20151007人道精神予救護 Ending Suffering by Taming People`s Minds
In this world, when people lose sight of their direction in life, their minds will go astray. Once their minds go astray, what they do will bring disasters to the world. See how many people become refugees simply because a few people’s minds have gone astray. Now, many countries are faced with the refugee issue. Is it more important to fulfill the moral obligation of helping refugees or take into consideration their countries’ economies? This is truly a dilemma.
However, no one should shirk such a moral responsibility as people around the world are all paying close attention to the refugee issue. So, this is truly an extremely difficult choice. In fact, if a country is peaceful, then its people can live there until old age without having to flee to other countries. Isn’t that very nice? If so, there wouldn’t be so many refugees in the world.
So, if everyone’s mind can be purified, we can all enjoy peace and safety and live a happy life. How wonderful that would be! However, life is filled with suffering. For example, when natural disasters strike, we suffer. In 2013, from Sept. through Nov., the Philippines was affected by a serious of disasters. One of them was the major earthquake that hit Bohol in Oct.
After the quake, Tzu Chi volunteers went to build temporary classrooms for the local children. See how beautiful these temporary classrooms are! Originally, our volunteers wanted to pay the children’s parents who came to help. But they refused, as they thought that serving was also a form of education for their children.
including the parents, people in the community, and government personnel.
I’m glad to build our own classrooms. I’m happy that Tzu chi comes to help us.
The floor tiles of the classroom were all made by the locals. See, all we did was teaching them how to make the tiles and they all willingly gave of themselves for the sake of their children. The locals are truly full of love.
It’s hard work to make floor tiles when it’s so hot but I’m very happy. Many classrooms were damaged. Being able to help is very meaningful.
I’m very happy to help because this is the responsibility of the entire school. I’m honored to be part of this and work together with everyone to build our own classrooms.
The temporary classrooms are so sturdy that they’ve withstood several typhoons. Many local entrepreneurs also flew to Bohol on a chartered flight to see the classrooms. While there, they’ve seen how kindhearted the locals are as Tzu Chi volunteers have told them how extensive the disaster area is and how the locals have been inspired to serve even after experiencing such a major disaster.
They’ve also seen with their own eyes how the locals have learned to build the temporary classrooms and how the children have beamed with smiles as they have a place to study again. Our volunteers in the Philippines have also gone to Bohol to give out rice and other supplies several times. There are indeed many heartwarming stories to share.
Tzu Chi volunteers are really living bodhisattvas. They’ve put into practice what the Buddha teaches us to do. With an all-embracing heart, wherever there’s a disaster, they’ll be there to help those affected and bring peace to their body and mind. What they’ve done is indeed very moving.
We also see Myanmar. Over two months ago, heavy rains have caused severe flooding across Myanmar. Even before the floodwaters receded, Tzu Chi volunteers had traveled far to the disaster areas to bring care to those affected. They even organized a culinary team to prepare hot meals for the flood victims for over a month.
The novices in a monastic school in Yangon also worked with our volunteers to prepare hot meals for the flood victims. See how the lay and monastic practitioners worked hand in hand to help those affected. This is how the Dharma can inspire people to give. Our volunteers also gave out rice seeds and fertilizers to the local farmers. See how they sun bathed and soaked the seeds before planting them.
For over a month, our volunteers have been giving out rice seeds to the farmers in Myanmar. Our volunteers from Malaysia and Indonesia also went to help. Tzu Chi volunteers from other countries also needed to lend a hand this time as the disaster area is vast and many people have been affected. This is in Myanmar.
In Taiwan, our volunteers have done a great job in carrying out our charity and medicine missions together. All across Taiwan, our volunteer doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, etc. often bring medical care to those in need in remote areas. See how one of our volunteer doctors has been regularly care to a grandpa inn Miaoli for over a decade.
Every time he visits the grandpa, they will hold hands and see who has a stronger grip. Of course, he always lets the grandpa win. They’re really like father and son. This time, when he examined the grandpa’s foot and saw an ant on it he didn’t just squish it. That’s not what he did. Instead, he brushed it and blew it away.
What a living doctor he is! He not only cares for people, but even a tiny ant as he doesn’t have the heart to kill it. All in all, our world is truly very beautiful. We should be very grateful for living at the same time as these living bodhisattvas.
Aren’t we really fortunate and blessed to have so many kindhearted people in this world who are here to relieve the suffering of others? But how are we to end suffering in this world? We should start with taming people’s minds by sharing the Dharma with them.
首頁 