20141228急難救助‧法遍人心The Dharma in Disaster Relief
Malaysia’s worst floods in decades inundated vast areas, with floods in at least eight states. Two, three days ago, Tzu Chi volunteers had already mobilized to survey the extent of the disasters. With roads flooded, they used various means to reach the disaster sites by air or by land. They’ve overcome obstacles to obtain the most updated information. This show of love is truly very touching.
Yesterday, we had a videoconference with volunteers in Penang, Kelantan, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Melaka, and we were discussing how to combine our efforts and work together to provide aid to those in need. All Malaysian Tzu Chi volunteers must rally together. This requires everyone to work hand in hand, with one heart. What I ask of everyone is for everyone to look after each other because the flooded areas are very extensive. Some Tzu Chi volunteers’ homes are inevitably affected.
Furthermore, the debris leftover from the flood began to pile up more and more as floods receded. How should we clean up all this? It is overwhelming just seeing the aftermath. How are we going to clean up this massive aftermath of the flood? So, I asked the volunteers to consider the cash aid livelihood program.
With so many people affected by the flood, we should also try to revitalize the businesses. But if there are only a few volunteers, then the road to recovery will be long and slow. We should mobilize everyone to quickly clean up the disaster areas. Then, with the restoring of power and water, business sectors can then be revived. So I fully expect the Malaysian volunteers to quickly initiate the cash livelihood program.
The floodwaters affected at least eight states, a very large area. Tzu Chi volunteers have begun the exhausting work of selecting focal areas to provide relief, amassing volunteers, and designing a cash aid livelihood program to guide the survivors to a speedy recovery.
However, this time, I hope that everyone can unite as one and work together harmoniously by cherishing each other and use the spirit of solidarity and mutual love to inspire more volunteers to join our relief. Only when we help the survivors with this spirit can we give of ourselves with enlightened love; otherwise, given the magnitude of this disaster …
If we really make the bodhisattva’s vows, which is to walk the Bodhisattva Path, when causes and conditions come together and people are suffering as Buddhist practitioners we really must seize this opportunity to reach out to great numbers of people and help them out of suffering. So, we really need a lot of volunteers to mobilize quickly and go to meet their urgent needs. We now have this opportunity to help.
It is time to unite all volunteers in Malaysia, so every part of Malaysia will have people full of love. Then, this love can blanket entire Malaysia to heal every disaster survivor with love and fill people’s hearts with love and gratitude.
But I also worry about these volunteers will be very tired from all the relief work. I truly feel for them. Yet, I sincerely wish all my disciples can seize the opportunity to embark on this bodhisattva mission and fill their hearts with love and goodness. I truly hope that in this time’s relief, we can accomplish this well.
I also expect us in Taiwan to provide relief aid. Should the need arise, our doctors and members of TIMA (Tzu Chi International Medical Association) can be mobilized to provide free clinics. We can also send relief supplies. There is no power and water in the disaster areas now, and the prospect restoration is still far off. The best relief material now is Tzu Chi’s instant rice, which just needs clean drinking water to be edible, even cold water will do.
And now, our volunteers are already mobilizing. In Penang, more than 70 volunteers gathered at around 3 A.M. to take a flight to Kelantan. Volunteers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have mobilized and headed to the disaster areas to help. I also expect them to call out to the local communities and government to work together to assist those in need, especially after last year’s drive to inspire one million bodhisattvas. It is my sincere wish that this large group of bodhisattvas can contribute now to give their love.
In this disaster, we truly see the impermanence in life and the fragility of the environment. The forces of nature in extreme weather are beyond the control of humankind. Right now, the only thing we can do is to pull everyone together to help the survivors. In Taiwan, we also must give love. Of course, for the relief supplies in demand, we have to quickly ship them over there. This is disaster relief to meet the urgent needs.
Tzu Chi volunteers from Penang, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur have joined together in this disaster relief. In many places in Malaysia, Tzu Chi volunteers have set up relief centers and are busy preparing relief goods for people in the affected areas. Incredibly, when it was determined that Tzu Chi will provide instance rice to meet relief needs, some donating members of Tzu Chi responded by sending in the instant rice they’d already purchased.
“I think it’s only natural to offer things to people who need them more than we do. We don’t need to hoard up the goods. We can get some later when we need them.” It is so incredible. His love brought out his wisdom. It is not an easy thing to do. So, as human beings on Earth, living under the same sky and on the same land, how do we appreciate the laws of nature? How do we become united as one and work together in harmony and peace? The key is by living out the Buddha’s teachings in life.
We also saw an elderly volunteer in her eighties learning the Dharma every morning. She is so diligent.
“It takes 20 minutes to walk to the recycling station. That’s like exercise for me. I go there to listen to Master’s Dharma talk on the Lotus Sutra. I’m 83 years old. Master is also in her old age. I’m Master’s disciple. If Idon’t listen to her Dharma talk, that’s not respectful.”
She listens to the Dharma with respect. It’s not only to show respect. She also gains insights learning the Dharma. She even copies the sutra in Chinese calligraphy. Her insights help her to know more Dharma by heart.
At Tzu Chi’s recycling station in Kaohsiung, there are also elderly volunteers who are very diligent in learning the Dharma. There is one volunteer with a vision impairment. She listens to the Dharma attentively. Sometimes this volunteers would explain to the elderly volunteers the Dharma she heard from my talk. See, as long as you are determined, it is not hard to learn the Dharma. Even though the Dharma is profound and deep, it can be easy to practice the teachings in our actions.
This is the same with other volunteers, such as Dr. Duh and his wife. He is over 70 years old, but he sets up the mediation cushions for volunteers to listen to my Dharma talk. Everyone is very diligent in learning the Dharma. Doing this keeps them both physically and spiritually healthy. This is very good. This is being blessed.
I’m grateful for what people have done out of love. We hope more people will take the Dharma to heart. Now, the volunteers in Malaysia need to fill the land of Malaysia with love. Here in Taiwan, we need everyone to take the Dharma to heart and to widely purify people’s hearts.
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