The world of Tzu Chi July 2020 (Vol.124)

02 2020 • 07 The livelihoods of farmers have been threatened by the pandemic as lockdown restrictions have hindered them from supplying their harvest to wet markets to be traded. Tzu Chi acquired the surplus supply of vegetables and distributed them to underprivileged villagers. The children of the village, who are now Tzu Ching members, also helped to collect the produce. Despite the disparity between the affluent and the poor that exists in our world, all beings are equal in nature. The villagers are by no means wealthy, but their generosity, kindness and cooperative spirit are exemplary. Kindness, or Buddha-nature, is inherent in us. Hence, we should maintain purity of heart and spirit at all times, not only during the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, and practise compassion to all with utmost sincerity. The microscopic Covid-19 virus, invisible to the naked eye and impossible to grasp, has taken the world by surprise with its unexpectedly wide reach. Even the most powerful nations struggle to contain the outbreak. The pandemic has caused widespread anxiety as medical personnel worldwide are in dire need of protective equipment and governments ordered lockdowns and closures of various business sectors, leaving the poor unemployed and endangering livelihoods. Tzu Chi volunteers endeavour to offer care and assistance to those in need even in challenging times, driven by the indomitable spirit of selfless service, contributing in the form of cash and kind to the best of their ability. They comfort the impoverished and console the underprivileged, enabling them to lead stable lives in spite of the difficulties faced, in their efforts to touch hearts with love while bearing in mind social distancing rules. The volunteers continue to practise sympathy and compassion, supporting each other in going to great lengths to serve those in need. For that, I am deeply grateful. Recently, I have been keeping in touch with the global Tzu Chi community through constant video calls. Although we are thousands of kilometres apart, we are connected online and are close to each other’s hearts. We are still able to see and hear one another and cultivate ourselves by working hard. Technology unites us with its remarkable potential to reach across vast distances, while we leverage our spiritual strength – seemingly insignificant on an individual level, but when we come together as one in mind and spirit and earnestly strive towards a common goal with firm conviction, we will eventually be able to accomplish our mission. As we accumulate experience over time and stand by our beliefs, we are assured of the prospect of achieving our aim. Love is boundless. However, the essence of love does not reside in some miraculous transformative power, but rather the spiritual strength to commit to actions and speech that spread kindness and touch hearts. Where there is a will, there is a way. Please be mindful, always. aster’s Teaching * Compiled from a collection of speeches delivered by Master Cheng Yen from May 1 to 12, 2020.