The world of Tzu Chi December 2020(Vol.129)

about by human greed. Hence, to get through the hard times, the first thing was to calm the mind. The Master proposed the concept of living a materially simple but spiritually rich life, hoping that people could reduce their material desires, lead a simple and grounded life, and offer their love to benefit others. With such a way of life, one will realize the true abundance in life. Having a fortune does not necessarily mean being rich, while living a simple and frugal life is not living in poverty. If we seek material comforts and simply discard damaged or old items as rubbish without proper handling, our environment will be polluted and this will cause disturbance to our bodies and minds. In this case, our money is of no use. At this time, when many of us suffer from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, as businesses close down, companies lay off staff and household income drop, perhaps “letting go of our material desires” is the answer to reduce our worries and stress. Are you ready to declutter and embrace a quality life? 2 The 5Rs of recycling are Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle. The essence is to Refuse in the first place. Source: “From Austerity to Prosperity” by Master Cheng Yen Simple principles for items 1. Do not take unneeded item, even if it is free. 2. Shop wisely. Do not be wasteful. 3. Do not buy excessively to avoid storing past expiry. 4. Share items that are not frequently used. 5. It is okay to not own that item – do not think "I must have it." TZU CHI 129 31 Decluttering–The Art of Living