人間菩提—20150415留存美善在人間Bringing the Light of Love to Our World
Life is impermanent, and the land is fragile. What is there to fight about? Being safe and well is a blessing. So, when the world is peaceful, it is everyone’s blessing. For people to enjoy blessings, Nature’s elements must be in harmony. But there are times when Nature’s elements become imbalanced, and so does the human body when we fall ill. Take the people in Sierra Leone for example. Many people there live a hard life and lack medical resources. So, when Ebola spread to Sierra Leone, the situation there is very worrying.
Even many of the healthcare workers who went to Sierra Leone to serve were infected and died. So, we had been keeping an eye on Sierra Leone and preparing to provide aid to them. Where there is a will, there is a way. Around this time, a group of people appeared to give us a hand--- In March Healey International Relief Foundation (HIRF) in U.S. came to Taiwan to sign an MOU with Tzu Chi to help Sierra Leone together. When they came to Taiwan, the container of supplies that we shipped to Sierra Leone had also arrived in Sierra Leone.
So, they told us that they could help distribute the supplies to people in Sierra Leone. Hearing that, my mind was put at ease. Among them was a Mr. Fomba who is a Sierra Leone native. He lives in the U.S. and had a family there. Learning that Tzu Chi wanted to help Sierra Leone, he decided to go back and do all he can to help his own people. So, he took part in Tzu Chi’s events to learn more about our volunteer work.
The day he came to see me, he sincerely requested to take refuge in me. All he hoped was to serve as our volunteer and went to the Ebola-plagued areas where most people avoided. Later in March, they went to Sierra Leone and visited the local medical facilities and social welfare agencies caring for children in need, etc. to access their needs. In three days, they gave out our aid supplies, including 15 tons of instant rice, to them. The hospitals there are very crude and simple.
So, when they received our portable beds, they were all very happy. Many patients had to sleep on the ground as there were not enough beds. With our portable beds, the patients can now have beds to sleep on. They were amazed to see how the beds we gave them can be folded and put away and how sturdy they are to sleep on. So, they were very happy to receive our portable beds and blankets. See, although there are people suffering in the world, the r are also people who will bring them love and warmth.
When we work together to give with love like this, we’ll have greater strength to serve more people. Turning to Taiwan--- Nantou County is a popular tourist destination, but there is no incinerator there. Since the start of this year, as some incinerators in its neighboring counties have been closed down for maintenance, Nantou has nowhere to send its garbage to. Right now, over 7,000 tons of garbage have piled up in Nantou, sending out a stench, and polluting the environment. Xiaoliuqiu Island off Taiwan is also the same.
It is also a popular tourist attraction. But now, tons of garbage has piled up there. Seeing so much garbage, we should work harder to encourage people to recycle and reduce the garbage they create. To reduce garbage, people need to start with themselves. This is the only solution. Most importantly, we shouldn’t throw things away at every turn. Seeing the garbage problem, we should be very grateful to our group of recycling volunteers. They not only do recycling, but also promote it.
They tirelessly give of themselves with love to sort out recyclables from garbage and encourage others to recycle. This is how they give with a heart of utmost sincerity. They’re sincere, upright, trustworthy and honest, which is the trait of all Tzu Chi members. Tzu Chi is nearly 50 years old. When the Abode was first built, the main hall as very small, but we still listed all the donations we’d received and how we spent them on the wall. We listed the donations we received and the financial aids we gave out on the wall.
Below were the photos of our care recipients to show people how their donations were used and how much the needy suffered. This was what we did before and what we still do now as we hope to inspire love in everyone’s hearts. Over the years, our work has increased because the number of people we help has grown. But compared to the past, our work now is much more thoughtful. Wherever there are people in need or a disaster strikes, Tzu Chi volunteers will quickly mobilize to bring care and timely aid to people.
They also inspire everyone to give rise to love from their hearts in the hope that more people can give themselves. This is what we look forward to. Such power of love and warmth comes from our hearts. Starting from Taiwan, Tzu Chi now serves in many parts of the world. Doesn’t our love shine like a shimmering light? With love in our hearts, we can continuously bring light to others. Bit I hope that our light won’t be so glaring that it hurts people’s eyes.
I hope that it will be a gentle glow that never extinguishes in the world. With this light, people can be guided toward the right direction in life. So, we should never let our inner light go off. This is what we must work hard to do. As long as the light of love glows, our world will be blessed.
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