To pure the Buddha Land by Chen Jian Ming

Translator : Elizabeth Wong (MY) 阮丝怡

Editor : Ho Joo Lim (MY) 何裕霖 （本鴻）

20230809 Kaohsiung Online Book Study

Reader: Chen Jian Ming

Scope of Reading : Following the Master Cheng Yen's footsteps, Year 2022, Autumn Scroll, date range 19th - 25th Aug.

Master Cheng Yen lamented that in the past she thought that Lumbini in Nepal, would be a tourist attraction destination, but she did not expect that it not only lacks public amenities, even public hygiene is in appalling conditions buy local residents are accustomed to such a living environment.

The Master explained, "The roads are uneven, the infrastructures are not good, and I feel that there has been no progress since the Buddha's era, for 2500 years nothing has changed, which shows that the hearts of the residents are closed and the radiance of Buddha Dharma unable to light up their minds."

August 17, 2022 Life Wisdom: To Benefit Life in the Human World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcNwXEihyjY(2:04-2:49)

In the Master's discourse: "So speaking, returning to the hometown of the Buddha, looking for the footprints of the Buddha, these are the key places to restore the Dharma, requiring step by step, the hometown of the Buddha, what is the conditions there now? Much of sadness, look at this, seeing how poor in the land!

To do a thing, first of all, you must have a heart, as long as you have a heart, see the locals in suffering, wants to help them, you must thoroughly understand the situations, collect enough information, bring it back for analysis, and  together with the local people who cares, proceed one step at a time.

Tzu Chi volunteers, having the similar heart and vow, create good affinity in the local area, letting the local government understand the sincerity of Tzu Chi, the relevant matters can be properly planned and carried out. Although I can't say how much improvement could be gained by helping them, it is sufficient to know that the help is there when they need it the most.

【 Volunteer Morning Briefing: Buddha's Hometown for the Benefit of all 】

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PVvxMZTNR8(0:40-1:18)

"It's not just today that Tzu Chi Foundation comes here, it have continued to help every year, every month," said Yuqirub, director of the Panti Orphanage.

The Master said, "So we have to grasp the cause and truly give back to the hometown of the Buddha, always cultivating the seeds of Tzu Chi in the hope that one day, the Dharma will flourish there."

Tzu Chi volunteer from Malaysia, passing through a village and saw a family, there is a young boy lying on the ground looking for a bottle, Dr. Tang compassionately went to help him, and therefore created an affinity with this family, not only provide living assistance, and to help girls reaching schooling age in the family to go to school.

June 27, 2022 [Volunteer Morning Meeting: Four Great Vows to Manifest the Dharma]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcKcBn92LLs (0:51-2:06)

The discourse of Master : "Malaysian Dr. Tang, he was going to explore, that is, he walked through such a home, saw such a child with weak legs, with disabilities, put the milk bottle, the child on the ground, let him go to find it, to find themselves, Tzu Chi people stepped into their lives, seeing such predicament, to save his life, to open his wisdom of life."

Brother Tang Beng Kiat, Vice Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Chapter: "Our volunteer go nearer, walked over to her, touched her face, and said to Ms. Sharada," On our beads, we have the photo of Dharma Master Cheng Yen." When the blind lady heard there is Dharma Master's photo, she put her hands together to her forehead to pay respect."

Care recipient Sharada: "I pray for the Master, wishing the Master happiness and health."

On her Facebook dated 2nd July 2023, Sister Yang Jinghui shared that when she came to Rita's home, originally her husband abandoned her, she need to support her family of three, by simply not letting the children go to school and all to work together. The volunteers accompanied the mother to come out of the low ebb of abandonment by her husband, helped her find a cooking job in the village school, and the child went back to school studying.

As the volunteers talked to her, she walked into the room and took out a bottle of rice. "Tzu Chi told me to donate a little rice at every meal, I could help people who needed it more than me." she said. It turns out that in Nepal there are also rice bamboo saving bank, and they are very firm in donating in the saving box.

Like Bindrawatimallha, he said, "The other day, his family went to visit relatives, and their house was break in. The whole bag of rice Tzu Chi gave them was taken away. Fortunately, they still have the rice bamboo bank, but they have to borrow rice from neighbors."

The volunteer said: "You can eat the rice from the Bamboo Saving Bank!" He said, "I can't do it! It's what I want to do good, and I said if I want to do good, I can't touch it." The volunteer was moved in heart and said, "It seems, they are so faithful to the promise and firmly keep the rice bamboo saving bank!"

The Master explained, "To promote the True Dharma and get rid of superstition is also to benefit the world and build a Pure Buddhaland. Buddha is " Enlightened ", and the Buddha Pureland is the world of enlightenment; everyone is inherently having pure and tranquil  nature wisdom, for we are fortunate to hear the Dharma, so we must be mindful to understand it with our hearts, so that our progress further in our wisdom of life."