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I started hosting the Year End Blessing Ceremony on 5 December and returned to Hualien on 4 January. In these past 31 days, I have seen and heard incidents and suffering, as well as Tzu Chi volunteers' achievements around the world. Listening to Tzu Chi volunteers' sharing every day, learning how people's lives have turned out to be good, and the connection between people is pure and deep. I am touched when feeling the love between people.
They are like bodhisattvas standing in front of me. They give out selfless love in the world and obtain joy in return. There are more than 7000 recycling stations and points in Taiwan. It is conceivable how impactful the recycling volunteers have been – the amount of trash they have reduced and, more importantly, they have promoted environmental protection education with their actions in society. More than thirty years ago, I encouraged people with a simple saying, "Do recycling with your applauding hands." Since then, Tzu Chi volunteers have taken charge of the recycling points. Some Tzu Chi brothers are the chairman of the board or own their businesses, but they put their pride aside and help carry and transport recycled items – their power of love is sincere, upright, faithful and steadfast.
Volunteers in charge of recycled assistive devices in various districts also shared that they recycle, clean and repair second-hand assistive devices. It turns out that the equipment is in good condition and delivered to needy families. Some poor and sick people live in mountainous areas. No matter how heavy the electric bed was, Tzu Chi Faith Corps members (certified Tzu Chi practitioners) carried it and climbed up the hill. How hard it is for the elderly to take care of another elderly and the sick to look after another ill person. The electric bed relayed to their home has also relieved caregivers a little.
This is what a Bodhisattva does! Although they have no relationship with each other, when seeing people suffer, they feel the same as they uphold the spirit of "great kindness even to strangers; great compassion as though we share the same body". Whenever there is suffering, they lend a helping hand and bring happiness to others. As mentioned in the "Universal Gateway Chapter of Lotus Sutra", when encountering danger, recite "Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa" (Guanyin Bodhisattva), and Bodhisattva will appear anytime. When every one of us works together, there will be sufficient manpower and resources.
When we feel cold in winter, we think about how the poor people with thin clothes and shabby houses are coping with such weather. We can't bear seeing them suffer, but there are times when we are helpless as we cannot help them. There are obstacles of distance and ignorance. The universe is vast, but human beings are so small. Disputes arise between people and divide people due to ignorance. Disasters are not scary as human strength will come together if everyone has love. However, if people are obstructed by ignorance, one cannot be saved no matter how close the distance is.
People with abilities feel reluctant to contribute too much and embarrassed if they give too little, so they simply ignore what happens around them. Being aware of suffering and doing nothing will make the world indifferent. A vow in the heart is like a seed with vitality. If there is no vow, it is like, "I know, but I cannot do it. I understand he is suffering, but I don't want to help him even though I have the ability to do so" – it is also self-obstruction.
"Work for Buddhism and all living beings" is my vocation. I tell myself every day, "Carry out my vow, and the path will be wide and flat." Over the past few decades, I have reached where I am today without any deviation. I reviewed myself, and I felt at ease and joyful. I hope everyone can feel the same as I do.
Tzu Chi relies on the love of many people. I am grateful for your respect and love. Whatever I want to do, everyone will support me and give me the strength to achieve. Volunteers in Singapore and Malaysia knew my wish to give back to the Buddha's homeland, so they made a vow and went to Lumbini, Nepal. From the video they took in Lumbini, you could tell the family was poor at a glance from outside the door. They went to visit this family by chance. While the child was looking for his milk bottle, people wearing white pants and white shoes stepped into their house, and a thought flashed through my mind, "There is hope for the child!" This family has much affinity with Tzu Chi - the child was sent to the hospital, and the elder sister was given a chance to attend school. Since then, Tzu Chi volunteers’ footprints began to appear in this village.
Guide people with wisdom to let everyone understand the sufferings of the world and the impermanence in life and inspire their Buddha's nature which has been buried deep in affliction and ignorance. By cultivating kindness, facing good people every day and speaking good words, we will naturally be doing kind deeds. Eventually, good deeds and kind people can create a good environment.
Don't underestimate your strength and refuse to help others, nor should you think that society has nothing to do with you as you are old or retired. At my age, I believe that as long as we still have a voice, we have to try our best to speak up even though it is difficult. If someone were willing to accept what we said, they would contribute to the same cause as ours. I often say that even if you can't promote Tzu Chi with both hands, you can still use a computer or mobile phone to disseminate Tzu Chi's messages and purify the world with one finger.
Let's call on everyone to unite our strengths so we can do good to others to benefit the public!
Translated by Ong Chia Mian
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