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 20110117--The Bodhisattva Spirit: The Four Immeasurable Minds(四無量心的真諦)

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發表主題: 20110117--The Bodhisattva Spirit: The Four Immeasurable Minds(四無量心的真諦)   20110117--The Bodhisattva Spirit: The Four Immeasurable Minds(四無量心的真諦) Empty周三 1月 19, 2011 10:57 pm

Date: January 17th, 2010
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject:The Bodhisattva Spirit: The Four Immeasurable Minds(四無量心的真諦)
Seeing our overseas Tzu Chi volunteers helping the local people, I’m very moved.
To see Tzu Chi volunteers who live in other countries embrace the Jing Si Philosphy and devote to Tzu Chi’s missions by helping people in need in their communities…this moves me greatly.
It’s difficult for these overseas volunteers to “recruit bodhisattvas” in their local country because they don’t have much chance to hear or see what Tzu Chi is about.
So, inspiring people to join Tzu Chi difficult.
In Taiwan, people have many opportunities to see what Tzu Chi’s spirit is because there is Da Ai TV which broadcasts programs 24 hours a day, and shows the most updated Tzu Chi work,
The programs shore real events and true stories.
They show how Tzu Chi volunteers in Taiwan give their love to help people in need.
This is in Taiwan.
It’s not hard for us living in Taiwan to inspire people to serve as bodhisattvas because we have Da Ai TV so they can witness the bodhisattva spirit and be inspired.
Therefore, we really have to cherish such favorable conditions and recruit more living bodhisattvas.
If there are more people doing good, it can help mitigate disasters.
Everyone must believe in this.
Doing good creates positive karma and this has collective impact.
It’s like the air…doing good is like injecting clean air into the atmosphere which dilutes the pollution.
This is something that must believe.
This is the law of karma that the Buddha teaches us.
So, we have to believe it.
This is not superstition.
It’s a belief based on insight and understanding.
The Buddha told us about the Four Noble Truths.
He told us the world is full of suffering but there are also ways of ending suffering.
This is why bodhisattvas go to living beings aid.
This is why Tzu Chi volunteers all have a common aspiration to relieve suffering and take action to help people who are in need.
Yet, when we first started our charity work, some people commented: “You’re challenging the law of karma by doing this.
The poor and needy deserve their suffering.
It’s retribution for the bad karma they committed.
Why are you trying to change things?”
You’re going against the law of karma.”
Have you heard such reasoning before”? (Yes)
But, if that’s the case, the Buddha would also be going against karma by coming into this world to help living beings because our suffering is as a result of bad karma we created in past lives.
Actually, it’s precisely because there’s suffering that the world needs bodhisattvas.
This is why bodhisattvas go to the help of living beings and why the Buddha came to this world.
A similar analogy that I often tell people is that of doctors.
It’s because people have illnesses that we need doctors.
Though you’re all very busy, time waits for no one.
So, while we’re busy with our family and work, if we can cut down on leisure time, there will be time for service work like Tzu Chi
So, it’s not the case that people are so busy that they don’t have time for Tzu Chi.
This is why the Buddha said that it’s harder for the rich to do good.
I’ve often commended the poor people in Myanmar for giving to charity despite being poor.
Though they have no money for a coin bank, they have a “rice bank”.
Every day before they cook their rice, they would take out a handful of rice to put into the rice bank.
After a few days, they would accumulate enough rice to feed a poor family.
Such is their love.
See how a handful of rice every day can be accumulated to feed a poor family.
Such is their spirit of altruism.
Compared to them, how can we say we have no time for service work?
So, I hope that all of us can make a fresh start in the new year.
Let us let go of any unpleasant experiences.
If, in the past, we had differences with people because of opposing views or an argument, let bygones be bygones.
From now on, we should know that we mustn’t form bad affinities with others.
Even if the relationship has already become somewhat strained, we should quickly try to reach out to them and make up with them.
For instance, due to hurt feelings, some may have withdrawn from the group but we should not give up on them.
We should reach out to them and give them our care and support, so they can regain their motivation.
We must practice loving-kindness & have no regrets.
We joined Tzu Chi because loving-kindness and compassion was inspired in us.
So, we chose to walk the Tzu Chi Path and it was a wise decision.
This path is correct.
So, take this path and walk on it without doubts.
Since this path takes you in the right direction, walk on it steadily.
So, with a heart of loving-kindness, do not have regrets and turn back.
Having this loving-kindness is to bring forth the heart of a Buddha.
The Buddha wishes for everyone to do good and cultivate blessings and wisdom.
So, we should have such loving-kindness.
Working with fellow volunteers, we must do so in unity and harmony.
We must also have a heart of compassion toward everyone, including our fellow volunteers as they share the same mission as us.
Having joined Tzu Chi, people will eventually transcend their afflictions.
So, we must remember that everyone is not yet a saint.
Everyone still has habitual ways.
Though they’ve already changed a lot, their old habitual tendencies will still come up and we’re just the same way with our habitual tendencies.
So, we should see one another as fellow practitioners who practice and grow together and compassionately embrace everyone…having no complaints or resentment toward them.
Instead, our goal should be to support them in learning the Dharma.
When we have such compassion without resentment toward everyone we’re truly practicing the Dharma and living it out in our actions.
Everyone, please remember this.
We must also practice and develop a joyful heart.
A joyful heart is pure, free of vexations.
We may work hard for Tzu Chi’s projects, but we should always keep a joyful heart.
That will nurture our wisdom-life.
Don’t become vexed or upset with others and create tensions and rifts.
Or, if there are a lot of projects to do, we shouldn’t think: “Why do we have to do all this? ”
Give our times, we must seize time to do more and we must develop insight and wisdom.
That’s where a joyful heart comes from.
If we always get upset with things and dwell on these negative feelings, how can we help others to change their mindset?
So, everyone, please remember not to do this.
Only then can our wisdom-life grow.
We must also develop a heart of equanimity by giving without seeking anything in return.
This is the way of Buddhas and Bodhisattva and contains profound truth
Give of yourself unconditionally.
Don’t expect people to “return the favor”.
If they “return it”, then it’ll be the end of that.
We should “keep it with others”, don’t ask for it back.
This is enlighted love…giving without asking for returns.
This is to have a grateful heart.
We should always be grateful and see every experience as an opportunity for learning and growth.
So, we should always be grateful.
I hope you all will truly practice the Four Immeasurable Minds…loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity and live them out in our Tzu Chi work.
To guide others, we must first transform ourselves.
(Source: Da Ai TV 人間菩提)
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