Hold the direction firmly and move forward

Sharer: Chang Xiuling (張秀玲)
Series: The Daily Journal Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Summer Volume, 8~14, April 2022

Translated by: Hung, Celia  (洪芯宜)

Edited by:Hong, Wayne (洪崇維)

"Belief, aspiration, and action are the spirits of Buddhism. To believe in Buddha - the purpose of Buddha's coming to the human world is to teach sentient beings to cultivate the Bodhisattva path, to have compassion for those who suffer and to reach out and help them. However, without education and inspiration, sentient beings will not know why they should help others." The venerable one said that we should educate and inspire the compassionate heart of sentient beings, so that everyone has the empathy of "boundless loving-kindness and great compassion in oneness."

“To vow to save all beings, one must cut off afflictions such as greed, hatred, and ignorance, this is the most important issue of learning Buddhism. Cultivation means cultivating the mind and rectifying behavior. Our minds must be cultivated with sincerity, honesty, and faithfulness so that we can gain the trust of people everywhere with sincerity and honesty. Since we have vowed to do so, we must put it into practice with active and steady steps. We must come together in time, space, and with other people to achieve good deeds that benefit all sentient beings."

Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, we can truly experience "great education". We can gain insight into the distant conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has lasted for over a month and resulted in millions of Ukrainians being displaced. Seeing their suffering, my heart aches and feels helpless. We must show compassion and invite more people to help those in distress, and together, change the world.

“Life Wisdom - Reliving Suffering with Loving-kindness and Compassion” on 2022.04.13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCACdnjSw7E (6’14-7’30”)

Master said: We see how people give with love and provide supplies for refugees who are hungry, cold, and exhausted.  They care for the refugees with loving-kindness and compassion although they are not related to them.  Seeing the refugees in suffering, they give rise to compassion.  They care for the refugees with an open heart and seize every opportunity to offer them hot food and provide many warm clothes for them to choose from.  This is how they help those not related to them with loving-kindness and compassion.

Because there are many people who need help and they are strangers to each other and do not speak the same language, if someone can put a thick coat on them and have a little physical interaction with them, it will be warmer and more humane, which is called "long-term care." Indeed, during my participation in disaster relief in Florida, a woman who had been a journalist for 20 years was moved to tears by the one-on-one interaction with Tzu Chi volunteers, and she shared that out of all the charity organizations she had seen, Tzu Chi's care touched her heart the most.

Ven. Master said to the staff in the Medical Mission: "We must use respectful love to safeguard life and use sincere love to protect all suffering beings in the world. I am grateful for the medical profession that protects life, health, and love. I’m also grateful to everyone who uses love to protect the Abode, to protect everyone's spiritual heart, and to protect the Tzu Chi Missions, so that we can contribute to the world generation after generation. I’m grateful for the medical heroes, the doctors, and the nurses, who have been steadfast in their positions during the epidemic, sacrificing and dedicating themselves to society, holding the front line, and demonstrating the noble qualities of medical personnel. But please must also raise your awareness and protect yourselves."

In the global COVID-19 pandemic, a medical team developed the JingSi Herbal Tea which can be used by Tzu Chi volunteers around the world to help people in need. They do not seek profits, only to benefit all beings, and this can help poor countries to get through the epidemic. The Master said that every plant, tree, and herb has its own function and efficacy, and many have yet to be discovered. He hopes that we can form a team to develop for the present and the future, without aiming for profits, but truly contributing to humanity, and able to sustain for generations to come.

Life is limited, and there will be a day when it reaches its end. However, the spiritual life is limitless. Ven. Master encourages Tzu Chi volunteers not only to keep their brains active but also to activate their spiritual life. By taking an inventory of their lives, they can activate their memories of spiritual life. The Culture Mission of Tzu Chi records and perfects the memories of the spiritual life of everyone, becoming an eternal history. The data and records of Tzu Chi from all over the world rely on the dedication of the management team to collect and organize them, filling the "Jing Si Hall" that will be built soon. This will provide a solid foundation for the transmission of the Buddhist scriptures to future generations and to be passed on for eternity.

The history of Tzu Chi is a collective achievement. To preserve this history, many people must bear witness to it. Tzu Chi has truly embodied the bodhisattva teachings of the Buddha, guiding so many people in this era to step into the crowds and rescue sentient beings from suffering with the selfless spirit of a bodhisattva. It is not just the responsibility of the masters to enlighten others, but also of every human bodhisattva to help sentient beings in accordance with conditions. The volunteers who provide meals are also bodhisattvas who can use the act of offering meals to benefit others. Vegetarianism is also one of the methods of purifying the mind as expounded in the Buddhist sutras. Master Cheng Yen especially praises Brother Hsieh Jung-kun, who is blessed with the ability to give and shares his wealth in ways that benefit society. He is a true inspiration. The karmic affinity of this Dharma center is beyond comprehension. It has transformed from a factory into a great Dharma center, and Brother Hsieh has long promoted vegetarianism in his company and provided the factory as a place for spiritual cultivation. The environment is very solemn and has a sense of spirituality, which helps to purify people's hearts.

Life Wisdom – Making Vows in Practicing All Good Deeds” on 2022.10.30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qocjSBtWLpI (8’01”-9’11”)

Master said: “Look, you have such a generous chairman.  Moreover, he’s very mindful in encouraging his staff to do good and provide ways of doing it.  Actually, to convince people to do good and eat a vegetarian diet is truly not easy.  Being able to eat a vegetarian diet for a period of time, accepting it happily, and creating merits, I admire you for this. I’m also very grateful. Moreover, when you hear about me wanting to spread the Dharma … (each) presentation has helped many people participate in learning about the sutra.  Hearing the sharing of the many participants, (I feel that) you have truly taken the Dharma to heart, and when you perform the part about the holy mountain, you are full of emotions.

We now need to promote universal love for all, which is the true essence of Great Education. We must teach everyone to overcome their desires and start with a vegetarian diet. If we have a sincere heart and treat ourselves with care, we can purify our bodies and mind. We also need to expand our love to all beings in the world, as a vegetarian diet can purify the earth and calm the intense climate changes, leading to a more peaceful world. Master hopes that through the joint efforts of all our endeavors, we can guide everyone towards wisdom and transform from a meat-eating to a vegetarian lifestyle.

Ven. Master reiterated that Tzu Chi's method of cultivation is gratitude, which inspires everyone's innate Buddha nature and cultivates deep and selfless love. When our principles are correct, our path will be correct.  In the beginning, when facing a desolate landscape, we invite everyone to join us in clearing the path. As more people walk on this path, we widen it into a great road. Therefore, the direction is crucial.  I remember in the year of my certification while circumambulating the Buddha statue in the JingSi Abode, Master Cheng Yen suddenly walked out from behind and said that we must follow the person in front of us without missing a step. Especially at corners, if each person deviates by even just 10 degrees, the direction of the whole group will be wrong.

As long as we have the correct direction, we will be on the right path and can lead the world to achieve great things. It's like a compass, although it rotates, the center point must be stable in order to accurately point to the east, west, south, and north. Therefore, we must maintain the correct direction, give to the world with a sincere heart, and naturally move and influence others.