The world of Tzu Chi May 2021 (Vol.134)

TZU CHI 134 53 REMINDERS UNDER THE SALA TREES need to give me this much all at once. You should keep some for your daily expenses.” Yet, she kept saying, “Master! This has been my wish for so many years, please let me fulfil my wish.” I said, “I cannot allow it. Have you considered your future living expenses?” She said, “Life is impermanent. How much does it cost for a person to live? My wish is that, when I pass away one day, Tzu Chi Hospital can continue to help people. Now that I am old, I do not know how much aid I can provide. So, Master, please let me fulfil my wish.” I told her that the Buddha taught us to be like “bees collecting pollen”. Donations need to be made with the same concept in mind. “It is wonderful to have an intention to give, but you should not let it affect your own life.” Finally, she said, “Master, please do not worry and accept it! It will not affect my life. My other wish is to be able to volunteer at the hospital, even if it is to sweep and mop the floor. So, Master, I know you will take care of me, so why would I worry about not having enough food?” It was obvious that she had assessed her situation and that she had made arrangements for the future. Touching stories like this are abundant in the Buddhist community; when the opportunity comes, everyone is willing to contribute and work together towards the same goal. Likewise, in society, the relationship between people is characterized by mutual dependence. Entrepreneurs who manage their own business must know that today, the success of their business depends on the commitment of its workers in order to provide a stable foundation for the business and build good credibility. This is how a business is able to keep developing with each day. For this reason, entrepreneurs should give their workers appropriate compensation and must not force them to overwork themselves. Otherwise, how will they be able to continue working in the future? The Buddha tirelessly taught us and inspired our wisdom with the hope that we could develop a proper understanding of the value of our life. His view on food and drink can be applied to other issues as well. In all things, we must not keep developing cravings; all we need is to fulfil our basic needs and have joyful interactions with others. As Buddhist practitioners, we must apply what we learn to our daily lives. Confucius also taught us to lead a simple life and that the most important thing is to express our innate potential. If everyone has the perspective that we “come to the world to learn to become sages and noble beings”, then we will find happiness in life. (To be continued in the next issue) * This article is extracted from the book “Reminders under the Sala Trees – A Commentary on the Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings”.