20131025緣苦眾生築希望Holding Mother Nature in Awe and Inspiring Love in People
Looking around the world, we see that erratic climate has brought about one disaster after another in many places.
Since October, Japan has been affected by five typhoons or tropical storms. Some of them have brought disasters to Japan while others have caused severe devastation there. The Japanese government was even criticized for not having taken enough precautionary measures.
For the storm this time, the government has evacuated residents on an island. Seeing that, I’m comforted. After the evacuation, the storm changed its course and turned northeast away from Japan. This is very good news indeed. I hope the storm will gradually dissipate on the sea so that it won’t bring great disasters to the people in Japan.
I often remind everyone to remain prudent and stay on guard at all times. Indeed we must hold Mother Nature in awe and respect her. We need to have proper fear and reverence for her and we must love and safeguard her. That way, she’ll have mercy on us.
Likewise, when we come across unreasonable people, we should yield. It’s better not to confront them. It is better that way and society will also be more peaceful. It’s the same for disasters. So, we should respect Mother Nature and people.
I hope everyone can always have reverence for Mother Nature and love and respect everyone around us. If we can do so and remain prudent and on guard at all times, I’m sure people, society, etc. can all be safer.
We also see Australia. The wildfires there have been raging for more than a week. As it is impossible for fire fighters alone to put out the fires, airplanes have also been deployed to help. However, due to low visibility two aircrafts crashed.
On top of the fires, there were accidents like these. The situation there is very worrying indeed. So, Tzu Chi volunteers there have mobilized to help.
Last week, at a multicultural festival there, our volunteers seized the opportunity to solicit donations and encourage the locals to give of their love to help those affected by the wildfires. A city mayor was also there and he shared how he feels about Tzu Chi.
In Australia, whenever disasters strike, be it floods, wildfires, etc, Tzu Chi volunteers will never be absent from the relief work. Apart from providing aid, they also inspire people to give. See how the locals have been inspired to give back and help one another.
For this to be possible, we need to work hard to inspire love in people. Our volunteers truly have a bodhisattva heart. Wherever there are people suffering and no matter how far away they are, our volunteers will reach out to them.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Tzu Chi in several countries and regions, including Hong Kong. To celebrate the occasion, our volunteers in Hong Kong will present a musical adaptation on repentance and they’ve been rehearsing intensively for a long time. Starting in August, their drum team has also been practicing diligently.
This time, as many people want to watch the presentations, for those who didn’t get the tickets, they can attend our pre-debut presentation tonight. It’s very heart warming to see.
Hong Kong is a small place and many people there are very busy. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. See how our volunteers made time to study the repentance text. And, having understood the meaning of the text, many have learned to tame their minds.
They’ve come to realize the mistakes they’ve made as well as the importance of being filial to their parents and doing good. Many have changed their wrong ways. Learning that, I’m very comforted.
So, it takes people to spread the Dharma. If we don’t spread it, no one will learn about the Dharma. So, we truly need to work hard. But first of all, we must tame our minds by taking the Dharma to our hearts. Only then will we be able to spread the Dharma through our presentations.
So, we should first learn the Dharma to purify our minds and then share it with others through the songs, sign language, skits, etc. we present onstage.
Everyone can take part as long as they want to as everyone is equal. This is how Buddhism embraces everyone no matter who they are.
We also see Sichuan, China. After a quake hit Ya’an this April, our volunteers went there to help. So, they came across some children from very poor families. Ever since them our volunteers have never stopped caring for them.
They visited their homes to learn more about their conditions and then included them in the list of our regular tuition aid recipients so that they can study without worry and receive education without obstacles.
All in all, there’s love in everyone’s hearts. And when everyone’s love is pooled together, this warm, tender love will bring light to the dark corners of the world.
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