Fulfill My Vows

Sharer: Lin Jihui (林季慧)

Range: The Footprint of Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Summer Volume, 06/10-06/16,2022

Translator: Xu Zhilong (徐智龍)

Reviewer: Li Shumin (李淑敏)

Proofreader: Hannah Frazer

Editor: Su Jihou (蘇紀豪)

It has been more than three years since the global epidemic began. The medical staff members at Tzu Chi Hospitals have been serving on the front lines for a long time, facing the high risk of infection to safeguard safety and health of the public. Li Yigong, the director of the emergency department of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, and the commander of emergency tasks, shared the insights in Daai News on how to maintain zero infection rate without closing the hospital while keeping all staff healthy. 

Let’s watch the footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEnG3ebM80k.

Li Yigong : "In addition to protecting the patients, I am also concerned about how the medical team safeguard themselves during the time. The challenge lies in achieving zero infection within the hospital without hospital closure, while striving for the safety of all the hospital staff. I visited the hospital every day to understand what happened and to see if anything needed my help. We don’t need heroes in our team, instead everyone care for and support one another. As the epidemic comes to an end and everyone is healthy. Together we formed a preventive network. I’m grateful for your dedicating protection, great love, blessings and doing good deeds.”

When the epidemic was severe, I was grateful that the medical staff continued to move forward bravely, protecting lives and the health of the public. They combined their vows and jobs and exerted the spirit of our missions. Master Cheng Yen expects us to shoulder the responsibilities for the public and cultivate the six paramitas: giving, upholding precepts, forbearance, diligence, meditation and wisdom. That is the value of life. Our return to this world is driven by our aspirations rather than karma. Only in the human world can we carry out Buddha’s teachings by helping those in suffering and exert the value of life. All the virtues of giving without asking anything in return will come to us in the end.

Director Li Yigong of the emergency department of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital was infected Covid-19 in May.

In the video of Life Wisdom of 20220614 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNOyy2H-mJ8 04:40～06:00), Master Cheng Yen says: Dr. Li Yigong is the director of the emergency department of our Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital. He has served in Dalin for more than 20 years. Recently, he was tested positive for Covid-19 and isolated for several days. Without taking good rest, he continued to care for both his patients and the department through Internet.”

Director Li Yigong: “The policy often changed, we have to handle many things every day, and hold conference meetings.” 

Master Cheng Yen: “Honestly, I was very reluctant and worried to see that. I prayed for him and saw that he recovered. After quarantine, he was so eager to resume his work.”

Director Li Yigong: “Has the amount of testing lessened recently?”

The doctor on call: “Director, we are still taking a lot of specimens, and continuing registering patients.” 

Director Li Yigong: “Alright, thank you for the hard work.”

Dr. Li understood how to better comfort the patients because of his own experience of Covid-19. He shared his recuperation, just like the passage of Sutra of Infinite Meaning, “uphold vows for Myriads of Kalpa. With the vow, you’ll remain on the bodhisattva path”. Engaging in worldly matters, everyone must have a positive attitude of "I must participate" and take responsibility for improving the world. Seize the opportunity to appeal to the Buddha's spiritual philosophy. As long as someone is willing to change and shoulder responsibilities because of our sharing, there will be an extra seed of kindness in the world. With Dharma in mind, we can inspire love, take action and creates infinities.

The goal of learning Dharma is to attain Buddhahood. Walking on bodhisattva path is the way leading from being mundane to becoming a Buddha. Without making aspirations and walking on the bodhisattva path, mundane beings are far away from the Buddha. Only by getting started and stepping forward, can we eventually reach the end of this long bodhisattva path.

In the video of Life Wisdom dated 20220610 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eBU8nN4k7s 10:30～11:13), Master Cheng Yen says: the more people you care about, the more blessings you bring to them. If you are capable of guiding people, you are as wise as you are. We must continue doing the right things as the bodhisattva path is still far ahead, life after life, endless until we attain Buddhahood and become awakened. We must dedicate our whole life.

The furthest distance exists between theory and practice. It is not difficult to get to know, but it is challenging to carry out. When we make a vow to follow the Bodhisattva path, it is eternal. We don’t just make the vow to ease off Master’s mind. Rather, we must explore our pure Bodhi nature and walk on the bodhisattva path all the time to calm our mind and help all beings be safe and sound, then I will feel ease too.

The essential practice of walking the bodhisattva patch is doing willingly and embracing the results joyfully. Turning the Dharma is not just for others, but we must do it first. When we broaden our view to look at the world and see all kinds of human appearances, and then go back to educate ourselves, this is true practice. 

In the footage of Life Wisdom dated 20110528 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCZTY4O6fw&ab_channel=moyatseng 46:13~47:00), Master Cheng Yen said: "Sometimes I think to myself, should I resign and pursue a different career path if I haven't achieved my goals? But I am the one who doesn’t have this right. At times, when I feel tired, I think of “willingness”, with willingness, I won’t be tired, it provides me with great support. Despite the fatigue, I shall remain steadfast as I am willing to take it on, no matter how challenging it is.”

My vow is as vast as the cosmos. As long as we uphold our aspirations, we will have infinite vows. We make vows and aspiration for ourselves. And I would like to share this Jing Si Aphorisms to encourage each other: “Forbear the difficult works and hardships, so that more people will be free from suffering because of our aspirations.” Hope all Tzu Chi volunteers will exert their talents to bring happiness to more people, as we support each other in fulfilling our vows!