20131003人間菩提 甘霖遍灑潤心田 Cultivating the Field of Our Heart
See how Tzu Chi volunteers in South Africa make do with scarce resources to hold volunteer training camps there. As we don’t have a large office there, every time they hold a training camp, they have to put up tents.
For the camp this time, Tzu Chi volunteers from four countries took part. See how our volunteers from Zimbabwe had to travel over 1,000 k by bus to attend the camp. Our volunteers from Mozambique and Lesotho also came.
Apart from sharing with one another, they also listened to my Dharma talks by watching our Da Ai TV programs, such as “Life Wisdom,” “Essence of the Bodhi Mind,” etc.
But I wondered if they understood what I said. In fact, they didn’t, but they still watched attentively as there were other volunteers translating for them. Because they spoke different dialects, those who understood English helped translate English into their dialects. Despite the language barrier, see how Tzu Chi volunteers are able to pass on Tzu Chi’s spirit and ideals to our local volunteers.
See how diligent they are. What’s special about this camp was that, apart from learning more about Tzu Chi’s principles and philosophy, they also shared with one another their experiences of caring for the ill, such as those suffering from AIDS, tuberculosis, cerebral palsy, strokes, etc. (This was what they had especially arranged for the camp attendees this time)
One volunteer from Mozambique also shared with everyone her own story. She’d suffered a lot in life. But having received the love and care of our volunteers from South Africa, she was inspired to give and has now become wealthy spiritually.
When she talked about her past suffering and how happy she is now, she became very emotional at one point and many volunteers quickly went over to comfort her. It’s very moving to see. This was the camp held in South Africa this time, in which our volunteers from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho also took part.
We also see our volunteers in Hong Kong rehearsing for the musical adaptation on repentance, which will be presented to mark the 20th anniversary of Tzu Chi Hong Kong. Everyone taking part observes a vegetarian fast. As the presentation will be given on Oct. 26 at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, everyone is working hard to practice.
Seeing that, I’m truly very touched. We also see China. As our winter aid distributions are approaching, Tzu Chi volunteers are visiting families in need to see what they can do to help this year. See how our volunteers care for the elderly and the needy with such mindfulness and love.
Some of them haven’t had visitors for a long time, so they were moved to see our volunteers. Our volunteers also offered to help clean up a grandpa’s house. Let me sweep the floor. There is also a young lady who suffers from congenital led defects and was abandoned by her parents when she was born.
Thankfully, a kindhearted couple adopted her. She is 23 years old now. She is very upbeat and also very good at embroidery. I embroidered the Bodhisattva because she’s compassionate. If everyone were as compassionate as her, wouldn’t the world be peaceful?
Tzu Chi volunteers often encourage her, so she’s very diligent in learning. Our volunteers also gave her many books at read, hoping that, through reading good books, more light can shine into her heart. Such is the power of love.
This year is also the 20th anniversary of Tzu Chi Singapore. Since 1998, Tzu Chi volunteers there have been caring for AIDS patients, offering them aid, comfort and emotional support. See how well their first care recipient with AIDS is doing.
In recent years, our volunteers also care for AIDS inmates in prison. Before, they might go back to jail time and again after being released. However, under Tzu Chi volunteers’ guidance, many have changed. Apart from becoming better persons, they also work to give back to society.
There are many such examples. So, the Buddha’s teachings can be applied in different countries and cultures. Regardless of which country and society it is, as long as we bring the Dharma there and give with genuine love, we can surely help to better the place.
Indeed, everyone shares the same nature and heart as the Buddha’s. All around the world, people may be of different ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds, speak different languages, etc., but their hearts and minds are all the same.
When our minds perceive an image, we’ll be inspired to think and see what the right things to do are. The Chinese character of “think” is made up of two words with “field” on top of “heart”, reminding us to work hard to cultivate the field of our heart so that the seeds of goodness can keep growing from our heart and be shared among more people.
So, no matter what our minds perceive, I hope that everyone can think deeply and work hard to cultivate their inner fields like a diligent farmer so that we can bring about beauty, peace, and harmony in the world and help to relieve the spiritual suffering of people. This is what we’re recruiting volunteers to do.
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