20110412 --- Respecting All Life by Adopting a Vegetarian Diet (醫王勸素斷病源)

Date: April 12th, 2011 (Tuesday)
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Respecting All Life by Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

On March 11, Japan was devastated by a major earthquake and tsunami, which shocked everyone in the world. A month has passed, yet aftershocks are still occurring. Yesterday, at 5:16 p.m. local time, another powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Fukushima prefecture at the shallow depth of 6 km. We can imagine how badly the earth shock.

In fact, last night and this morning, Taiwan was also affected by earthquakes the struck off the shore of Kaohsiung and in the mountains of Yilan and Taoyuan. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Seeing all these disasters, we truly must quickly repent of our ways and encourage everyone to adopt a vegetarian diet. Only when we respect all life can we live in peace and safety. We truly mustn’t harm and kill so many lives just to satisfy our palate. But raising so much livestock for food, the air is polluted due to methane emissions. All this is a result of people’s ways of living.

We see how the city of Kesennuma in Japan was also devastated by the recent disasters. With fishing being the main industry there, the locals are now planning to head back out to sea to catch fish. However, as the radioactive water from the damaged nuclear plant has leaked into the ocean, is it safe to eat seafood now? But as seafood is a major part of the Japanese diet, the are planning to resume the industry.

Indeed, changing one’s way of living can be quite difficult at first because everyone would think that it’s been their way of living since they were born. So, to them, it’s just a natural way of living. But in fact, an even more natural way of living is to live in accordance with the laws of Nature. If we can live like that, we’ll be very healthy.

This is because in a sense, plants that Nature provides us with are the best medicine that can nourish our bodies. The purpose of eating is to cure our hunger and get the nutrients we need. For a meal, a variety of gains and plant foods cooked with vegetable oil and salt are already very nutritious. A balanced vegetarian diet can provide us with the nutrients we need.

That is why must be grateful for all the food we eat. Before we start each meal, we should put our palms together and practice the Five Contemplations before we eat. We should contemplate on what it takes for the rice and vegetables to be on the table for us to eat. We must be grateful to Mother Nature for the favorable climate that has allowed plants to flourish and grow during different seasons of the year, so that our bodies can be nourished with what Nature provides. So, the foods that Nature provides us with in different seasons of the year are enough to nourish our bodies. All this is laws of Nature.

But despite such an abundance of food, people still want to eat all kinds of animals, be they creatures of the land, sky or in the water. Must we eat meat to survive? Since the Earth is home to all animals, including humans, we should live with one another in harmony. No matter what kind of animal it is, we should treat them all with respect. Don’t they also strive to survive like us? This is what we should reflect more on, and not harm living beings in Nature just to satisfy our own ways of living.

We see how doctors at our Tzu Chi hospitals care for patients with the Buddha’s heart. In the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings, it says, ”Great healers can accurately diagnose patients’ ailments.” This is also what our doctors do and how they guide their patients. If their patients have high blood pressure, etc., they’d advise them to change their diets because the conditions they have are due to an oversupply of nutrients.

“We asked the patient to keep a record of his diet and discovered that he liked to eat high calorie food before bedtime, like rice with braised pork, which is very bad for his health. So, we advised him to exercise every day and taught him how to calculate his calorie intake.”

We also see that one of our doctors not only advises his patients to have a light diet, but also cooks vegetarian dishes at home to ensure that his family can have a lighter diet and stay healthy. See how happy his family is. This is what everyone can do.

We also see doctors at our hospital in Dalin promoting a vegetarian diet. Last year, on my third trip to thank our recycling volunteers around Taiwan for the work they had done over the past 20 years, I visited our hospital in Dalin. The time, many of our doctors prepared vegetarian dishes for me to taste. They were truly very endearing. It was already a joy to watch them cook before even tasting the food they made. It was truly a feast for the eyes and stomach. The food they cooked not only tasted good, but also looked and smelled good. This was how the doctors at our hospital in Dalin cooked vegetarian dishes to share with me and their patients. It was truly very heartwarming.

Seeing all this, I am reminded of how hard it was when we first began our medical mission.I also saw on Da Ai News that staff at our hospital in Taichung as well as 300 plus Tzu Chi volunteers from Zhanghua and Taichung gathered at the new hospital buildings in Taichung at five o’clock in the morning to help clean up the new building as the construction is nearly finished. See how everyone works together like one big family.

As we have come a long way to be where we are today, everyone cherishes the hospital like their home. Some were even worried that they couldn’t get the chance to help. Even nurses who had just finished a night shift rushed over to help with the cleanup right after they got off work. Indeed, the hospital is just like home to them, so everyone considers this their responsibility.

What’s most touching to see is our medical culture of humanity and how our doctors respect all life. In addition to treating patients’ illnesses, our doctors also look after their minds by encouraging them to switch to a vegetarian diet as a way to respect all life and prevent more illnesses from occurring. That’s how our doctors educate patients to safeguard their health. So, be it the hospital buildings or patients, every one of our medical staff mindfully gives of themselves with love. It is indeed very moving to see.

(Source: Da Ai TV 人間菩提)

Date: April 12th, 2011 (Tuesday)
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan 證嚴上人開示
Subject: Respecting All Life by Adopting a Vegetarian Diet 醫王勸素斷病源

三月十一日那一天，震驚了國際間的日本的強烈大地震，一個月過去了；可是昨天在日本當地下午五點十六分的時刻，突然之間又是一波強烈的地震，規模七也是強烈，深度才有六公里而已，這是很淺的。所以可以想像，搖晃得多麼厲害。其實昨天晚上高雄的外海也有發生地震，在宜蘭跟桃園的山區裡，也有發生地震，好在都是平安的。
On March 11, Japan was devastated by a major earthquake and tsunami, which shocked everyone in the world. A month has passed, yet aftershocks are still occurring. Yesterday, at 5:16 p.m. local time, another powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Fukushima prefecture at the shallow depth of 6 km. We can imagine how badly the earth shock. In fact, last night and this morning, Taiwan was also affected by earthquakes the struck off the shore of Kaohsiung and in the mountains of Yilan and Taoyuan. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

我們能不趕快來把握時間？人人現在該懺悔的時刻了！我們現在人人推動齋戒與素食，我們要尊重生命，我們的生命才會安全，不要為了一時的口感，傷殺那麼多的生命，造成了天地之間的這種污染，破壞大地、破壞清新空氣，一切的一切都是在我們的生活習慣中。
Seeing all these disasters, we truly must quickly repent of our ways and encourage everyone to adopt a vegetarian diet. Only when we respect all life can we live in peace and safety. We truly mustn’t harm and kill so many lives just to satisfy our palate. But raising so much livestock for food, the air is polluted due to methane emissions. All this is a result of people’s ways of living.

也看到了在日本氣仙沼市，因為這個地方靠海，都是從事漁業，他們又是開始計畫又要出海捕魚。其實大家都知道，那種的輻射污水，也是漏到海裡，那就是受了污染，現在的海產可吃嗎？可是他們的生活習慣，還是有這樣的規畫。
We see how the city of Kesennuma in Japan was also devastated by the recent disasters. With fishing being the main industry there, the locals are now planning to head back out to sea to catch fish. However, as the radioactive water from the damaged nuclear plant has leaked into the ocean, is it safe to eat seafood now? But as seafood is a major part of the Japanese diet, the are planning to resume the industry.

的確要改變自己的生活習慣是起頭難。因為人人都以為，我生下來就是這樣的生活過來，以為這是很自然。其實更自然的，那就是要配合天地的循環，就是要很自然的生態，讓自己能健健康康的。
Indeed, changing one’s way of living can be quite difficult at first because everyone would think that it’s been their way of living since they were born. So, to them, it’s just a natural way of living. But in fact, an even more natural way of living is to live in accordance with the laws of Nature. If we can live like that, we’ll be very healthy.

所以應該要說，自然的植物，無不皆是良藥，吃飯就是療治我們的飢餓，提升我們的營養，一餐飯有五穀雜糧，有青菜，油也可以從植物煉成了油，青菜經過了油鹽來調和，還是可以很豐富的食物。素食的餐飲，也應該都是有夠營養的。
This is because in a sense, plants that Nature provides us with are the best medicine that can nourish our bodies. The purpose of eating is to cure our hunger and get the nutrients we need. For a meal, a variety of gains and plant foods cooked with vegetable oil and salt are already very nutritious. A balanced vegetarian diet can provide us with the nutrients we need.

所以我們人類，應該都要用感恩心，我們每餐要吃飯的時候，雙手合十，當觀來處。我們叫做「食存五觀文」，要去觀想這碗飯的來處是怎麼來？這桌菜是怎麼來的？我們要感恩天，感恩地－－有天，順暢的天氣，大地的萬物能茂盛，順著季節不同的蔬菜，無非就是要調適我們的身體，很自然的生活。所以說，天地之間也隨著這樣的季節，來滋養我們的生命，這都是自然的法則。
That is why must be grateful for all the food we eat. Before we start each meal, we should put our palms together and practice the Five Contemplations before we eat. We should contemplate on what it takes for the rice and vegetables to be on the table for us to eat. We must be grateful to Mother Nature for the favorable climate that has allowed plants to flourish and grow during different seasons of the year, so that our bodies can be nourished with what Nature provides. So, the foods that Nature provides us with in different seasons of the year are enough to nourish our bodies. All this is laws of Nature.

但是現在的人，天上飛的、水裡遊的、地上跑的，通通可以吃，飲食到底一定要吃大魚大肉嗎？天地養萬物，我們人類應該與萬物共生存，不管是地面走的、地上養的，我們應該也都要尊重生命。我們都要生存，何況牠呢？這都是我們應該要多來反省。不要為了生活，對大自然界的生物有傷害。
But despite such an abundance of food, people still want to eat all kinds of animals, be they creatures of the land, sky or in the water. Must we eat meat to survive? Since the Earth is home to all animals, including humans, we should live with one another in harmony. No matter what kind of animal it is, we should treat them all with respect. Don’t they also strive to survive like us? This is what we should reflect more on, and not harm living beings in Nature just to satisfy our own ways of living.

我們剛剛已經看到了，我們的醫療志業體，我們的大醫王就真正的是如佛心一樣。大醫王分別病相，這不都是在《無量義經》裡面的經文嗎？我們的大醫王都是指導人人，你有這樣的病，就是要戒，戒你的口欲，這樣這樣病，都是營養過剩了。
We see how doctors at our Tzu Chi hospitals care for patients with the Buddha’s heart. In the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings, it says, ”Great healers can accurately diagnose patients’ ailments.” This is also what our doctors do and how they guide their patients. If their patients have high blood pressure, etc., they’d advise them to change their diets because the conditions they have are due to an oversupply of nutrients.

新陳代謝科黃怡櫻主任：「首先我們先請他做飲食記錄，發現他在睡前，都很喜歡吃高熱量，比如焢肉飯這樣的宵夜，會造成身體很重的負擔。還有請他每天要運動，教導他卡路里的計算…。」
“We asked the patient to keep a record of his diet and discovered that he liked to eat high calorie food before bedtime, like rice with braised pork, which is very bad for his health. So, we advised him to exercise every day and taught him how to calculate his calorie intake.”

還有醫師不只是指導病人，他也會下廚房去，讓整個家庭這樣的清淡生活，調養自己的健康，這也都是家庭樂，真的這都是，我們要人人瞭解。
We also see that one of our doctors not only advises his patients to have a light diet, but also cooks vegetarian dishes at home to ensure that his family can have a lighter diet and stay healthy. See how happy his family is. This is what everyone can do.

也看到大林慈院我也去，去年這是環保二十年，我就是環保繞了一圈，第三次到大林慈院。很開心的，大醫王人人都要請師父，來嚐嚐他們的功夫。看到他們真的是很可愛，這不用怎麼吃，只要這樣看過去，就已經很歡喜。這種的享受餐宴，那一天真的是「眼睛也飽、肚子也飽」，真的都是美味，色香味，真的實在是很美。這就是我們大林的大醫王、白衣大士，露了一手功夫，真的很溫馨。
We also see doctors at our hospital in Dalin promoting a vegetarian diet. Last year, on my third trip to thank our recycling volunteers around Taiwan for the work they had done over the past 20 years, I visited our hospital in Dalin. The time, many of our doctors prepared vegetarian dishes for me to taste. They were truly very endearing. It was already a joy to watch them cook before even tasting the food they made. It was truly a feast for the eyes and stomach. The food they cooked not only tasted good, but also looked and smelled good. This was how the doctors at our hospital in Dalin cooked vegetarian dishes to share with me and their patients. It was truly very heartwarming.

看到了，就會想到了，我們醫療志業體開始的時候，都是很辛苦的。我也看到了台中慈院，全院的同仁們，還有彰化、臺中，這個大區，也浩浩蕩蕩三、四百人，早上五點多就集合，來到二期工程。因為二期工程快要完工了，他們就是要開始清掃了，這就是一個大家庭。雖然我們要做的一切事，都是起頭難，但是人人都把它，當成了自己的家。要打掃，有的還怕掃不到，連護理科，他們上大夜班的，大夜班下來，也都是這樣投入。這實在是就是家，家務事人人都要盡一分責任。
Seeing all this, I am reminded of how hard it was when we first began our medical mission. I also saw on Da Ai News that staff at our hospital in Taichung as well as 300 plus Tzu Chi volunteers from Zhanghua and Taichung gathered at the new hospital buildings in Taichung at five o’clock in the morning to help clean up the new building as the construction is nearly finished. See how everyone works together like one big family. As we have come a long way to be where we are today, everyone cherishes the hospital like their home. Some were even worried that they couldn’t get the chance to help. Even nurses who had just finished a night shift rushed over to help with the cleanup right after they got off work. Indeed, the hospital is just like home to them, so everyone considers this their responsibility.

更重要是我們的人文，人文就是尊重生命，除了醫院在做搶救生命的磬石，最重要的是心念－－要搶救他的生命，還要顧他的慧命。要讓他的健康，在未生病之前先防範，所以衛教也是平行。這都是我們的醫療，從硬體到軟體，人人用心、用愛，這一分的人文，真的很令人感動。
What’s most touching to see is our medical culture of humanity and how our doctors respect all life. In addition to treating patients’ illnesses, our doctors also look after their minds by encouraging them to switch to a vegetarian diet as a way to respect all life and prevent more illnesses from occurring. That’s how our doctors educate patients to safeguard their health. So, be it the hospital buildings or patients, every one of our medical staff mindfully gives of themselves with love. It is indeed very moving to see.

(Source: Da Ai TV 人間菩提)