Grand Lesson During an Extraordinary Time

20230322 Kaohsiung Online Study Group

Sharer :Yao Shi Jing

Scope: 2022 [The Footsteps of Dharma Master Cheng Yen] Spring Volume (April 15~April 21)

Translator : Wong Siew Ching (MY) 黄曉清

Editor :  Eugene Tang (SG)  鄧国榮

I am Yao Shi Jing, given the Dharma name Tzu Ya by the Dharma Master, and I am going to share the progress of the "Following the Footsteps of Dharma Master Cheng Yen" from April 15 to April 21, 2022. Today's topic of sharing is "Grand Lesson During an Extraordinary Time".

   
First of all, on April 16, 2022, as the epidemic was escalating, the Abode Masters reported to the Dharma Master that in the future, meals in the dining halls would be served in bento sets instead of serving on a table. Dharma Master reminded us not to disrupt the etiquette manner of "eating" because of the way the meal is served, and that even though the distance between people is increased, it is still important to sit down and eat in peace during the meal. During the epidemic, the Dharma Master repeatedly reminded us of the "Grand Lesson", and the importance of embracing vegetarianism. When we have foreign guests, we could also use the same way of serving bento meals, without losing the attention paid to the etiquette of eating, so that everyone can take their meals, sit down, and eat in the same quiet and focused manner. Just like in Tzu Chi Hospital or Tzu Chi School, we can see that in the dining area, there is a separation board, and in the school, in the hospital, and in the Tzu Chi community, they all insist on vegetarianism. Therefore, in this extraordinary time, the "Grand Lesson" called for by the Dharma Master is an appeal to all of us to abide in vegetarianism, to be "prudent and devout" in every detail of our lives, in personal hygiene, in keeping social distance, and so on. We must all be devout and pious.

   In order to do a good job in prevention, we all work together to maintain the precepts of each spiritual cultivation ground; even fellow colleagues of the different voluntary groups are practicing cultivation together. Not only in the Jingsi Abode, but also in the hospitals and schools, we must devote ourselves to the "Grand Lesson"; we must not buy meat for the hospital or the voluntary organizations, and we must devote ourselves to embrace vegetarianism. Even if everyone goes to the Tzu Chi campus, they all have to take vegetarian foods. This is also an expression of sincere piety and devotion, and it is also an expression of eradication of desire and keeping to the precepts.

Dharma Master reminded us that the epidemic is spreading so severely that we should seize the moment,  and eat only vegetarian food to mitigate the spread of the epidemic. Let's take a look at the latest statistics in 2019, in order to satisfy the human appetite, 2,556 animals are killed every second in the whole world, not including the creatures in water. Therefore, it is necessary to insist on vegetarianism and actively promote vegetarianism, not only to mitigate the spread of epidemics, but also for good health.

We are all aware that vegetarianism is a matter of great urgency, and that we must all join in the effort to become vegetarians. The Office of the Chief Executive of Charity has planned the "Taiwan Vegan Action Seminar", which reminds us that by changing our diet to a plant-based one, we can prevent nearly 90% of all cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Despite the epidemic being severe and ongoing on April 30, the purpose of the online platform is to promote vegetarianism and be a vegan.

  On 2022/07/05, nearly 527 entertainers and Tzu Chi volunteers held an outdoor banquet at the "Great Love Plaza" in front of the Kaohsiung Jing Si Hall with a joyful heart. "The first thing I heard about being a vegetarian" is a plant-based activity. Responding to the concept of environmental protection in this activity, many companies said during the worship that they would not burn paper money, and replaced big fish and meat with flowers, vegetables and fruits, advocating vegetarianism and actively encouraging vegetarianism.

The Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan, Taipei City Works Bureau, and Tzu-Chi Charitable Foundation jointly organized the "2022 Family Day of Green Living and Vegetables without Leaving Traces" event on April 17 at Daan Forest Park in Taipei. The booths with the theme of healthy vegetables conveyed healthy and creative aspects of fruit and vegetable life. Health care workers who were on the front line of epidemic prevention also participated in the event to support the promotion of vegetarian food. During the event, President Chao Youcheng of Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital also urged everyone to strictly follow the epidemic prevention regulations in order to reduce epidemic infection, and emphasized that vegetarianism is also healthy.

Tzu Chi has started to promote vegetarianism around the world, and one way to do this is to promote vegetarian bento. For example, in Taipei or in Kuala Lumpur / Selangor, they are promoting "Vegetarian Bento with Love" in 26 communities simultaneously, promoting vegetarian bento every day at noon so people would come to like taking vegetarian food.

There is also a group of young vegetarians who use "eating and broadcasting" to publicize the benefits of vegetarian food. They go to vegetarian restaurants around the world to shoot various vegetarian delicacies on the spot, encouraging more people to cherish the life of all things, and to join the vegetarian diet. The ranks of eclipses, their programs have been viewed by nearly 100,000 people. This is also a method of inference. These young people use the online method of "eating and broadcasting" to promote vegetarianism, as well as the way of going to offline gourmet feasts to promote vegetarianism. On 2021-03-15 Daai News "I really want to be with you - V can do it" report: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJg8rSce4kg (0:00～0:50)

Video Script: A group of young people who love to promote vegetarian food use the "live broadcast" method to promote the benefits of vegetarian food to everyone. It has been launched on the Internet for one year and has entered the 100th episode. In order to thank the partners and stores who have participated along the way, we also hope to invite more people to experience vegetarian food, and we launched the "I really want to be with you V can do it" event, inviting hundreds of people to enjoy delicious vegan dishes. This is a special vegan feast. A group of young people promote vegetarianism live. One year after its establishment, it held a vegan food experience event. Luo Yiting from the eating and broadcasting team: "The main content of this event is to hope that a vegetarian can bring a non-vegetarian friend to participate in the event. The audience will watch us eat from online eating and broadcasting, and then go offline to actually experience it. Foods we have introduced before.” In order to let everyone experience the beauty of vegetarian food, the team selected 15 special vegetarian dishes, and most of the restaurants support young people to promote vegetarianism by means of free sponsorship.

Hotel owner Wen Xiulian: "I saw so many young people coming to support this new vegetarian concept, we are very happy to adopt it and to respond together."

Another way is the "21-Day Vegetarian Challenge", which uses the method of changing eating habits to make slight changes in the body to convey health knowledge and let everyone understand that diet is closely related to human health. Tzu Chi volunteers launched a 21-day healthy diet under the theme of "Grand Lesson, Eating Matters". Eating methods to change the health of the body in 21 days. I believe that many family members have tried the 21-day challenge, and they must have very different experiences.

Tzu Chi Hospital has also organised activities to promote vegetarianism. Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital joined hands with volunteers in the Central District to respond to Master Cheng Yen’s initiative, promoting vegetarianism and becoming a vegetarian to prevent epidemics. Through various methods, they cracked their brains and "turned the food wheel" to encourage vegetarianism. Just like Superintendent Jian Shouxin who personally promoted vegetarian food by personally cooking up a dish called "Qinglong Chili" (Bell Pepper Chili).

In 20221001 [The Dharma Master Cheng Yen's Footsteps - Food Matters Are Great. All in one heart] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PUX1qC3fuU (2:16--3:22) The Dharma Master said: "Because education must be spoken out, it is often said that meat is a debt to be eaten. Meals, if you eat half a catty, you have to pay back at least 8 taels, or 4 taels for a discount. Bodhisattvas, we must understand the real issue very well. I hope that we all share karma with sentient beings, and we can break away from animals. We have to cherish them, love them so protect it, this is kindness, we want a complete love, that is, you don’t kill, you love them, all living things, we can love, even animals we have to love , so it is natural to extend this love to human beings, and this kind of love is complete.”

    Here, let us also take stock of the value of our own lives. We have become vegetarians, and we are encouraged to promote vegetarianism. Jingsi Aphorism reminds one another, and the spirit of "sincere piety and piousness" can be used in every detail of food, clothing, housing and transportation. Life is education. Thanks for listening and sharing!