TZU CHI USA JOURNAL

Time passes quickly. Autumn has ended and soon it will be winter, and at that time, daytime will be even shorter. Life also passes quickly, so the best remedy is to seize the present moment. We must be vigilant and not allow time to pass by in vain. We should hurry and form the aspirations we ought to form and take action to do the right thing. Only through giving can we truly gain something in return, so we should just do it.

Our mind is our spiritual training ground, and people are all fellow practitioners. We should show care to each other and always be grateful for each other. When interpersonal conflicts arise, we should still respond with gratitude. When we dislike a person, we should quickly transform such feelings into gratitude as well. This is how we continuously engage in spiritual practice. When our minds can uphold precepts and remain in Samadhi, then naturally we can attain wisdom. Everyone can support us on our spiritual journey, and everyone can attain Buddhahood. Therefore, we must never slight anyone, and we must always care for others.

When the four seasons cycle as they should, all things flourish. The key for this to happen is for people to follow the principles. However, in this era, weather patterns have been changing, with rising temperatures. Living standards have also been continuously rising. For example, people once mended their clothes; now, it is common to buy new clothing and get rid of older, still usable items. In the past, we were content with simple meals of rice and vegetables. Now, our tastes have expanded infinitely, and we are still not satisfied with what we have. We also desire greater convenience when it comes to clothing, housing, and transportation, and as a result, the Earth has to provide ever more resources.

Because of our desires, we are always fighting to have more. People may think, “Everything should belong to me,” and they pursue things at any cost. As soon as they have one thing, they want something even better; they are hard to satisfy. Their minds are like a desert under the sun and are in a constant state of drought. No matter how much water is provided, they never feel refreshed or joyful.

With greed comes competition. People compete with one another, and so do countries, leading to conflicts and unrest in society. While natural disasters will eventually pass, wars seem endless. In wars, even the wealthiest, most accomplished people often must flee their homes. Whenever we see images or footage of refugees taking shelter in corners of society, I feel heartbroken and cannot help but wonder, will anyone take note of them? Is there a place they can call home?

Humans are the most sentient of all beings, and only we have the power to bring peace to the world. If our minds deviate even slightly, the deviation can grow and eventually take us far off course. As society advances and people form ever growing groups, knowing our boundaries becomes more important than ever. We must take good care of our minds, for if our minds become deviant or give rise to greed, then even a few words can lead to tragedies.

Looking back upon the fortunes and misfortunes in history, we see that events that benefit or harm people often arise from a single thought. Religions positively guide people’s views and thoughts. If we seek benefit, we should seek to benefit the world, prioritizing the benefit for everyone. When everyone is at peace, we are at peace too.

People have their own perspectives. Even siblings raised in the same family can have different views. When there is disharmony within a family, parents become afflicted and worried. From families to towns to society, when people’s views and thinking are not aligned and when they take issue with everything, then opposition arises. This can lead to more conflicts and issues.

Religions aim to bring harmony to people’s minds and guide them in the same direction, and the shared teaching of all religions is kindness and love. The simplest way to describe religion is that it is about love — love of humanity, benevolent love, and great love, which are all equally vast and infinite. Regardless of people’s religious beliefs, we must share mutual respect and gratitude. We must also come together to achieve a harmonious world. When everyone lives according to these religious principles, we create a pure land on Earth, or a heaven in this world.

Tzu Chi volunteers around the world do not distinguish between people based on skin color, ethnicity, or nationality; we treat everyone with pure, sincere, and genuine love. We cherish and love this world. This love is known as “awakened love.” This love is not fleeting, but great, enduring, and everlasting.

The suffering in this world is endless and boundless. Extreme climate changes create more severe disasters than ever before. Conflicts among people contribute to turbidites in this world. By not competing for possessions and not being insatiably greedy, we cultivate great blessings through acts of kindness. These blessings will act as a protective layer that shields the world.

When there is someone to call upon and lead others, people’s love will be inspired. Let us unite the right mindfulness of all religions to guide and educate sentient beings to walk on this great, broad path. Do not underestimate the power of sincere prayers. It has the strength to push away evil, gather goodness, and bring harmony to people’s minds and the world. Everyone, please always be mindful!