The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

53 TZU CHI 116 Master Cheng Yen: In the huge endeavour of environmental protection, there is still a lot for Taiwan to work on. However, education and promotion have to go hand in hand for the movement to be effective. The concept of environmental protection has already become popular. If we take immediate action to protect and treasure the Earth, we can prevent the deterioration of our environment. Due to excess consumption, plastic products such as plastic bottles have clogged up the sewage system, causing more flooding when it rains. Another need for action is sorting the many types of garbage that can be recycled and turned into useful products or made into organic fertilizer. Therefore, if both the government and private sectors can effectively work together so that the use of non-biodegradable products will be avoided, and garbage will be carefully sorted thereby enabling reuse of resources, we can effectively resolve the garbage problem and improve our environment. Currently, there are tens of thousands of recycling volunteers in Taiwan doing environmental protection with a cherishing heart. We hope that, with our involvement, we can inspire others to participate too. Professor Zhan, who is interpreting: Master, I am not sure how to translate “cherish”; can you explain that more? Master Cheng Yen: To cherish means to treat something as if it is part of your own body. When we view things this way, we will truly cherish them. Mr Spengler: I have been wondering: What is the Buddhist view on the relationship between man and nature? The Western thought is that we are responsible for taking care of the Earth. This philosophy is based on the concept that “man is above and superior to nature”, which is why man needs to take care of the Earth. This is of course quite different from the thinking, “Think nature as being a part of us, then man and nature will become one.” Master Cheng Yen: Consider everything as a part of ourselves. Because we love ourselves, we must also cherish everything in the world around us. For example, every page in my notebook is used three times. I use a pencil to write on it the first time, a ballpoint pen the second time, and finally a brush. The paper is repeatedly and fully utilized. During the developing stages of Tzu Chi, I used to write articles and reports about Tzu Chi myself. At that time, I seldom used new paper; I used out-of-date calendar sheets. I believe we should fully utilize our own bodies and everything around us. This concept of cherishing life and prolonging the life of objects is derived from “the Oneness of Everything” based on Buddhist teachings. We are inseparable from other living beings on Earth, so cherishing all things is just like cherishing ourselves. Mr Spengler: I deeply admire Tzu Chi’s earnest and practical approach! * The article is extracted from the book “Friends from Afar: Conversations with Dharma Master Cheng Yen”.