To Face Life with Understanding and to Help Both Oneself and Others 每日播出內容 ｜ 
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人間菩提--善解人生•自度度人
"My father died. My mother remarried"
"My grandpa and grandma have also passed away"
"When Jun-long saw me volunteering at the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families,"
"he gave me US$300 to help me out."
"I was really touched"
"So, I made up my mind to learn from his spirit"
Jian-qin's situation is very similar to mine,
so I want to help him out.
Because in the past, I also received help and support from many people.
So, I want to use this money to help him so that he can have a better life and be happier.
Indeed, being materially wealthy is not as good as being spiritually wealthy.
If we are materially wealthy but don't know to be content, we'd be spiritually poor despite the money we have.
But if we are spiritually rich, we'll know to be content with our life.
When we know to be content then ours will be a rich life.
If we furthermore have selfless Great Love, which makes us even richer,
We'll be living bodhisattvas and be the richest and most blessed people in the world.
On the contrary, if we only have material wealth.
(but don't know to be content and to give,)
What a hard and painful life it would be as we would often dwell upon gain and loss.
So, if we can lead a plain and simple life, and make a living through our own labor and abilities that would be the most contented life.
If we are able to further help others, our life would be even richer.
So, we should temper down our desire for material comforts and lead a plain and simple life instead with our feet firmly planted on the ground.
That is a healthy life and in the face of adversity, we need to accept our circumstances with understanding.
Look at this elderly lady.
Doesn't she keep a positive outlook?
After getting married, her daughter started a family of her own and had a boy and a girl.
This family should have been very happy together.
Unfortunately, due to difficulties at birth, her granddaughter became severely disabled.
Things became even more difficult when her son-in-law left her daughter who then lost her means of financial support.
Under such circumstances, faced with a severely physically impaired daughter.
The grandma's daughter developed depression.
The grandma couldn't bear for them to suffer, so she brought them home to live with her.
Not only did she have to look after her grandson and granddaughter, she also had to care for her daughter who suffered from depression.
It was then that a social worker at a hospital in
Tzu Chi volunteers started to provide aid and care to this family and helped the grandma's daughter to overcome her depression and to find a job as a caretaker.
Meanwhile, her grandson is a very good child.
Although he is still studying in college, he is also working part-time.
What he does truly isn't easy.
The grandma also has to look after her granddaughter who is already 17 now.
The doctor told her that as her granddaughter grows older more and more of her organs will deteriorate causing even more severe impairment.
But the grandma has never given up on her.
Seeing her life this, my heart goes out to her.
(If it's not because of karmic affinities,)
She wouldn't have been born to our family like this.
If she had been born to other families, maybe she would be normal and healthy.
Since she is a member of this family, we have the responsibility to care for her.
Otherwise, what is she going to do?
So I've been taking care of her for many years now.
I've never thought of giving her up.
She is my granddaughter.
As long as she is alive, I'll take care of her.
See how positive she is.
She is understanding about the life she has been dealt with,
so even in the face of adversities, she is still able to accept it willingly.
This is to be understanding about one's life.
By comparing herself to those in greater suffering, she feels she has more than enough blessings.
She uses the time she has to collect and sort recyclables and even donates part of the money she makes be it US$1 or $1.50.
See, even though the family is living on a tight budget and Tzu Chi volunteers are also providing her with financial aid and caring for the family.
She still uses her own strength to contribute to the family's financial needs and even donates money to help others.
See how suffering can help us grow spiritually and give us strength because by knowing to cherish our blessings.
We'll be inspired to give of ourselves.
That's what this grandma has done.
As long as we are healthy in body and mind even if we are poor materially.
(our life can be just as good)
as that of the wealthy.
Sometimes when our volunteers go to collect donations from their regular donors.
Some would say "I won't be able to donate this month"
Even sparing US$3 is not possible for them.
This grandma does recycling and donates 30 or 60 cents every day by
(putting it in a coin bank)
Though she is materially poor, spiritually, she is very wealthy.
She even gets her granddaughter to put the money into the coin bank herself.
Here, let Grandma show you.
"Amitabha"
"Amitabha"
See what wisdom she possesses.
Despite suffering so much in life, she is still healthy in body and mind.
She many be materially poor but she is spiritually wealthier than the materially rich as she can still donate to help others.
Although she is being helped, she helps herself and is even able to help those in need.
Hers is really a beautiful life.
Although the natural process of life has caused her to age---
See, she is already hunched over,
(but that doesn't stop her)
As long as she can work today, she will continue to do so.
What a healthy attitude she has.
Although she is aging physically, she has a healthy spirit that is full of strength.
Such an elderly lady is truly admirable.
We are truly grateful for the example she sets.
The Buddha speaks of the 20 difficulties.
The first is for the poor to give.
People reincarnate according to their karma.
So, if you are rich in this lifetime but are very stingy and greedy, in your next life, you may be someone who is poor and need to rely on others' aid.
(Our deeds in this lifetime)
(decide how our next life will be)
If we don't sow blessings in this life, our next life will be filled with suffering and we'll encounter difficulties wherever we go.
Indeed, when we are born to an environment filled with much suffering and difficulties.
(that's our karma which we cannot escape)
However, what's most important is to be giving and help others.
There are many ways to do that.
In giving, we can give material things, teachings, as well as comfort and support.
There are many ways we can give.
See how this grandma give what she has worked hard o earn.
(So, as long as you're willing)
There are many ways to give.
Some say they don't have the means.
Please do not think that you cannot do it.
Poorest are those who are stingy and miserly.
One who is stingy and miserly is the poorest person in the world.
Even is he is very wealthy and has a lot of material wealth and assets.
He is not rich (because he thinks it's inadequate)
This is the way stingy people are.
But, if there's love in one's heart though poor, he will still be rich.
Because despite material scarcity his heart is rich and he can still give to help others.
So, it's not difficult at all for the poor to give.
Everyone, being rich inside is more important than having material wealth.
So, we must work hard to cultivate a heart of love.
(See what hardship the grandma is enduring)
We give her our best wishes.
This grandma not only helps herself but also gives of herself to help others.
See how she is able to view her hardship from a positive angle and she even gives of herself to benefit others.
She is indeed very remarkable.
I truly respect and admire this grandma.
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人間菩提英文版"刊登網站: http://master-dharma.blogspot.com/
**昨天所傳曰期應是970920 The 15th Anniversary of Tzu Chi's Bone Marrow Registry
Regards, Jenny
思慧合十
Today's Jing Si Aphorisms: Willing to think, cultivate ourselves, and take mindful action, there is nothing we cannot achieve.
今日靜思語: 只要肯用心去想. 用心去修. 用心去做, 就沒有不能成功的事
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