20131028祈福淨心‧轉業造福To Purify People`s Hearts and Stop Creating Negative Karma
Seeing all these disasters showing how Nature is out of balance leaves me with many reflections. Why do such events occur in our world? It ultimately comes down to the causes and conditions that have been created. What we experience in these times are the results that have come to fruition. We now experience the consequences with many disasters happening bringing home the reality of life’s impermanence. We also see man-made crisis. In Baghdad, Iraq, several car bombs exploded around the city within a half-hour period. Seeing such a society filled with violence, we really feel for the citizens.
If everyone can have hearts of peace and bring out the love in their hearts to care for one another and live in harmony, won’t we all be able to have a very wonderful life? To be safe and go about our lives in peace… wouldn’t that be wonderful? But, people choose to create such violence. Man-made crisis such as this is even scarier than natural disasters, because disasters will pass and people can come to each other’s aid, so people can overcome their experience in time. But with man-made crisis, people have to live in perpetual fear. Such a life is truly suffering beyond words.
However, I’m grateful that our volunteers in countries around the world are all working to inspire more volunteers and bring out their spiritual riches. They are always giving of themselves. Take our volunteers in Hong Kong for example. Right now, our volunteers there are celebrating their 20th anniversary. It has been 20 years since Tzu Chi started in Hong Kong. During these 20 years, our volunteers there have been very mindful in spreading the seeds of love in Hong Kong. They have cultivated very diligently.
I remember that in the year SARS hit, people were all very afraid. Yet, our volunteers went on the streets to raise public awareness of preventative measures. They went out to distribute face masks and went to hospitals to give support to the medical personnel. That’s how they used their wisdom. Every time there’s a need, they’ll go there to help. Every year, they make the effort to make good saying available to the public so people can come in contact with wholesome, educational messages. They are very mindful in sharing Jing Si Aphorisms by putting posters on buildings or stickers on vehicles for people to see.
For their 20th anniversary celebration, they presented a sutra adaptation. All of the participants have to abstain from meat for a long period of time. There was an Under Secretary from the Home Affairs Department. She has been very supportive of Tzu Chi. It was her ringing the bell in the presentation. So, in Hong Kong, Tzu Chi’s 20th anniversary celebration includes their sutra adaptation presentation, which is well-supported by the government. More than 7,000 people attended their three presentations.
We also saw that in the months of preparation, volunteers abstained from meat, held study groups, and rehearsed. Through each process, their hearts gradually became cleansed. Amidst Hong Kong’s stressful, fast-paced world, their hearts have gradually become more calm and settled. They started to learn the Dharma and have truly begun to take the Dharma to heart for they are starting to live according to the Dharma.
When they presented the sutra adaptation, they were able to express the Dharma through their movements. Their presentations have truly enabled the public to accept the Dharma and every one united in a sincere prayer for Hong Kong and also the world. They held three presentations, with different participants for each. Look at how many people they have all dedicated to spreading the Dharma. This is not putting on a performance.
It is everyone learning the teachings and using their movements to speak the Dharma. It’s about getting more people to learn the Dharma and become awakened along with them. Many people, through their participation, were changed by the Dharma they learned.
We also saw our volunteer Luo Hengyuan. After he began to participate in the sutra adaptation, he came to deeply feel that everyone has committed acts of killing in their life without being aware of it. But they all think they haven’t done any bad deeds in their life. One time, he self-reflected and counted the number of animals and insects he has harmed of killed, directly or indirectly, including those he has eaten or offered for others to eat. It added up to over 50 species. He was very repentant.
We also saw our volunteer Yao Mian. She used to run a meat shop and butcher pigs. For a long time, she was uncomfortable with the line of business she did and wanted to change, but she could not make it happen. However, after hearing Mr. Luo’s sharing in the study group, she made up her mind to change. All it takes is one thought. Once she made up her mind, it became possible.
Now, she has closed her meat shop and switched to eating vegetarian, and is very active in doing volunteering work. All in all, people are unaware of all the wrong they do and the negative karma they’re creating. But, when they realize what they do is wrong, they can change immediately.
We also saw news from the Philippines Tzu Chi volunteers distributed rice to people in poverty. After receiving the rice, some did not keep it for themselves. One recipient quickly opened the bag and shared the rice with his neighbors, who are also poor, so they have rice to eat too.
Another recipient cooked the rice and shared it with street children. Even though these people are poor, they are rich in heart. They appreciate how hard to come by the rice is and feel they ought to let others share in the blessings too. There are so many heartwarming stories from our charity work.
So, the hearts of humanity aren’t always so bad Actually, it’s not that hard for people’s hearts to become more peaceful and balanced. As long as we give sincerely and mindfully, it can help people to become more peaceful and harmonious. With a harmonious society, we will have more peace and security.
In conclusion, there are many touching events I hope everyone will be mindful in watching Da Ai News which can also be viewed online. Everyone, please make the most of the technology we have today to learn what’s happening around the world and even more importantly, to know about the efforts of bodhisattvas in Tzu Chi and their bodhisattva ways. We really need to mindfully learn about these and learn from them.
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