TZU CHI USA JOURNAL

Every day, as I watch the happenings worldwide, I see news about climate change and international conflicts. Not only do I see sadness and suffering in this world, but I also see crises and impermanence. However, at the same time, Tzu Chi volunteers are active in various countries. We meet, connect, and collaborate with international NGOs. Whether it is fire, flood, or earthquake,  we go wherever care is needed. Looking at the images and footage sent back from the disaster areas, we see that people there are truly suffering! I feel heartbroken. I also think about how blessed we are to live in a clean, bright, and orderly environment.

Many of us have air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. We live without worries, and we do not lack clothing or food. Our homes are clean, and we can get around without trouble. So, we should be very content. These are blessings, and we should not take them for granted. In the past, we must have cultivated the seeds of peace, wealth, and love for ourselves to enjoy the positive karmic fruits we have today. By being content all the time, we will always have more than enough. We live at peace and ease, and blessings will come without us seeking them. If we are not content, we will never have enough. Even if we are already blessed, we must continue to bless ourselves by having fewer desires, being content, contributing more, and continuously creating and increasing blessings.

In the Buddha’s era, his homeland was very poor. He went outside the city gates and saw the lives of ordinary people and the sufferings of birth, aging, illness, and death. He pondered how he could alleviate suffering like this. The strength of a single person is limited. So, he left the palace to search for an eternal path to help all sentient beings, leading them to liberation and freeing them from the bonds of ignorance and afflictions.

Giving back to the Buddha’s homeland is my lifelong wish. My disciples in Singapore and Malaysia understand my wish and take on this mission on my behalf. Many have put aside their careers and stayed long-term in Nepal and India. To carry out the missions of charity, medicine, and education, they need manpower, and to start these projects from scratch, they have to form a solid connection with local communities.

They lived in comfort in their home countries, but when they went to the Buddha’s homeland, they had to humble themselves and endure the heat and cold. They needed great courage. At that place, they witnessed a lot and did a lot. They truly practiced the teachings of the sutras. The Buddha came to the world for the one great cause of teaching the Bodhisattva Way. As for these Tzu Chi volunteers, they had widely spread the Buddha’s teachings in their home countries before even traveling to the Buddha’s homeland. They not only achieved this in tangible ways, but they embodied intangible education with their actions, teaching everyone to do good deeds.

Witnessing the genuineness and sincerity of Tzu Chi volunteers makes me feel accomplished in this lifetime. Everyone shares the same mission and walks on the same Bodhisattva Path. This path is long. Those walking ahead pave the road and guide us, and those following behind should diligently advance, step by step. Generation after generation, our steps must not deviate as we progress further and further on this path, and each step must also be steady and grounded.

Learning has no end, as we always have more to learn. If our learning is superficial, we can never thoroughly understand. Life is impermanent, and time is limited. We learn to achieve awakening, and we do so through the Buddha Dharma. From learning to achieving awakening, we must walk the Bodhisattva Path and continuously learn with the heart of an innocent child. From simply knowing about the Path, we must seek to learn it and truly witness it. Then, we can guide others to walk on this great path.

When we take inventory of our lives, we may find that we are always busy. However, how much can we really accomplish? We may find it frustrating and only hope for tomorrow. When engaging in spiritual cultivation in this world, if we can achieve a simple life, that would be enjoyable. However, we ask ourselves if it is possible, as we always worry about many things daily.

Every day, 86,400 seconds tick away, but in fact, we do not have much time. Seizing the present moment is the practical thing to do. After each second passes, we should have no regrets. Then our conscience will be clear. Therefore, I often remind myself to stay vigilant, for “with each passing day, we draw closer to death.”

The Buddha teaches people to “refrain from all evil and do all that is good.” These are the two keys of our spiritual practice. On one hand, we must improve ourselves, and on the other, we must prevent ourselves from creating negative karma out of ignorance.

Many people find it difficult to let go of conflicts with people over matters. We always remember how someone has wronged us, and we insist on settling scores. Yet, we seldom remember how we have wronged others and how we can make up to them. The feeling of being owed by others continues to accumulate. Not only do negative causes and conditions from the past remain unresolved, but we also add new negative thoughts. Ignorance grows in our minds, and karmic obstacles continue to build.

Let us eliminate evil, increase goodness, and eliminate our karmic obstacles. Let us not dwell on past wrongdoings but instead work toward goodness and benefiting others. Let us make good use of time and keep ourselves busy, so we forget all grudges. Let us treat our interactions with everyone as an opportunity for spiritual practice. Leaving a positive impression on others is our spiritual practice with them, and with that, we have formed positive affinities with them. When we cultivate ourselves through our interactions with others, show mutual respect and love, and form positive affinities, we help foster harmony and joy in this world.

In this life, let us cultivate good seeds and help them mature. Let us accompany and take care of those who have an affinity with us and bring these virtuous seeds to future lifetimes. Let us seize the time, make good use of this world, and stand firmly in every space. Everyone, please always be mindful.