratic.

So, we must all be more alert and cautious

Our karma follows us wherever we go, so when our karmic retributions come to bear.

We must accept them willingly as they are

(simply the consequences of our own actions)

Life is full of suffering

In this "era of degeneration"

(when human morality and ethics is)

(on the decline,)

We must all heighten our vigilance and be on the alert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 首播 每日19:45
重播 週一到週五
　　　09:48　11:45　15:15　23:00
重播 週六
　　　09:48　11:45　15:18　23:00
重播 週日
　　　02:45　09:48　11:45　23:00

人間菩提--知苦長慧自運命
The Need to Inspire Love in People and Nurture Wisdom in the Face of Obstacles

末法之世災尤甚
淨化市容遊街行
知苦長慧自運命
重現榮景眾殷期
2009/10/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

980215人間菩提英文版 A Story of Gratitude and Goodness in Indonesia

A Story of Gratitude and Goodness in Indonesia每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜
人間菩提--勤護一念．感恩圖報

 

These past few years, Indonesia Tzu Chi volunteers have been very active in helping the community

When an accident happens, Tzu Chi volunteers will rush to the scene to provide care and aid

Ever since Tzu Chi began its work in Indonesia over a decade ago the local volunteers have been very dedicated

When they learn of people who are poor and ill, they will reach out to offer care & aid over the long-term with love

However, (there are all different kinds of people)

Some, after receiving Tzu Chi's help, will try to give back, out of gratitude

But, there are some who, despite receiving aid, are not satisfied with the aid they're given and would want even more

(So, they start to have bad thought & intentions)

We encountered a case like this in Indonesia

There was a man who was poor so he sought help from Tzu Chi

Our volunteers went to visit him to better understand his situation

After assessing his needs and circumstances, they found he only needed partial aid. So, Tzu Chi helped pay for half of his medical fees

The man was unhappy about that (and felt Tzu Chi should've done more)

Meanwhile, there is another impoverished family. The father does odd jobs at a temple to support his family of eight

This family leads an impoverished life

Among the six children, the youngest one is called Budi

He is nine years old this year

In 2006, when he was at the age of six, a tumor developed in his lower jaw and it started to grow bigger

The doctor said that if Budi does not undergo surgery, his jaw will only grow bigger

But his family is very poor and cannot afford the surgery

Then, someone suggested to them to seek help from Tzu Chi

So, the mother contacted Tzu Chi

Our volunteer went to visit this family and determined that this family qualifies for our full assistance

Unfortunately, this mother met the person I mentioned earlier, the one who was unhappy that Tzu Chi hadn't paid for all his medical fees

This person said to her:

"You think Tzu Chi will help you,"

"but Tzu Chi won't pay for all of it"

"Plus, the surgery might not even help"

("and Budi might end up with a split lip")

This scared Budi's mother

So, every time our volunteers contacted her on the phone, she rejected our help

Instead, she turned to a folk medicine doctor

(A woman had offered to help pay for part of)

(the treatment, but in the middle of it,)

(she backed out of her promise)

Meanwhile, Tzu Chi members didn't give up on them because Budi really needed

So, they kept trying to convince

Budi's mother to let them help Budi

It was only in December 2007 that she finally accepted our help

Budi underwent three surgeries to remove the tumor in his jaw

Even though there are scars left on his face, he is very content because when he was at the hospital, he saw people who suffered from illnesses more severe than his

Some had a brain tumor, and some were paralyzed and disabled

Seeing all this, he felt that he was much more fortunate than those people

Indeed, illness causes a lot of suffering

So, Budi vowed to become a doctor when he grows up to help those who are suffering

So, after he went home from the hospital, he started thinking about earning money

But he needs to go to school, in order to become a doctor in the future

So, he studies very hard

He is also very smart and wise

(He started selling bread on the street)

Each day he can sell 50 pieces of bread and makes 10,000 rupiahs total (US$0.85)

Of the money he earns, he gives half of it to his mother ad donates the other half to Tzu Chi

Actually, 5,000 rupiahs is only (US$0.42)

However, a good deed cannot be measured by its monetary value

His wanting to do good deed is precious

(Where did his inspiration come from?)

After the Chinese New Year celebration, Tzu Chi volunteers had visited him often to see how he was doing after the surgery

After the Chinese New Year, our volunteers in Indonesia held a Prayer Celebration event

After event, Budi saw videos of Tzu Chi's work and saw how hard it is to raise money to help the poor

He was especially moved by the program about Tzu Chi's bamboo banks

It inspired him

So, after the Prayer Celebration, he asked for a coin bank

He also wants to save money everyday

No matter how much money he has, he wants to save some money everyday

This boy is really adorable

He is grateful for the aid he received and wants to do good in return

His father (is also like this)

Seeing that Budi has fully recovered and is cured of his illness, his father too is grateful

(and wants to do something to give back)

He learned that Tzu Chi does recycling

So, besides his job at the temple, began to do recycling work

He is very devoted to it

(Despite some people's negative comments,) he is determined to continue the recycling work

Even Budi's mother started to help raise funds for Tzu Chi when she sells noodles at her noodle stand

So, Budi's parents and Budi all work (to contribute to Tzu Chi)

(Though they can't contribute a lot,) they're very committed to making a contribution

It makes us most happy to see that this child is studying hard and is very good to his parents

Such is the "cycle of goodness" between people

This is where our hope lies and this child is a seed

Perhaps twenty years form now, he will be a doctor working to save lives

That could happen. As long as he holds on to his good intentions and convictions, Tzu Chi people will certainly help him to fulfill his aspiration

As we can see, in this world, there are many different kinds of people

So, we really must take care to preserve our good thoughts

Look at that man who spoke ill of Tzu Chi out of spite because he was dissatisfied with the amount of aid he received

What he did didn't help himself as it damaged his character

At the same time, it also caused Budi's treatment to be delayed for over a year

So, what he did injured himself and others

So, we must always keep a good heart and good thoughts and speak good words

One small good deed can help relieve suffering

We should strive to be someone who can be respected by others by facing poverty and hardship bravely

A person who does that will be loved by others

Though in poverty, he will nevertheless be "rich"

 

 

 

 

 

首播 每日19:45 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 勤護一念淨三業 罹病少年遇貴人 知足感恩思圖報 貧中之富福慧增 印尼一位窮困家庭的孩子布迪，因為下顎不斷腫大，父母求助慈濟，終於得以順利接受治療，全家人相當感恩。九歲的小布迪已經開始賺錢，他把賺來的錢一半給媽媽，另外一半存進竹筒裡；現在他們全家都是環保志工，要回饋社會大眾的愛心。證嚴上人說，儘管他們的力量微小，卻堅定心志，啟動了善循環。 頂著鐵盤，沿街兜售麵包，年僅九歲的布迪，雖然下顎有著明顯的疤痕，他卻不以為意，因為在慈濟人的幫助下，他才得以就醫治療。現在他將賺來的錢，一半給媽媽，另外一半就存進竹筒裡，而他的家人也在工作之餘，投入環保做回收，希望盡微薄心力幫助人。 證嚴上人開示：「這個窮困的家庭，因為他受恩，他圖報，所以親子立願要回饋大愛，雖然力量微小，可是他卻是堅定心志。最高興就是看到孩子，他的成績也不錯，很貼心，這都是人與人之間善的循環。」 同樣啟動善的循環，還有在四川的漢旺。慈濟志工在這裡成立了四川第一個環保站，帶著鄉親，從分類到壓縮，所有動作一步步學。而這些別人眼中的垃圾，卻能化做愛心暖流，成了當地慈善基金，鄉親們不但熱烈響應，愛護地球的理念，也在這悄悄地萌芽。 證嚴上人開示：「看了很有希望，現在整個地球不都是環保議題？這是國際性的，大陸假如也能帶動起來，人口這麼多，土地這麼大片，對地球的幫助真大！所以看到他們帶動起來，有大學生，有企業家，有當地的居民，不管老奶奶、老爺爺，還有小志工，都帶動起來，看來真的是很開心。」 一念心的啟發，讓原本手心向上的人變成手心向下，可以付出，貧中之富、愛的推動，讓人間善的循環永不止息。 2009/02/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

人間菩提英文版"刊登網站: http://master-dharma.blogspot.com/

Regards, Jenny
思慧合十
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: How bitter life is when we have desires! Our demands on others bring endless misery.

靜思語:人生有求即多苦!如果只是一味地要求他人,會為自己招來無窮的痛苦

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

980209人間菩提英文版Tzu Chi's Tuition Aid Program: Helping to Create a Future of Hope

Tzu Chi's Tuition Aid Program: Helping to Create a Future of Hope

每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜

人間菩提--慈濟助學•新芽計畫

 

 

Education, needs to be based on the principles of Great Love

Instilling such an education requires the joint efforts of three parties---

The first is family

The family is where children start their life

(And first learn about the world)

So, family education is very important and has great impact on children

Is the quality of family education based on how rich or poor the family is?

Not necessarily

A well-to-do-family doesn't necessarily guarantee a good, wholesome environment because parents in well-off families may have more social activities care more about enjoying life and tend to spend without check

Can children in such families be brought up to have correct values?

It'd be very hard

Apart from the family, school education is also important

It is the school's duty to teach children knowledge and principles

Be it preschool, elementary or middle school, the aim of education should be to instill selfless Great Love (love for one's fellow man)

This is should be a very important mission of school education

That is why when we build schools, we call it "Project Hope"

As the name suggests, education is what bring hope for the future

It holds the family's hope, the hope for society, and the hope for a world where all are one

These hopes all essentially come down to education

That is why education must take care to give children correct values and guide them toward love

The education provided by the family, society and school must all share this same direction and aim

However, in these times that we live in, it is most important that children learn to have love and respect for themselves

What makes others feel her the most is that when her mother passed away, she withdrew into herself for some time, but she never gave up on herself

She know that she's the eldest among her siblings and that if she could get a scholarship, she's be able to help her dad a lot, financially

I would not feel happy or proud simply because I got the top score on an exam

I am more practical---

If ranking first means I can get a scholarship that'd be helpful to my family

(So, I think about it more pragmatically)

She'd not like some children who in the course of pursuing their studies have parents who're constantly by their sides, (and who overprotect them to the degree) that they can't bear to see their child endure any discomfort, such as fearing that their child might drink a cup of milk that is too hot or too cold (which would not be very good for)

(their body)

That's how overprotective and pampering some parents are

The spoil their children and don't know the right way to love their children

This girl in Taidong, Wu Shi-yi is very self-respecting

Her family is very poor

Her mother passed away in 2003, and her father makes a living by doing odd jobs

Although he could have found a job had he left the mountains, he couldn't bear to see his children have no one to attend to them

(with their having already lost their mother)

So, with not much work being available in the mountains, and te wages there being quite low to begin with, the family inevitably became a low-income family

So, you remained here because of them?

Or you'd have left the mountains to look for a job long ago

If I didn't worry about them, I would've headed for Taipei a long time ago

But, I couldn't do that because there are no adults to look after them

What has your dad done that touches you the most?

His providing for us up to now and working so earnestly and so hard every day

Shi-yi's father has to support 3 children on his meager income

Shi-yi had ranked first among her peers in Taidong in the nation-wide high school entrance exam and could have gotten into Taiwan's best girls' high school in Taipei

However, thinking of her father and not wanting to burden him even more, she gave up the chance to study in Taipei and chose to study in her hometown

At the time, all three of us children needed to pay tuition for our schooling, and Dad, of course, had to take care of it all

But, he didn't actually have regular income,

(so at the time, I truly didn't know what to do)

Because she gave up the chance to study in Taipei and enrolled in a vocational school in Taidong, newspapers reported her story

When Tzu Chi volunteers learned of her story, they went to visit her family at once. That was when Tzu Chi began to care for the family, and even provided her with a scholarship

Apart from loving her father dearly, Shi-yi also very grateful to her teacher Mr. Xu

That's why she often says that she has two dads with the other being Mr. Xu

Mr. Xu is like a second dad to me

My own dad can't come to se me in the city often, but Mr. Xu lives in downtown Taidong, so he can come see me often

Once, out of curiosity, I asked her

"Shi-yi, you ranked first again for this exam,"

"and your score is always so much higher"

"than the score that ranked second"

"won't you ever slack off sometimes?"

She told me:

"Mr. Xu, I only complete with"

"the score I received last time"

"and tell myself to do better and not to slack off"

I tell her that in giving her a helping hand, I hope she'll return her debt of gratitude by reaching out to help others in the future

Mr. Xu has been tutoring Shi-yi in math and has kept encouraging her to strive forward

Isn't he a very good teacher who cares for Shi-yi like a father and educates her with love?

He knows that Shi-yi is a good girl with a promising future and that she is kindhearted and diligent

So, he thinks that she is someone he must help nurture

That's why he has been caring for her and tutoring her all these years

This is an education based on love---selfless Great Love

Such an education based on love and children who know to love and respect themselves are really what give our society and bright future as these children whom we work so hard to nurture for our society and the world

(will grow up to become upright people who can)

(help bring about a world based on moral values)

If everyone can educate our children this way and give them correct values, I'm sure that the ideal society where people uphold ethics & common decency will not be far off, and a world where all are one will not just be rhetoric

As long as everyone has correct values

(and works for the collective good,)

I'm sure that we'll be able to create a world of great harmony

(Then, there will be hope for our society)

Their requires the joint forces of family, school, and society, together creating a greater environment that teaches love

So, if all three can share this same aim and work closely in concert, I'm sure that our hope for

(an enlightened society based on correct values) and a united world in harmony will not be hard to achieve

The worst is for children to have wrong values

If so, even if their families are well-off, they won't grow up to become upright people

For children in poor families as long as they know to respect themselves no matter what difficulties they encounter, they'll still have a promising future

Living in this world in their the greater environment we're in today, we all share in the responsibility

Fulfilling this responsibility is about

(mindfully living out & promoting correct values)

 

 

 

 

首播 每日19:45 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 作育英才愛之教 良師授業助於學 勤奮品潔盡孝思 新芽計畫期有成 有了文明的社會，世界大同的理想才能實現，要有文明的社會，就要靠大愛的教育，把家庭、學校、社會，三個教育環節合一，不過在現在的大環境下，最重要的還是要孩子們自己的自愛。 在台東有一位女學生詩怡，考量到家裡的經濟環境，放棄就讀北一女的機會，留在台東讀書，認真不放棄的用功，感動社會大眾，慈濟人也為詩怡提供助學金。上人在開示中，呼籲大家要負起社會責任，共同為世界大同努力。 住在台東的詩怡，母親因為意外往生後，就姊代母職的照顧弟妹，雖然因為經濟因素，放棄就讀北一女的機會，詩怡還是在老師與父親的支持下，用功讀書，堅持的用心令人感動，而慈濟人也為詩怡帶來希望，提供助學金。 證嚴上人開示：教育一定要好好的方向導正，那用愛來教育，不管是家庭，社會跟教育的環境，要這三個條件合在一起，不過在這樣的大時代，這個大環境裡，最重要的還是自愛。 人助自愛自助者，慈濟人的愛心不只在台灣，全球包括馬來西亞，四川，江西…等地，都能看到藍天白雲的身影，發放助學金，要用教育所有困苦的家庭帶來希望。 證嚴上人開示：人世間，在這樣的大社會大環境裡，我們應該人人有責任，所以這分責任就是正確方向的用心，文明社會大同世界都不困難，怕的就是一些孩子方向偏差，那怕再富有的家庭，也教育不出好的孩子。 慈濟志工承擔起提燈照路的社會責任，以靜思法脈點起一盞盞的智慧心燈，遍灑愛的種子，用慈悲善念溫暖人間。 2009/02/09

 

 

 

 

 

 

人間菩提英文版"刊登網站: http://master-dharma.blogspot.com/

 

Regards, Jenny
思慧合十
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: People who are preoccupied with past achievements cannot humble themselves.

靜思語: 不能低頭的人, 是因為一再回顧過去的成就 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

980204人間菩提英文版The Example of a Great Buddhist Master,Inner & Outer Cultivation on the Path

The Example of a Great Buddhist Master,Inner & Outer Cultivation on the Path 每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜

人間菩提--救援拔苦•寂滅為樂

 

 

We invited everyone here to ring the bell together with us to pray for peace for our world for safety for our country for the wellbeing of our society and for everyone to live in peace and happiness in the coming new year

 

Throughout his life, Dharma Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, had dedicated himself to

(teaching Buddhism around the world)

Though very busy, his inner state was that of perfect stillness of the mind when

(the flames of affliction are extinguished)

Master Sheng Yen was born to a very poor family in Jiangus Province of China

At a young age, he saw through life

He became a monk at age 13

(Due to the civil war in China)

(he joined the army and came to Taiwan in 1949)

During that experience, he realized many truths about life and saw through human conflict and strife

After retiring for the army, (he entered the monkhood once more) to seek Truth and enlightenment

He also pursued

(further studies in Buddhism and obtained) a doctorate in Buddhist literature in Japan at 45.

I truly admire and respect him for his spirit

(He dedicated himself to spreading the Dharma) his entire life

Wherever I go to expound the Dharma, I never think about how many people would come to listen to my speech or how much money people would donate to me

I've never taken those issues into consideration

All I consider is how I can benefit them when I go there

To spread the Dharma to benefit living beings

(he traveled around the world to expound)

(the Buddha's teachings)

In his 80 years of life, he had

(bore witness to many major events of the world)

He passed away yesterday

Many Buddhists and Dharma masters are all very grieved at the news that such a venerable Dharma master of our times has passed away

However, this is but the natural course of life

His death should serve to remind us that life is impermanent and so we should awaken to the truth of life's impermanence and seize the present moment (to do what is right)

As I saw the words he left for everyone:

"Nirvana is Bliss"---

Isn't that the inner state of utter purity and peace that we often speak of in Tzu Chi

Indeed, this is what we Buddhist practitioners should aspire to--- an inner mind of utter purity with great selfless vows, and abiding by our vows for endless time to come

That's the pure and clean state of mind we should keep while going into the community to serve

This is what the Buddha comes to this world for---to purify people's minds, and guide people to do good and gain joy from it

This is what we should do in the course of our life

So, "Nirvana is Bliss"---

Though we may be very busy, our mind should always be in the state of utter purity and tranquility

Turning to Jordan which is so far from us here in Taiwan

There aren't many Tzu Chi volunteers in Jordan but the love in their hearts is very broad, one transcends all borders and boundaries

In winter, there is a large difference between day and night temperatures in Jordan

The temperature can drop as much as over 20 degrees Celsius during the night

So, one of our local volunteers suggested that, with it being so cold, they provide those in need with hot food

So, they quickly prepared bean soup and all kinds of food

They brought over steaming hot soup and food to the Madi Abdoun tent area in Amman

The children were delighted at the sight of this

It had been so long since they had had steaming hot soup that was so tasty and nutritious

The children were very happy

Of course, the elderly and women were also very grateful

See, these are the conditions they've been living in since birth

It's truly very heartbreaking to see

Tzu Chi volunteers in Jordan have truly fulfilled the task of bringing food and clothing to the poor in the cold winter

Previously, at their regular aid distributions when it was cold, they'd give out clothes and blankets

Now, they can even give out hot food

How heartwarming that is

Also, around the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, the Gaza Strip has been under aid raids & shelling and many people have been injured

Some injured Gazans were sent to

(Egypt for medical treatment)

Jordan's Prince El Hassan was very compassionate and concerned about these injured Gazans and the King of Jordan also sent a military plane to Egypt to bring these injured Gazans to Jordan's Queen Alia Military Hospital for treatment

Tzu Chi volunteers also went to the hospital o visit the Gazan patients, giving them thermal blankets and chocolate warming the patients' hearts

So, (learning of that,) the superintendent of the hospital came to see our Tzu Chi volunteers when they visited again

He said that the patients were all very grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers for giving them emotional support and they all felt very respected and loved

So, the superintendent was very grateful as well

I am very grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers for bringing care to people in their time of need no matter how far away these people are They seize the chance and give of themselves wherever help is needed

In life, we may fell helpless about many things that we can't do anything about

We never know when impermanence will strike

However, what we can do is to seize every moment

(and make use of our limited lifetime)

(for the greater good)

That's why I often share with you that we must seize the good resolutions of the moment and hold on to them forever

Doing meaningful things

(that bring good to humanity) is to live out the value of our lives

See how our volunteers so far away in Jordan have the same selfless Great Love as you and I which brings us all very close together in heart

When we give without asking anything in return, isn't our mind in a state of purity and peace since we ask nothing in return?

See how in a country like Jordan which is a predominantly Muslim country, people of different religions, including Roman Catholics, Christians, and Muslims gathered together along with our volunteers for the Year-end Blessings Ceremony

Holding a light in their palms, everyone prayed with one heart for there to e peace and harmony on Earth and for the victims of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip

They all have a common wish which is that the conflict in the Gaza Strip

(between Israel and Hamas) can be reconciled and that the world can be free of disasters

See how people with different religious beliefs gathered together in a prayer ceremony

Isn't this a starting point for peace?

So, as long as people do not discriminate between religions, and everyone dedicates themselves to inspiring love in others with sincere piety wouldn't there be peace and harmony everywhere and the world be free of disasters?

So, the pureland isn't far from us---

(The pureland is actually very close at hand)

 

 

首播 每日19:45 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   一代宗師身示寂 寂滅為樂恆清澄 救援拔苦無疆界 人間淨土期現前 法鼓山創辦人聖嚴法師圓寂，享壽八十歲。證嚴上人今天在志工早會上表示，儘管佛教界不捨一代宗師離開，但這就是大自然的法則；從中體悟人生無常，更應該要把握時間，分秒不空過，讓自己的生命發揮最大良能。 佛教界的一代宗師聖嚴法師，二月三號下午四點由於器官衰竭，捨報圓寂，享壽八十歲。以「寂滅為樂」作為最後的叮囑語，聖嚴法師超然的生死觀，一生致力求知弘法，以及推動人間佛教的用心，為佛弟子樹立了實踐人間菩薩的典範。 遠在約旦的慈濟人，定期送上物資、關懷生活困苦的居民，探視受無情戰火波及的傷患，親手奉上溫暖和祝福。儘管宗教種族大不同，大愛仍然跨越了有形的界線，齊聚一堂，共同傳達心中用之不盡的愛。 體悟人生的無常悲苦，就更要把握時間，分秒不空過，讓生命在每一刻都發揮良能。 2009/02/04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

人間菩提英文版"刊登網站: http://master-dharma.blogspot.com/

 

Regards, Jenny
思慧合十
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Do not ask for less responsibility to be free and relaxed- ask for more strength

靜思語: 不要因為貪求清閒, 而希求減輕責任; 應該增強自己的力量,擔當更重大的責任