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Recalling what my teacher told me sixty years ago: "Work for Buddhism and all sentient beings". This has been my guiding beacon for my whole life. And it has inspired my religious work in the right direction, lighting the path I follow dearly and preventing me from deviating.
Shakyamuni Buddha is also my teacher. Hundreds of years after the Buddha attained nirvana, eminent monks and sages painstakingly put the Dharma down in writings. Such are the precious sutras, and every phrase becomes important teaching of life. And generations after generations can learn the way to sever our bad habits and desires. In the past, I have talked about several important sutras, "The Sutra of 42 Chapters", "The Sutra of the Buddha's Bequeathed Teachings", "The Sutra on the Eight Realizations of Great Beings", as well as "Lotus Sutra", and "Medicine Buddha Sutra". Among them is the "Sutra of Infinite Meanings", which I uphold religiously.
Before I was ordained, one day at Ciyun Temple in Taichung, I overheard a temple follower hastily telling the master that his neighbours found a copy of the "Lotus Sutra" under the bed while renovating the house. It must have been left down for generations, and they wanted to sell it to an antiquities dealer. I have always felt a sense of joy whenever I heard the name "Lotus Sutra" and decided to request for it at once.
I read, hand-copied, and preached the "Lotus Sutra", and I have never deviated from the Way of the "Lotus Sutra". This copy of "Lotus Sutra", which I got seventy years ago, has been read through so many umpteen times that the pages have dropped off. Incidentally, this June, I saw how National Taiwan Library immaculately restored an old "Quran". I was very impressed by their delicate skills, which gave me complete confidence in their ability to repair and restore old, worn-out reading material. Thus, I decided to entrust them to restore my decades-old "Lotus Sutra" so that it can be passed on to future generations.
The manuscript copy of the Quran was given to me by Faisal Hu from Turkey in 2020. The Quran is 500 years old, and the pages have crumbled and decayed over time. This is a very precious scripture; I really want to preserve it. I am very grateful that modern technology can restore it so that it can last for centuries.
Living in the evil world of five turbidities is like being in a dark tunnel. However, scriptures can show us the way in the darkness, and light awaits us at the end of the tunnel. Though various religions come in different names and forms, the truth and reasoning they teach are not different. Teachings that bring no benefit to mankind will never become scripture. Those which teach good can be spread to all, benefiting different kinds of people; such a religion is worth spreading. Whether it is "great love", "benevolence", or "universal love", they are like peas in a pod. As long as it is beneficial to the world, good things should be spread around, irrespective of religion, to pave the path to goodness. This is the blessing of the world.
Everything in nature can provide for all of our needs. The harmony of the four major elements (earth, water, wind, and fire) will lead to the growth and development of every layer of society. Everyone is harmonious and supports each other. The balanced and matching combination of weather, water, Earth, and man creates a paradise on Earth. In such a wonderful place, there is no reason to clash and destroy each other.
Good words, good deeds, and good intentions will benefit mankind. On the contrary, speaking evil and sowing discord between people will disrupt society and cause wars between countries. The environment will be in chaos if people's minds are not in harmony.
When one's thought is not at peace, they can turn against one another even if they were friends the day before. Many people have lost their homes and are displaced by war. Though freeing the world from sicknesses and suffering is impossible, we can make the world free from war.
Our undetected desires create inescapable karma. In life, we have many worries. In particular, climate change has caused disastrous typhoons, floods, and even forest fires. A single spark can spread and relentlessly burn down the entire forest. Natural disasters are getting more severe and happening more frequently each year, resulting in countless sufferings. There is a saying, “mind over matter,” but is it possible in the face of such formidable climatic forces? We have to reflect on ourselves, not to be arrogant, but to be humble and pious.
How to express our piety? It is not in the daily prayer but a devotion in body, speech, and mind at all times: Have no greed, always speak good words, be kind to others, and praise each other. I love this land where we live together, and I hope everyone will also love and cherish it. When your country is in trouble, my country can show love and help. People can travel freely, and there is no dispute. All the poor, suffering, sick, and disabled in the world can receive comfort and care.
It is implausible to ask the 8 billion people in the world to share the same intention. But each can ask that from oneself. Every Tzu Chi volunteer can spread love to those they come in touch with. Create opportunities to share Tzu Chi work, speak good words, undertake common resolutions, do good deeds, and contribute to relieving the sufferings.
My biggest concern is knowing that there are people in the world who need help, but we are unable to help. They may have survived the disaster, but can they stay alive? While being aware of their agonies and thinking of the uncountable people who are suffering and hungry, and yet we enjoy a safe and accessible environment, we must count and cherish our blessings. And let us sincerely call on more kind souls to help people in need. Let us all work hard together!
Translated by Chu Tiong Yong
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