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The world of Tzu Chi is like a big world stage where everyone has an important role to play; every one of us serves to benefit and help one another. Apart from lighting up our inner light, we can also bring light into the hearts of others.
Do not underestimate the light of one single candle or individual, because a million flickering lights from numerous individual candles (i.e. the collective might of our individual efforts) will be able to illuminate infinite worlds.
Lighting the light of inner clarity
There was once a young novice nun who cultivated alongside her mentor deep in the mountains. One day, she asked her mentor, “Dear Master, how can I make my heart bright and bring forth my inner wisdom?”
Her mentor simply said to her: “Light up the light in your heart—bring forth the brightness of the candle in your heart!”
Mystified, the young novice pondered over what she should do in order to understanding the true meaning of her mentor’s words.
Not long after, her mentor passed on and the young novice gradually grew up. She built up a spiritual cultivation community, and guided many disciples onto the Buddha Path. In the prayer hall of her monastic community, there was a corner in which a lighted candle would be added to the existing ones every day. As the days passed by, the number of candles increased and the hall too, would shine with the brilliance of yet another lit candle.
When the nun was in her seventies and nearing the end of her lifespan, (the question from many years ago still lingered in her mind.) Involuntarily, her eyes opened and looked at the lit candles that filled the hall. Then she mumbled to herself with a sigh: “My mentor advised me to light up the light within my heart. I have filled up the hall with bright candles, but how much inner light have I lit?”
Just as she was about to take her last breath, she opened her eyes and took in the sight of the numerous lit candles. This time, with a slight smile on her lips, she said to her disciples: “The brightness in the external environment is a reflection of the light of inner brightness in our hearts. Oh my disciples! If each and every one of you goes forth to spread the light of the teachings, darkness will be banished and the world will be so much the brighter. Dear disciples! Follow in my footsteps and do not underestimate the light from even just a lone lamp!”
Hopefully, all of us can not only keep the light in our hearts shining but also pass the flame on to many others. In this way, the brightness of Tzu Chi’s world can spread to every corner of the world and fill it up with limitless brilliance!
Excerpted from《净因三要》(“Jin Yin San Yao”) by Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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