The world of Tzu Chi September 2020 (Vol.126)

2020 • 09 34 eature Have a heart for Mother Earth Master Cheng Yen has always hoped for everyone to cherish resources and lead a diligent and frugal life. She has once proposed the idea of “living a materially simple but spiritually rich life”, and urged everyone to reduce material pursuit and instead, embrace the traditional virtues of contentment and diligence. P lanet Earth is home to mankind and the provider of resources for humans to survive. When Master Cheng Yen saw rubbish strewn all over 30 years ago, she felt sorry for Mother Earth and urged everyone to cherish her resources and practise recycling. However, human desires are insatiable. Often times, brand new items would land in the recycling centres, directly creating more waste. Hence, the Master hoped for everyone to lead a diligent, content and frugal life with less emphasis on materialism and more focus on the richness within. It is only by being environmentally aware in our daily lives that we will be able to learn to revere and love Mother Nature. From material to spiritual recycling In the past few decades, the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment has become more severe. In view of this, Tzu Chi has been advocating a healthy diet with more plant-based foods and less meats. Better still, a full vegetarian diet, which according to studies, is the most effective way to save the planet. Moreover, it goes beyond religion to elevate our basic needs for food to the spiritual level when every meal we take can bring hope to Earth. At some recycling centres, an education zone is set up to alert the public on the crisis the Earth is facing. The props made from non- recyclable items mimic a disaster scene to attract visitors’ attention and remind them of our shared responsibility to save the Earth. As all sorts of items—recyclable and non-recyclable—were sent to the recycling centres, the Master raised the concept of “purity at the source” – to improve the quality of recycling and urged the volunteers to impart relevant knowledge to the public so that they will not send non-recyclable items to the recycling centres. The burden on the volunteers will also lessen if everyone can clean their recyclables and sort them out beforehand. The Master advised, “To save the world, we must first save the mind. Before we can effect change to the environment, we must first change the mindset.” While sorting out the recyclables diligently, the volunteers will also be sorting out their minds, reflecting upon themselves and eradicating any unwholesome habits. Thus, recycling centres are not only a place for collecting and sorting recyclables, they are also a community education centre and a place for spiritual cultivation, where the volunteers can gain knowledge, learn about life’s principles, and purify their hearts and minds. The scene of them dedicating