971127人間菩提英文版 Recycling: A Way to Cultivate and Spread the Dharma to Benefit Others

Recycling: A Way to Cultivate and Spread the Dharma to Benefit Others 

每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜ 56K

人間菩提--環保道場‧弘法利生

 

 

 

What are "grass-root"bodhisattvas?

They are Tzu Chi's recycling volunteers.

I often refer to them as "grass-root" bodhisattas.

We must know that it is everyone's responsibility to care for this piece of land that we live on.

(Grass is good for soil conservation)

Though your individual contributions to recycling might seem tiny when everyone's contributions are pooled together they go a long way to helping protect the land.

Just imagine---if there is no grass to help conserve soil with its roots the land will gradually dry up and eventually become a desert.

When strong winds blow, there'll be sandstorms (that can affect a very wide area)

Every year, in sandstorm season, the dust in deserts can blow long distances.

For example, when sandstorms are sweeping inner Mongolia the dust can reach Beijing or even Taiwan.

Why is there so much dust being blown across such long distances?

It is because the land is so arid that it eventually turns into a desert.

Some people may ask what deserts so far away have to do with us?

Since Taiwan is affected by sandstorms deserts afar are our business as well.

Living on this piece of land, we must keep our environment green by growing grass and planting trees.

Wherever there are grass and trees that land will be fertile enough to grow crops.

Man cannot live without grains.

So, if we do not take good care of the land we live on that will truly be a crisis for mankind.

(Fortunately,)

(we have this group of recycling volunteers)who I often refer to as "grass-root" bodhisattvas.

Because there are so many of you working to care for our Earth, it is able to remain very healthy and provide all kinds of resources for mankind.

That is why I highly admire and respect you and am very grateful to you all.

Of all the programs on our Da Ai TV the one on our recycling volunteers is one I make sure to watch twice a day.

Touching stories can transform people's hearts.

So, as you save the planet, (your touching deeds) are also saving hearts.

So, we must seize time to do recycling and work to inspire one another.

Indeed, the lifetime we have is very precious.

Even if one has made mistakes in the past if he can repent and start anew that would be the most valuable.

We heard the sharing of one of our volunteers, Mr. Shi.

His body was covered with tattoos.

I told him:

"Though you may regret getting the tattoos"

"they can't be removed now. So"

"(what's most important is to change your ways)"

"and not go back to your old ways"

"When you know what the right thing is."

"you must persevere in doing it"

"and do it right away"

"You are very talented"

"and draw very beautifully"

I then continued:

"You should make good use of such a talent"

"and draw stories about Tzu Chi"

(He then started drawing on the spot)

In just a short while, he presented his drawing to me.

See how clever and skillful he is.

But why did he lead such a deluded life in the past?

As people often say:

"People's cleverness can lead them astray"

That's why I often share with you that we don't need to be especially smart all we need is wisdom.

Those with wisdom work to benefit others and also know to take good care of themselves.

Only when we love and cherish ourselves can we open up our hearts to embrace and love all living beings.

I've been feeling that time is running out as our time on this Earth isn't long.

So, we should truly seize our time to do what is right and by no means should we let our lives slip by emptily indulging ourselves in leisure activities.

When we do that (not only do we not grow in wisdom) we are also creating and accumulating bad karma.

So, in leading a deluded life, not only are we not benefiting others, we're actually creating bad karma.

Although I'm constantly worrying that there is still so much to do and that I'm running out of time.

I seize every moment I have and wholeheartedly devote myself to my work.

Having completed a task, I know I've completed one more thing and I'll feel great joy.

It's just like when all of you are doing recycling.

Recycling work requires many people's efforts.

The more people there are working together.

The more enthusiastic and happy everyone will be.

If only a few people do it, the work will start to get discouraging.

So, recycling stations are like spiritual cultivation grounds where volunteers can inspire one another.

By inspiring those around us, we are recruiting living bodhisattvas.

So, although the price that recyclables sell for is now much lower than before, we are doing this to better care for the Earth.

If the recyclables we collect can be thoroughly cleaned and carefully sorted into finer categories, they can be remade into other quality products.

This way, they would not become garbage that causes problems for our land as some recyclables are not biodegradable.

In the olden days, most wastes could be used as fertilizer but garbage people produce nowadays cannot be used as fertilizer.

Take copper and iron for example.

If we do not recycle these materials they will also end up among piles of garbage.

When a battery is carelessly thrown away, the toxic chemicals from it will pollute the land.

So, when doing recycling we must keep in mind that we're doing this to care for this land.

In these past one or two decades, people have become more and more wasteful throwing away more and more things.

Everyone, we must cherish resources as the land truly cannot withstand the wasteful ways we live our lives now so we mustn't continue like this.

For our own sake, we should start caring for the Earth and for the sake of our future generations we should not give up, but continue our efforts in doing recycling so land can be clean, and the money from selling recyclables can also help fund Da Ai TV to

produce wholesome programs broadcast worldwide.

All in all, we do recycling to protect and care for the Earth to cherish the resources we have and to spread the Buddha's Dharma via Da Ai TV that you help to support.

All the money you collect from selling recyclables is used to support Da Ai TV because only with funding can Da Ai TV spread the Dharma to benefit others

So, be it supporting Da Ai TV or protecting the Earth the recycling work you do is doing great good.

So, we must cherish the work we do and be mindful in doing the work.

There are too many thanks to say as I know how mindfully you all give of yourselves.

I also see how our volunteers help to transform others by guiding them to do recycling.

I can never finish expressing my gratitude for all that you do.

I have shared all of this with you so that you can understand that the Earth needs our help so we mustn't give up on our recycling efforts.

Do you all understand what I'm saying?

Good, I'm very grateful.

We now have so many recycling volunteers spread throughout the world sorting recyclables into very detailed categories.

It is truly a form of spiritual cultivation.

(Without our recycling volunteers in Taiwan)

(what we've done would not be possible)

This is the spirit that I've always wanted everyone in the world to know---

The recycling work you do in Taiwan is truly very valuable and you are all truly guardians of the land.

 

 

 

 

 

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 草根菩提如瑰寶 環保道場做中覺 簡樸淡泊惜資源 弘法利生遍清流 2008/11/27

 

 

 

 

 

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:  Only with our feet firmly planted on the ground can we hope for stability, inner peace and freedom.

今日靜思語:做人踏實, 才能穩定自在 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

971126人間菩提英文版 Altering Our Karmic Course through Purifying the Mind and Doing Good

 Altering Our Karmic Course through Purifying the Mind and Doing Good

每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜ 56K

人間菩提--淨心行善轉業因

 

 

 

 Living in this world we must strive to be someone who can go to the aid of the suffering.

(and transform their lives for the better)

That's what it means to be a living bodhisattva.

(We learn to be bodhisattvas)because there are suffering beings and so, we willingly dedicate ourselves to serving those living in hardship and do so without asking anything in return.

These are our principles.

Helping people who are suffering is the vehicle or means by which we

(grow on the Buddhist path)

Doesn't the Diamond Sutra say that the Dharma is like a raft?

What it means is that the Dharma is like a raft that carries people across the river from the shore of mundane beings to the other shore of the enlightened.

Between the two shores lies a river of affliction and delusion.

It is a rapid current.

It symbolizes living beings' raging afflictions.

It is like a "spiritual tsunami"

So, when people give rise to ignorance, their inner state is in upheaval, like a tsunami.

So, when such rapid currents of affliction are surging in our minds how can we sail across the river to reach the other shore?

We must use the Dharma.

The Dharma is like the raft.

With the raft, we'll be able to cross the river and reach the other shore safely.

That other shore is the state of inner peace and tranquility, where the mind is in a state of utter purity and peace.

That other shore we aspire to is the condition of being in this state of purity and peace always free from the disturbance of afflictions.

A mind in absolute purity and tranquility and which resides in great selfless vows---

That is the inner state we should always be grounded in.

For us to never fall out of this state no matter what circumstances we encounter,

We will need to train our mind at all times.

We also need to go into the community.

(to relieve suffering)--- that is the Tzu Chi path.

That is our method for spiritual practice.

It is the "vehicle" by which we grow spiritually because everyone is a living sutra that reveals truths to us as everyone suffers a different kind of hardship.

We all know that when we leave this Earth, there is nothing we can take with us except the karma we've created.

When we were born to this Earth none of us brought a single thing with us except for one thing which is the karma we have created and accumulated over our past lives.

It wasn't up to us which family we'd be born to and neither was it up to us who our parents would be.

None of this was up to us because it is a result of the karma we created and the affinities we formed with others.

Who we end up having as parents is based on the karmic affinities we had formed and our fate in this life is a consequence of the karma we created in our past lives.

Coming into this world, all is set by our karma.

It's not up to us to choose.

So, the Buddha came to our world to help us gain awareness of the karmic law of cause and effect---

If we understand this law, we will come to recognize how causes and conditions come together to produce effects and retribution and realize that any suffering we experience is the "effect" of "causes" we created in past lives.

Some people ask why we should help the suffering when their hardship is a result of their own karmic retribution.

But every one of us came to this world carrying karma we had created.

Throughout time, we have accumulated a lot of karma be it good or bad karma.

If we're not aware of the ignorance in our mind and give rise to afflictions we'll be doing bad things at every moment and creating bad karma.

As a result, we continue to build up bad karma over the course of time.

If we don't have the affinity to meet good people then we wouldn't have a chance to turn back for the whole of our lives and we'd continue to accumulate more and more bad karma with the passing of time and it'd be hard to say how our lives would pan out in the future.

However, it is alright to have made a mistake in one's life.

What's to fear is that we don't rectify our wrong ways.

If we have the chance to meet good, wholesome people, then we can begin to change the course of our karma.

By coming across good people and following their example in doing good deeds

it'd be the starting point to sowing blessings and creating good karma.

So, by sowing blessings among mankind they bring meaning and value to their lives.

The Buddha often says that the essence of the mind, the Buddha and all beings are one and the same.

But because living beings gave rise to deluded thoughts they created impurities in this world.

As a result of the bad karma created collectively disasters occur frequently.

But, the Buddha also says that all living beings have the same pure untainted nature as the Buddha's

If everyone's mind is pure and clean the world will be a pureland.

So, be it a world filled with impurities or a pureland of living bodhisattvas all is created by the mind alone.

When the karma we've created in the past comes to fruition, and we suffer we must accept it willingly.

When we accept it without afflictions (we won't create new bad karma), and our store of bad karma will run out on its own.

In this way, with each passing day our store of bad karma diminishes.

Although we may be suffering from many troubles every day once we open up our hearts to accept what is facing us.

(then our suffering will pass) and our bad karma will peter out.

Why is it that we're continuously being affected by disasters arising form the imbalance of the Four Elements?

It's all caused by the human mind.

That's why the aim of all religions, not only Buddhism is to purify people's hearts and minds and guide people to give rise to love for others.

Greed, hatred, and ignorance have taken over our minds causing the water of Dharma nourishing our mind to gradually dry up.

This is just like how we often remind people to protect our water sources & not let them dry up.

(As people cannot live without water,) our wisdom-life cannot survive without the water of Dharma.

If the water of Dharma dries up, the field of our mind would become arid.

So, Buddhist teachings serve as a stream of purity as well as a form of education that can save people's hearts and minds.

Only with the water of Dharma can we revitalize our arid inner field and make it flourish.

Only when the love within us flourishes can the world be prosperous and at peace.

So, to better the world we live in, we must practice the Four Immeasurables carry out the Six Paramitas and encourage people to come together to create good collective karma.

While we're helping the suffering people, we should learn from everyone's experiences and gain insight and wisdom from it.

May everyone work with hearts united to create a pureland in this world.

 

 

 

 

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 四大不調源三毒 心靈海嘯掀無明 勤行六度集福緣 法水甘霖潤蒼生 2008/11/26

 

 

 

 

 

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:  We must learn to use our wisdom and lead a well-grounded life. Always reflect on issues objectively and do not blindly get caught up in hearsay.

今日靜思語:要培養智慧, 踏實地做人做事, 不能盲目聽信傳聞而不重思考 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

971125人間菩提英文版Preserving the Dharma Lineage and Passing on the Light

Preserving the Dharma Lineage and Passing on the Light每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜ 56K

人間菩提--心燈相傳‧法脈永續

 

See how Tzu Chi volunteers from around the world gathered together, full of joy and harmony.

For this camp for overseas Tzu Chi volunteers, over 900 local volunteers in Taiwan mobilized to serve these over 800 volunteers returning from around the world.

Seeing that, I am truly very grateful.

In fact, it was not easy for some of them to travel back to Taiwan as their flight was over 30 hours.

But, as long as one has the will distance would not be an obstacle.

All of them were determined to come back, and the main purpose of their trip this time.

(was to learn more about the principles)

(and spirit behind the Tzu Chi path)

(These principles make the Jing Si Dharma lineage)

What it is. When taking the Tzu Chi path, we must walk the path with the right principles and spirit.

Ever since Tzu Chi was founded over 40 years ago we've been doing "worldly"work with a non-worldly mindset and with spiritual convictions.

These convictions are the Jing Si principles.

The Jing Si principles place importance on inner cultivation and purity such as eliminating our wrong views so we can let go of our selfish attachments.

Only then can we open up our heart and mind to help others.

After we have helped others.

Instead, we must harbor a heart of gratitude because living in this world what we should learn is the way of Bodhisatvas.

Bodhisattvas come into being because there is suffering.

So, we must learn to help the suffering without being attached to what we have done.

When we can help others without attachment in other areas of our life, we will learn to let go and have no attachments.

So, in order for us to develop broad hearts and a pure mind, we need "tools of practice"---things that help us to practice.

What are the tools to help us grow spiritually?

The external conditions.

That is why we must go into the community to relieve suffering.

That is the path of Tzu Chi.

Among all living beings, there are different kinds of suffering so when the Buddha first began expounding the Dharma he spoke of the Four Noble Truths of suffering.

That's right. Life is full of suffering.

You may ask whether I feel suffering.

I do too.

The suffering I feel comes from seeing so many suffering beings in this world.

When others are hurt, I feel their pain and when others are sad. I feel their sorrow.

This feeling of pain and sorrow is always present.

For example, heavy rainfall over the past 2 months in southern Brazil has led to landslides burying many homes.

Seeing such devastating images truly worries me very much.

Also, Sweden is now being affected by a snowstorm

(People there have to endure the harsh conditions)

See how disasters are devastating the world.

Isn't that truly suffering?

We all know that inclement weather is part of Nature but people's suffering comes from the bad karma they created in their past lives.

That is why the Buddha came to this world to teach us about the law of cause and effect and to guide us to practice loving-kindness. compassion, joy and equanimity.

Since there are suffering beings in this world, we must go to their aid and relieve them

of their suffering.

We do that not only with material aid, but we also do that by helping them to awaken spiritually because if we can understand the Dharma then the Dharma is like water that can cleanse away afflictions in our mind.

Though we still undergo karmic retributions by cleansing away our afflictions

(we will not create more bad karma)

We should moreover work diligently to create a better future by creating positive positive karma through working in the community and helping people.

We should learn from each person we encounter because everyone is a living sutra.

So, where can we go to find the Dharma?

(There is no need to go far to seek the Dharma)

(because the Dharma is in where?)

Our hearts

(Within every one of us,)

(Dharma is there to be found)

(and that's where we should go for the Dharma)

Everyone, the purest pureland resides.

(in everyone's heart )

When the field of our mind is pure and clean, this Earth would be a pureland.

So, Venerable Yin Shun, my master also said, "When our mind is pure."

"The world would be a pureland"

So, in practicing Buddhism, we must learn to embrace the Buddha's heart as our own.

We need to make great selfless vows and carry them out unwaveringly.

This is why you take my missions as your own.

So, the origin and source of our path is the Jing Si philosophy,

Yesterday over 500 volunteers asked to become my disciple.

It is my hope that everyone can cultivate inner purity, make great selfless vows and uphold these vows unwaveringly.

(While serving others in society,) everyone is a living sutra we can learn from

Each person suffers differently so each person reveals a different truth for us to learn.

Therefore, as we learn about others stories, we can grow in wisdom.

This is the Jing Si philosophy and the Tzu Chi path we walk upon.

In choosing to walk this path we must go into the community to help people.

For the camp this time we saw many people who despite being ill or physically impaired and living in countries far away from Taiwan showed great determination and resolve to come back to their spiritual home.

They are truly my good disciples that I admire, respect, and love very much.

They overcame their physical limitations---they were determined to come back and so they feared no obstacles.

Of course we must also thank our volunteers in Taiwan who cared for them like family and accompanied them back to Hualien.

This is what we mean by we are all family.

Yesterday was the closing ceremony for the camp.

During the camp, they had heard many talks given by Tzu Chi members.

The lessons they shared came from their experience.

They weren't copied directly from sutras but came from their own personal experiences.

Through these, everyone got a better understanding of Tzu Chi's Four Missions and Eight Dharma Footprints.

Everyone is very clear about the Four Missions.

(But what does "Dharma Footprints" mean?)

(That's to say that our work)bear witness to the spirit of Buddhism which is loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.

Not only did you witness this spirit but you have also carried it out and seen how to be a living bodhisattva.

When we pass on the inner light we have innumerable lights can be lit.

May each of you bring this light you have back to your country to light up the light in others' hearts one by one.

(Then there will be innumerable lights shining)

May this light in everyone's heart be lit so that everywhere, there is such light so that disasters can be eliminated from the world and your countries of residence can have peace and harmony.

May you bring this bright light back home so that everyone can have peace and safety.

 

 

 

 

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 雲集法親心燈傳 行入人群集福緣 見證四心菩薩道 慧光普照遍全球 二○○八慈濟海外培訓委員慈誠精神研習會昨天圓滿落幕，來自全球二十四個國家、超過八百多位海外慈濟人，個個收穫滿滿。五百二十三位海外志工掛上佛心師志、正式受證，然而，受證不是畢業，而是責任的開始。 證嚴上人開示：「你打開小愛無明執著，才能展開心靈的開闊，才能去幫助別人。幫助了以後，還要無所執著，所以我們應該就是要說，以感恩心，因為我們在人間要所學習的，是行菩薩道。」 人間處處有苦難，慈濟人藍天白雲，悲智雙運，用大愛膚慰人心，因為能付出而成了苦難眾生的貴人，更灑下一顆顆大愛種子，引領更多人同行菩薩道。慈濟的四大志業八大法印，現在還要航向世界地球村，為人類發揮更大的力量。 證嚴上人開示：「一盞一盞，每一盞的燈都能點起人人心中的心燈，但願這樣的燈光能照遍全球，讓全球消弭災難，讓你們僑居地社會能祥和，但願，但願這一片光明帶回家庭，人人、家家平安。」 期許踏實走穩菩薩道，勤行靜思法脈，傳承慈濟宗門，成就一部部人間大藏經。 2008/11/25

 

 

 

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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: Blessed are those who can be at peace and content with being an ordinary person.

今日靜思語:如果人心能守住平凡. 安然自在, 就是福 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

971124人間菩提英文版The Pressing Hunger Crisis in Zimbabwe

The Pressing Hunger Crisis in Zimbabwe

每日播出內容 ｜ 300K 300K ｜ 56K

人間菩提--非洲糧倉之患

 

See what hardship people in Zimbabwe are enduring

(The U.N. estimates that)

45 percent of Zimbabwe's population

(will require food assistance by early 2009)

Some go as long as 3 or 4 days without eating anything solid while some survive on roots from edible plants and trees or wild fruits that have dried up or rotted

Look at the ordeal they are going through Zimbabwe used to be South Africa's food basket, yet, because of political strife.

(and the controversial land reforms,)

(the experienced farmers didn't have land to farm)

Hence, agricultural production has fallen considerably.

On top of that, severe drought also contributed to poor harvests, eventually leading to today's hyperinflation and the severe economic slowdown of the country.

Now the Zimbabwean dollar truly has very little value.

In July 2007, Mr, Cai, a Taiwanese businessman in Zimbabwe, came back to Taiwan.

He came to know about Tzu Chi through Da Ai TV.

Later, he came to Hualien and described to me what an impoverished life the Zimbabweans lead.

At the time, Mr. Huang, CEO of Global Affairs, was also at the Abode.

Hearing what Mr. Cai said, last November, he went to Zimbabwe with our volunteers in South Africa to survey the living conditions of the local people and see how hard their life actually is.

They went and saw that the locals are truly living in great hardship.

Our volunteers from South Africa already feel that the poverty in South Africa is bad enough as it is.

But when they arrived at Zimbabwe and saw the locals living conditions they witnessed even greater poverty.

The hyperinflation is truly horrifying and unbelievable

Why has the inflation rate surged so rapidly with no end in sight?

For example, a teacher's monthly salary is not enough to buy half a loaf of bread.

So, the local teachers would rather stay at home than go to school to teach.

Think about how serious the situation is.

Now, not only are food and commodity prices increasing because of surging inflation rates.

There is also a shortage of food and commodities.

Nevertheless, Mr. Cai and the other local businesspeople in Zimbabwe from Taiwan and China still managed to hold a large-scale aid distribution in November 2007.

They planned to hold another large-scale aid distribution a year after the first one.

However, with Zimbabwe being so short of food where were they to buy relief supplies?

So, they began storing up on supplies from the middle of this year.

For instance, they bought however much cornmeal.

(they could afford and was available) and stored it up bit by bit.

But recently, even with money, one cannot necessarily get cornmeal.

It's also very difficult to buy cooking oil.

So, they'd take empty oil containers with them.

(to whichever factories they heard produced oil,)

And buy it there and accumulate it in a big barrel bit by bit.

It was very difficult to collect 1,000 liters of oil they needed for the distribution event.

So, they bought. stored and gathered things up bit by bit over several months.

Can we imagine what hard work it must have been?

Can we imagine how many trips they had to make just together enough oil to fill half a bottle?

What hard work it was.

Likewise, we don't know how many trips or purchases they had to make to collect enough cornmeal to fill a bag.

But, that was how they purchased and accumulated supplies to be given out to the poor.

See, even with money, you can't buy what you want not to mention the fact the locals are poor.

Even the local businesspeople from Taiwan and China have also been affected.

But every one of them worked very hard.

(to overcome the difficulties they encountered) because all they had in mind was to carry out Tzu Chi's mission of love there.

See how they purchased and accumulated the supplies bit by bit until there was enough to give out to those in need.

Despite the hardship, they did it willingly.

They didn't mind the trouble, they had to go through.

All they wanted was to help these people in need.

Seeing that my heart goes out to them

They are not rich themselves as the whole country is poor and in short supply of food and basic commodities.

On top of that, there is also the issue of hyperinflation.

It is truly very worrying.

See how our volunteers worked so hard and endured such hardship just to accumulate supplies to give to those in need.

Seeing that, now could I possibly not be moved?

They spent over six months purchasing and accumulating these supplies bit by bit until they had enough to give out to over 700 families at the aid distribution from Nov.7 to 9.

These supplies did not come easily.

The supplies that our volunteers gave to each family was worth around US$10.

Just US$10 provides so many supplies for a family to get by for a month.

How can we still continue to be wasteful?

We should encourage people to lead a frugal life.

If everyone in the family can practice frugality and be more diligent people will not be lacking in anything and ten society will be well-to-do.

So, we must not be wasteful and indulge ourselves in luxury.

Seeing so many people living in suffering, I feel so much pain and anguish.

What can we do to help them?

The locals are all very kind and good-natured and they accept their lot without resentment.

Before our volunteers went to give out supplies, I kept reminding them to be careful as the locals have been starving for some time and when they see the supplies.

(they might fight with each other for it)

But, the locals were very peaceful at the distribution and lined up in an orderly manner to receive the supplies.

It was very moving to see.

I am very grateful to our volunteers in South Africa for going to Zimbabwe to help this time.

I must also thank the local businesspeople from Taiwan and China for working together to overcome all difficulties to purchase the supplies.

What they have done is truly not an easy feat.

Seeing the hardship people in Zimbabwe are enduring, our hearts go out to them.

How are we to bring aid to people living on that land.

(that is in dire need of help?)

How are we to help so many people in suffering?

I am confident that as long as there are more loving people joining together bringing aid to the suffering will not be hard.

 

 

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 非洲糧倉陷貧困 黎民饑荒亟待援 克勤克儉灑愛心 居安思危作警惕 2007年開始，台商蔡慶洲成為辛巴威第一個慈濟種子，就此生根發芽，召募越來越多人，再次舉辦大型物資發放。證嚴上人在今天的志工早會提到，人世間許多地方雖然是苦不堪言，但是再深再大的傷痛，都要靠愛來撫平。上人也讚歎辛巴威與南非慈濟人，是靠著智慧度過難關。 南非的辛巴威物資匱乏，通貨膨脹嚴重，許多民眾只能以樹皮、樹根果腹，有45%的人口，急需糧食援助。當地台商蔡慶洲，不忍居民受苦難，帶著慈濟的愛，在去年底展開發放工作，事隔一年，當地慈濟志工在南非志工協助下，再度舉辦大規模發放，延續這份長情大愛。 證嚴上人開示：藍天白雲出現的地方，苦難眾生的身心，都會受到膚慰，真的是看到這樣的人間世界，雖然苦不堪，卻也是如冬天的暖陽，一樣溫馨。 這次的發放，當地志工早在好幾個月前就開始準備，因為當地物資缺乏，即使有錢，不見得買得到東西，志工只好一點一滴的收購民生物資，在不影響市場機制下，不斷的屯積，克服總總困難，才累積了發放物資。 證嚴上人開示：克勤、克儉、克難，也要承擔起了 慈濟的愛心，晴天要積雨時糧，我們以前的人所說的，我們現在的生活平平安安，也應該要提高警覺不要透支的浪費。 心存大愛克萬難，人人克勤克儉，未雨綢繆，懂得知足，才能平安度過每一天。 2008/11/24

 

 

 

 

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: Let our state of mind always remain positive no matter what we hear.

今日靜思語:要學習聽到任何話,都保持歡喜