20131212信念堅定護眾生Giving with Our Inherent Love to Care for the Suffering
In many parts of the world, see how people suffer from harsh weather conditions. Some are hit by snow storms, and some are affected by flooding. It is truly very hard on people. Amidst bitter cold, those in refugee camps suffer most. Take for example the Syrian refugees living in camps in Lebanon.
In every tent there live people who have gone through much hardship. They once enjoyed very blessed lives--- Before the Syrian civil war, they lived in better conditions than they do now. But as the conflict worsened, they had to flee with their family.
How tragic and cruel life is for them. They’ve truly suffered unspeakably. All that they wish for now is to survive. But in such harsh weather conditions, see how they suffer from freezing cold. At this time in Taiwan, we already feel cold and often remind one another to keep warm and stay inside.
But, do the refugees have a choice not to stay outside? Do they have a choice not to live there in the snow? See how their tents have almost been buried in snow. How do the people in the tents feel? We should put ourselves in their shoes and feel their plight as our own. When will the winter sun shine again to bring them warmth and when can they leave the refugee camps and return to Syria to rebuild their homes?
What suffering it is. Life is indeed filled with much suffering, but if we can care for one another, there will warmth in the world. Only love can relieve suffering. We see our winter aid distributions in Hebei, China. Although it was below zero degrees Celsius, before daybreak, Tzu Chi volunteers had started preparing for the aid distributions.
For those who couldn’t come, our volunteers delivered the supplies to them. For those who had received aid, our volunteers paid home visits to them to see what else they could do to help. When our volunteers went to their homes to see how they were doing, their hearts all went out to them.
Use the comforter we gave you. Don’t store it away. It’s cold. You need it. Indeed, we should treat the elderly as our parents and the young as our own children. See how our volunteers respected and cared for the elderly and brought them love and warmth. They are truly very admirable.
In life, this is how we can care for everyone with compassion, wisdom, and love, which are the same as the Buddha’s. I hope that everyone can give with such love. Only when we see suffering people will we know how blessed we are and be inspired to give with love. This is what we should learn to do.
Compared to us, they live in very harsh conditions. It reminds us to count our blessings. We also see the Philippines. Although it was devastated by a super typhoon that destroyed many people’s homes, in the immediate aftermath, aid poured in from around the world. Many humanitarian groups, the U.N., etc. have all reached out to help.
We see that several countries have dispatched military aircrafts and vessels t transport supplies to the Philippines. The massive disaster in the Philippines this time has inspired many people to give with love. At my Dharma talks, I often speak of the pure, true nature of all of us. Everyone can give of the love in their hearts no matter what obstacles there may be in the way.
See how Tzu Chi volunteers in the southern hemisphere solicit donations for the Philippines under the beating sun. Drenched in sweat, they stand on the streets with donation boxes. Even if people look at them in doubt, they do not care, as they consider the work as a form of spiritual cultivation.
And in the northern hemisphere, undaunted by the freezing cold, Tzu Chi volunteers go out in snow also to solicit donations for the typhoon survivors in the Philippines. See how loving everyone is and how everyone gives of their love like this. Everything they do is out of love, and such sincere love is what makes our world beautiful.
Yesterday, in the Philippines, our volunteers gave out vouchers for Tzu Chi’s aid to typhoon survivors on the name lists provided by the local government. I’m very grateful to see that many locals helped to maintain order at the site. As one must have the voucher to collect monetary and material aid from us a few days later, many were worried that they couldn’t get one.
So, many locals stepped forward to help maintain order. As people understood what they said, they all lined up orderly to collect their vouchers. See, everyone has a loving heart. Such love is shared by the Buddha and all living beings. Every one of us has the same love and wisdom as the Buddha’s.
So, we must take in the Buddha’s teachings to awaken and open our hearts so that we can give with the love that is inherent in or hearts. Such is wisdom. Only when we learn the Buddha’s teachings will we readily give of ourselves will selfless love. Only then can we make our world more beautiful and perfect.
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