20130911善護乾坤‧愛心交流Sowing Seeds of Goodness in Everyone
We often see news of wildfires raging forests around the world. How can our Earth withstand such damage caused by these wildfires? They not only burn the lands, but also trees. Trees can provide us with fresh oxygen and absorb the carbon dioxide in the air. They can also help to retain water underground and conserve soils.
So, trees are vital for life. However, for the sake of profits, people fell trees for sale in order to make a lot of money. WE even level and excavate mountains, pave roads and develop them into tourist attractions. See how people damage Mother Nature for the sake of profits. Over the course of time, these activities have brought much damage to the Earth.
Seeing how the Earth is being destroyed like this we should quickly work to tame people’s minds. It is said that high though mountains may be, people’s ambitions and desires are even higher. That says a lot about how greedy people are. But if we can tame people’s minds and turn their greedy into love for the land and people, everyone will become a seed of goodness.
The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings speaks of sowing seeds of goodness, which is to spread wholesome seeds in the fields of mind of people around the world so the seeds can sprout and grow into bodhi trees. Then, everyone will walk on the bodhi path, head in the right direction and serve as living bodhisattvas to spread the Dharma around the world. This is called turning the wheel of Dharma.
But what should we do to help turn the wheel of Dharma around the world? We see a good example in Mozambique. See how dedicated our volunteer, Denise, is. Even though she wore a cast on her ankle, she still took part in the rice distributions that they held three days in a row from August 11 to 13. Each distribution was very moving to see.
For the distribution in Matendene, due to road conditions, the truck loaded with rice couldn’t reach the distribution site, which was a church. So, everyone lined up to pass the rice all the way to the church fro the rice to be given out outside it. Inside of the church, Denise seized the chance to share Tzu Chi with the locals.
She explained that the rice was from Taiwan and how Tzu Chi started with scarce resources in Taiwan. She also showed video clips to people and patiently explained what they saw to them. Other local volunteers who were helped by Tzu Chi before also came onstage to share how they have changed. They did so to inspire love in people and let them know how they can also become spiritually wealthy.
So, the locals all understood where the aid they received came from and that they should cherish it and be grateful. Denise also led everyone to pray together. She is truly full of wisdom and love. So, nothing is impossible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Otherwise, in a country like Mozambique where many people are poor, how could she have possibly inspired more than 100 locals to with Tzu Chi?
At the distribution in Matendene, the vice president and secretary general of the local Red Cross were also present. They came at the request of their president, who attended our distribution last time and wished that Red Cross could also do the same to inspire the needy to give with love. At first, they expressed that they were just there to observe and learn.
But the more they observed, the more moved they were and the more involved they became. This is the result of love. As long as we have love in our hearts, we can inspire people regardless of religion and ethnicity as well as those from other charity groups. Our love is just like fresh air. So, wherever we are, there’ll be fresh air for those around us.
Our volunteers from South Africa also went to Mozambique to offer their guidance this time. Whatever task needed to be done, they would quickly fill in. See how our volunteers arranged for those who had difficulty moving freely to wait in a cooler area and then carried the rice to them and bowed low to show their respect when they handed the rice to them.
See how our local volunteers have been trained to give with such love from the bottom of their hearts. This is how we can help to turn people’s inner wheels with the Dharma. When people take in the Dharma and their inner wheels begin to turn, they’ll give rise to love and tap into their spiritual wealth within. We also see two volunteers sleeping under a tree.
After the distribution in Matendene on Aug. 12, two of our volunteers left for Muoanba to prepare for the distribution on the next day. They brought some blankets with them and changed several buses, but it got very late and they still had to walk for nearly an hour before they could get there. For safety reasons, they decided to call it a day and sleep under a tree and wait for daybreak to continue their trip.
See how they gave of themselves with such love. They didn’t mention this episode to anyone. But one volunteer who happened to see this take a photo of them sleeping and showed it to Denise. The photo moved everyone. But they said that they were just giving with love and they were happy to have such an experience. See how they give unconditionally.
They’ve truly done it. So, where there’s a will, there’s a way. As long as we have the will, we can bring about a beautiful world for all. See how Tzu Chi volunteers everywhere give of themselves with the same love and how the Dharma is taking root around the world.
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