(Photo source: Envato)
57 years ago, Tzu Chi started with a daily savings of fifty cents a day in the bamboo coin bank. Thirty members raised funds in the wet market, streets, and alleys to give rise to the Four Missions of Tzu Chi Foundation. It was a lot of hard work, and the process was quite miraculous, but this is not a myth. Together with everyone’s aspirations and good affinity, Tzu Chi made it to the present day and has left the footsteps of great love in more than one hundred countries.
Every day, I worry about many things, and there is always a sense of heaviness in my mind as I also worry about the imbalance of the four elements in nature. I cannot bear to see sufferings in this world, and I am grateful to be surrounded by so many kind Bodhisattvas, sharing my worries and concerns. So many Tzu Chi volunteers from all over the world are all doing Tzu Chi’s work in unity. They enter the crowd and put their love into action in this world. I feel my life has value and feel very contented.
Tzu Chi was founded through having to overcome many difficulties. Although monastic life is tough, we are still very happy with it. Whenever we hold distributions in disaster relief, we see people who became poor because of illnesses and people who became ill because of poverty. Is it good enough to provide only three meals to families facing difficulties? Hence, assistance cannot be provided only as a one-time effort. Charitable work must be done for the long term. Love and faith have to be cultivated bit by bit over a period of time.
During the early years, I asked everyone to set aside fifty cents for charity before going to the market to buy groceries. A member asked, “Master, why the hassle? Fifty cents a day is fifteen dollars a month. I can just donate fifteen dollars a month.”
I said, “I do not want you to form aspirations only once a month. I want you to do good deeds every day.”
Everyone should think about doing good deeds and helping people every day. Such kind thoughts and aspirations are valuable; this is how we create blessings.
As long as you have a loving heart and are willing to give, whether ten dollars or one hundred dollars when combined, it becomes an immeasurable amount of wealth and strength. When we want to cultivate blessings and wisdom concurrently, we must not just create blessings for our own sake. We must have wisdom and put aside our egos to invite others to join us in continuously creating blessings so that the collective blessings will always be there.
Taiwan has also experienced major disasters in the past few decades. Be it at the front line or as a backup, Tzu Chi volunteers from all over the world will be mobilized to provide relief and assistance. This is also due to the power of fifty cents that enabled us to achieve so many things. After the September 21 earthquake, Tzu Chi built more than 50 schools under Project Hope. Some volunteers were worried and asked, “Master, where will the money come from?”
I replied, “It is in people’s pockets. I have faith in my selflessness, and I have faith that everyone has love in their hearts.”
The recent disaster relief effort in Turkey, aiding Ukrainian refugees, and giving back to Nepal, the hometown of the Buddha… all these projects require a lot of strength and faith. Looking around the world, drought, famine, poverty... natural disasters, and man-made disasters, there are so many sufferings. Sometimes when I hear people say, "I have worked very hard", I would think to myself the hardships that these people experience may not be as bad as what Tzu Chi volunteers saw for those folks who lived in Lumbini, Nepal. Only a few blades of grass and a few sticks of bamboo are used to build a house. Standing in front of the house, one can see through to the back of the house. These people live in the same era as us, but this is their real life, scenarios, and sufferings. Why is life so challenging and bitter? If they can't walk out of this, we will have to be more determined to help them.
With the advancement of technology, society is prosperous and developing well; hence, living in such a good environment is a blessing. We will feel grateful every day if we know how blessed we are and cherish our blessings. Tzu Chi volunteers never call it hard work when they do Tzu Chi's work, and they always say one is blessed because being able to do things is a blessing. What we do is not just for our own sake; we consider the needs of others first. We must prioritize "benefiting others" before thinking about our benefits. Only then can progress be made worldwide, and everyone's businesses and careers will flourish. Benefiting others is self-benefiting.
Be grateful that we are blessed, and we must live out the true meaning of Buddhism with wisdom. I can no longer have my loud voice back anymore, so I am unable to explain the Dharma adequately. But I am grateful to the Tzu Chi staff in charge of history compilation for sorting out Tzu Chi's history very well. Tzu Chi exists due to the needs of the sentient beings in this world. Every story has a date, people involved, and an event that happened. It is not "what I heard" but "what I do". When Tzu Chi volunteers hear these stories, they will also hear the history of those years that were made by themselves and instantly feel that their lives have been enriched.
I am very grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers for taking in Dharma wholeheartedly and practising Dharma through actions. They should also take advantage of the current situation and the advancement of technology to promote the Dharma. Never "take the Buddha's teachings lightly". If you attained realizations to some of the teachings and hence become eloquent and arrogant, whether you say something or not, and whether you listen or not, it makes no difference. As long as you are arrogant, this is not good for Buddhism. We must always bear in mind to be pious and respectful and practise Buddha's teachings in our daily life. The Buddha Dharma is spread under our feet so that every step we walk on, we will walk with peace of mind and live a valuable life. Please be mindful!
Translated by Michelle Lim Cheng Wai
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