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When material resources are abundant, the climate is pleasant and comfortable, and life is stable and peaceful, most people would find life on Earth very enjoyable. The truth is, there are still many people suffering in this world. There are different kinds of suffering in this world, mainly due to the lack of inner peace. Greed, hatred and ignorance that dwell within the heart are causing disasters and destructions to our world. As a result, people, regardless of their occupation and social status, have no choice but to abandon their livelihood for survival. There were also people who lost their homes to natural disasters caused by a disrupted ecosystem and the imbalance of the four natural elements. Some houses were destroyed by strong winds, while others by heavy flooding. Whereas some lands experienced horrific droughts that no crops could grow, leading to widespread hunger. There are also inconceivable cases of extreme poverty, with children suffering from hunger and malnutrition. And some people have been living in tents and forced to endure the discomfort of changing weather.
The suffering on Earth is also the outcome of the collective karma of all sentient beings. Humans tend to remember hurtful words said by others but are quick to forget the kind words. Not only do most people keep the grudge at heart but also repeatedly regurgitate the bad memory and multiply the negativity. Once such prejudice is established, it quickly creates unhappiness and resentment. Even when the same party says something nice, it gets misinterpreted too. All these merely create more trouble for the mind. By fighting over right and wrong and bearing grudges, we end up creating never-ending cycles of bad affinities which disrupt our inner peace.
Let us not immerse ourselves in the sea of afflictions. Let us forge good affinities and reduce bad karma by helping others with sincerity and without seeking anything in return. We should take care of our hearts to nurture kindness and work on accumulating merits to grow more seeds of kindness. Hence in the future, may all these seeds of kindness grow to bless and protect the world.
With the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, both countries are now grappling with social unrest. Even a well-built house could be destroyed within minutes of a war. Civilians of the county are forced to flee from their homeland to seek safety. Many children have also lost their parents to the war. The number of refugees continues to grow as they move closer and closer to the country’s border. Even though they know they will be safe once they cross the country border, the thought of wondering when they could ever return home is tormenting to them. There were also cases of young mothers who handed their children over to be taken care of by their relatives while they returned to protect their home country. Families are separated by the war, and every parting has been very emotional as no one is sure if they will ever see one another again.
During the war, a neighbouring country, Poland, demonstrated the power of Great Love. Some Polish people opened their doors to the Ukrainian refugees, while some provided food for refugees along the road. Tzu Chi volunteers from Germany, the United Kingdom, and France also came together to assist the young Tzu Chi volunteers from Poland in purchasing and distributing living supplies to refugees. The refugees were given blankets and shopping vouchers to purchase daily necessities. When Ukraine was attacked, the locals had to evacuate quickly. Hence most of the refugees were penniless when they reached Poland. Even though they have no plans for their future now, the kindness and love extended by strangers from this foreign land still bring smiles and happy tears.
Such scenes are both heart-moving and thought-provoking. As residents of the Earth, we are supposed to live together like a big family. However, peace is often disrupted, causing pain and suffering to many people. Even though we can’t suffer in place of these people, we should be empathetic. Given a chance, we should promptly reach out and assist these people. Besides supplying material aid, we should do it with love and warmth. Simple gestures like putting on a warm piece of clothing for them would warm their bodies and leave a long-lasting impression on their hearts. In the future, these recipients would pay the love forward to others in need, and it would bring about a cycle of positive change in this world, thus transforming hostility into love.
Having adequate food and a sturdy shelter above one’s head is very fortunate indeed; that is akin to heaven on Earth. This is only possible if people live harmoniously together, be it between individuals or countries. Only mutual respect and love can bring about unity and happiness on Earth. Count your blessings, cherish them and sow more blessings. Thus, everyone needs to make an effort to do good deeds, say kind words and conduct themselves well so that all humans can share the blessings.
If one is always fixated on their viewpoint, one will become narrow-minded. Thus, it is essential to open up one’s heart to see a wider world. With the advancement in technology, we can witness how different people live their lives despite being miles away. We can even hear sorrowful cries from different parts of the world. Thus, we should put ourselves in their shoes and count our blessings. Not only should we start with ourselves, but we should also always bring forth our “greater self” to spread kindness.
Everyone is born with Buddha nature, which is also known as the Great Love, the ability to empathise and help other sentient beings who are suffering. If we manage to uncover our innate Buddha nature, doing kind deeds will come naturally without difficulties. With a purified heart, we will all be able to live our lives with happiness and stability. Even though it is easier said than done, we should all be like an ant that is willing to devote its entire life’s effort to climbing Mount Meru. Having witnessed the sufferings around the world, we should constantly put in our best effort to try to assist people who are in need. May everyone strive to achieve this.
Translated by Soh Wan Siew
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