The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.111)

02 2019 • 06 medicine were in severe shortage; and due to poor hygiene, cholera cases were emerging. The predicament of the disaster victims and the safety of rescuers and volunteers weighed heavily on my mind. I was grateful to the front-liners, who took up responsibilities accordingly and gave all they could to accomplish the rescue mission. Several units also worked together to transport the daily supply packs prepared by Tzu Chi volunteers to the disaster zones more than 1,000 km away. The disaster was assuming international proportions. There were numerous problems to be overcome. Routes and ways of sending material resources to the disaster zones were among the first things that came to mind. Was there a warehouse in each disaster zone? Could volunteers enter the disaster zones and return without any untoward incident? Volunteers from different countries put their heads together to figure out the best way to help the affected people. I am grateful to those who responded to the volunteers’ appeal for international help in the rescue and reconstruction mission. Just a kind thought and a little effort go a long way. In Turkey, pupils from the El Menahil International School were quick to donate their pocket money for the worthy cause. Teachers of Syrian nationality told their pupils that these African nations were, and still are, very poor. Even without the devastating disaster, these people could hardlymake ends meet.With the disaster, their living conditions had deteriorated. This is somewhat akin to Syrian refugees, who fled their homeland because of the raging civil war and ended up in different countries. As refugee children, the pupils could empathize with what the disaster victims were going through. These refugee children lead a frugal life but they never hesitated to help others who are in need. Their sense of empathy is priceless. Despite living in dark times on a foreign land, there is love in their hearts. In life, if there is love, there is brightness; and this love and brightness can dispel darkness. Tzu Chi has been extending care to the people in Haiti for over a decade. Besides helping and distributing aid to the poor, providing emergency aid post-earthquake and helping to build schools, Tzu Chi volunteers also inspired the local people to serve as volunteers. Upon hearing that Africa was hit by a devastating cyclone, the people in Haiti were eager to donate money. Although the amount was not substantial, it was almost all that they had left in their pockets. Their kind act is indeed inspiring and deeply moving. In order to appeal to the public to be aware of the suffering the EastAfricans were going through, Tzu Chi volunteers in north Taiwan and the staff of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital jointly organized a concert. Two young composers, Li Ren-fu and Gao-yuan immediately composed a song, “Let Love Flow Everywhere”, after listening to my appeal at a Dharma talk at dawn. They performed the song on stage and the audience sang along. The suffering people live in enveloping darkness. How to let a ray of hope enter their lives? As the lyrics of the song go: “Stretch out your helping hand and let love flow…,” drops of water converge to become a river. By amassing kindness from everyone, we will be able to helpmany who are suffering.We shall work continuously to evoke loving-kindness in everyone. With love flowing uninterrupted, a lamp is lit up to dispel darkness and provide hope to the suffering. aster’s Teaching * Compiled from a collection of speeches delivered by Master Cheng Yen from March 27 to April 2, 2019.