20160506 虔誠一念傳大愛 Spreading Great Love with Sincerity
People’s hearts require nourishment from the water of Dharma, and the lands of the world also require this nourishment.
In Canada, forest fires have been burning for many days and have reached the residential areas. People in surrounding areas also had to quickly evacuate. Over a hundred thousand people were forced to leave their homes. More than 1,100 firefighters are struggling to contain the fires that are approaching residential areas. This is a huge disaster of the land.
It is reported that this is set to become the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history. Large areas in western Canada are at the red level of danger for forest fires, and the situation is dire. Even after the burning fires are put out, they come back again when the wind blows on the smoldering ashes.
Seeing these natural disasters, humans need to reflect on themselves why disasters happen. We feel helpless. What do we do? It is heartbreaking to see this.
Also, in Kenya, a six story-building suddenly collapsed. More than 30 people have died and over 80 are missing. Therefore, we must always be sincere and pious in our hearts and purify our minds. We must nourish our minds and hearts with Dharma and bring out the power of love. This will make people’s minds peaceful and thus make society safe.
We also see that a photo exhibit was held in Marikina City in the Philippines. Many large, devastating disasters have struck the Philippines in the past few years. Tzu Chi volunteers there always provided help, such as launching cash-for-work programs, working with those affected by the disaster and helping the local economy recover.
Therefore, the relief efforts by volunteers in the Philippines over the past years provides rich resources to show people what Tzu Chi did in the Philippines. So, they are holding a photo exhibit in Marikina City.
Volunteers also introduced the concept of Buddha Day and the ceremony to visitors and how orderly and solemn the ceremony is. The photo exhibit allowed the locals to recall their experiences with the disasters and show them the religious spirit of compassion and love. Tzu Chi’s compassion can be traced back to the Sakyamuni Buddha, who expounded the Dharma, which now has spread around the world.
This is how there is a group of volunteers in the Philippines, who feel others’ pain as their own and reach out to help even strangers, giving of themselves with great joy and equanimity.
The efforts and love of these volunteers can be seen through the photos. Seeing how mindful the volunteers in the Philippines are is very moving.
Volunteers in Hualien are also preparing for Buddha Day. Dharma masters of the Abode have been rehearsing at the Jing Si Hall in the past few days. Buddha Day is two days away.
This year, Tzu Chi volunteers in Taipei will hold the Buddha Day Ceremony in two places simultaneously because half of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Plaza will be used for a large concert, so we can only use half of the plaza. This year, people who live closer to the Taipei City Hall can go to the Buddha Day Ceremony at the Taipei City Hall Plaza, which will be synchronized with the ceremony at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Modern technology is truly convenient. The emcee of the ceremony can be at the Da Ai TV station and synchronize the two ceremonies. This is the benefit of technology, and I am grateful that it can be used in this way.
We also saw staff from the Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital going around the neighborhood to invite people to participate in the Buddha Day Ceremony. This is to plant a seed of goodness in their hearts, let them know more about Buddhism through participating in a solemn ceremony and inspire love in their hearts.
Our physicians and community volunteers visited residents in the neighborhood. It was really moving. Even when seeing patients, doctors invited patients to come celebrate Buddha Day with them. Indeed, physical health needs the help of doctors, but spiritual health requires sincerity.
Also, on this date in 2002, Tzu Chi’s sign language presentation of the Sutra of Profound Gratitude to Parents debuted at the Hualien Jing Si Hall. From that day on, this presentation of the Sutra of Profound Gratitude to Parents has been performed in many locations in Taiwan as well as in prisons to inspire the inmates. The sign language presentation of the Sutra of Profound Gratitude to Parents has inspired many people to repent and reflect on their deeds and care for their parents at home.
Besides being performed in prisons, this presentation has also been performed by Tzu Chi volunteers in 14 other countries. This sutra teaches people to practice filial piety and care for our parents and inspires love in people’s hearts. It was first presented at the Hualien Jing Si Hall on this date 2002.
There are so many things to be grateful for which are very memorable. Such is Tzu Chi’s spirit and love. We are also grateful toward the composers, lyricists, the choreographer Joy Lu, and other volunteers. This is the power of love. It takes the cooperation of everyone with their wisdom to create such moving presentations.
The performers in the sign language presentation used their body movements and language to deeply move people. This all shows the power of love. This power of love is demonstrated by people. Thus, I look forward to seeing every one of us release the power of love in our hearts and help people.
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