The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

2019 • 01 26 “A lifespan of countless kalpas ; this is wisdom.” Master said that the Buddha’s ocean of enlightened wisdomwas attained through long practice going among the masses, which enabled him to completely experience and understand all Truths. One can understand themeaning of this by interpreting it in the modern term of “intellectual property rights”. “The Buddha’s lifespan is infinite. What is infinite? It is the wisdom-life.” Master further urged everyone to make good use of their time, to develop boundless wisdom-life with limited physical existence in this world. The awakening nature of themind is timeless, andourwisdom-life is endless. This is the gist of the “Age Treasury”. Giving till the last breath Master explained that since the enlightened and Dharma-nature are endless, the “enlightened age” is eternal, and we should mull over the lifespan of our Buddha-nature and turn our physical age into spiritual age. However, in this human world, people tend to attach to forms and let the aging body and the number of our age influence our mind, thus feeling and acting old. “I hope that all of you will accumulate boundless wisdom instead of number (of age) that has a limit attached to it.” In January 2018 during her visiting trip, Master encouraged the volunteers not to regard themselves as old, but to bless themselves by the thought “We are still healthy, and it is a good time to do good deeds.” “If you are 100 years old, deposit 50 years to Master and you are now only 50 years old.” Master explained the true meaning of the “Age Treasury” saying: “Uphold such spirit that you are not useless but very useful because you are either in the prime of your age, or middle- aged, or in your youth. You are all still able to contribute to Mother Earth and go to the aid of those in suffering.” Master advised all to always cultivate on the Bodhisattva Path with a young mind. She said, “Do not stop progressing, speak as we can, do as we can, and do not isolate ourselves from the world.” Take for example Luo Liu Cai Rui. She is in her late 80s and has been doing recycling for close to 30 years. She and other recycling volunteers had made a vow to Master: “I want to do recycling work till my last breath. I would rather die while doing recycling than to die on the sickbed.” These words were like a booster to Master, who vowed to keep on expounding the Dharma until her very last breath for all those who have karmic affinities with her. Master claimed herself as the number one promoter of the “Age Treasury”, which received a very positive response and made everyone younger in an instant. “After depositing 50 years of my age, I am now in my 30s, back to the third year of my journey with Tzu Chi.” Master hopes that everyone can re-embark with a young heart but richer experiences that they have accumulated over the years. “Along the way, I keep renewing my spirit. Even if things got difficult, I must hold it out.” Everlasting wisdom-life On March 6, 2018, while expounding the chapter on “Discrimination of Merit and Virtue”, Master said, “The 50 years of age deposited in the ‘Age Treasury’ are wisdom!” All the real-life experiences that one gains in volunteering with Tzu Chi and giving of oneself unconditionally are nurturing one’s wisdom and forming one’s memories. eature