The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

01 TZU CHI 116 By Dharma Master Cheng Yen Translated by Max Siew aster’s Teaching If we are actively involved in serving humanity, we can witness that there are people who live even more deplorable lives than the suffering and realize that we take for granted the many blessings we receive. By walking the Bodhisattva Path, we experience Dharma joy. T he Mid-autumn Festival (also known as the Mooncake Festival) is an occasion that Tzu Chi celebrates with joy. At this time of the year, members of Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) would gather at Hualien, Taiwan for the annual TIMA Convention. This year, 500 TIMA members and volunteers from 24 countries and regions assembled in Hualien in mid-September to coincide with the festival. They were warmly welcomed by their Taiwanese counterparts, much like a family reunion. The essence of the festival lies in appreciating the illuminating capacity of our heart that shines as pure and bright as the moon, rather than only admiring the captivating beauty of the moon, which is said to be shining the brightest on the night of the festival. Sometimes the moon may be eclipsed by floating clouds, but our hearts shall always remain pure and bright, as well as devoid of defilements, ignorance and delusions. Challenges and adversities can only polish our hearts. In spiritual cultivation, we do not seek enlightenment from without, but from within. Ordinary people appreciate the beauty and brightness of the moon during the night of the festival thinking that it is a yearly event. But if our hearts are as pure and untainted as the bright moon, we can discover the innate beauty of our hearts all the time; we do not discriminate others, but rather, treat everyone equally, allowing our love for humanity to pervade every corner of the world. This year, more than 400 Tzu Chi volunteers in Taiwan were involved in organizing the annual event and serving the participants coming all the way from the five continents. To accommodate the needs of the participants, all the talks and speeches were interpreted into seven languages in real time. The four-day meeting saw the participants comparing notes with other medical professionals, not only in medical knowledge but also on the work of Tzu Chi volunteers and TIMA members in their respective countries. These insights helped the participants to motivate one another to serve their patients better, especially the poor and the suffering. Give Love and Feel Love