The world of Tzu Chi Augusts 2021 (Vol.136)

TZU CHI 136 45 REMINDERS UNDER THE SALA TREES learn about them, we will remain unwilling to change, and we may continue to make mistakes. “A sense of shame is like an iron hook that restrains you from transgressing.” Shame is like an iron hook; when the venomous snake enters, we can immediately use the hook to take the snake outside. Even if we commit a transgression, as long as we feel a sense of shame, naturally, we will not dare to persist in doing things that go against the principles or harm our virtue. Therefore, as spiritual practitioners, we must learn to feel ashamed, bravely admit our wrongs, and then correct ourselves. Therefore, shame can be said to “restrain us from transgressing”. “Therefore, you must constantly feel shame, and not let go of it even for a moment. Without a sense of shame, all virtues are lost. Those who feel shame follow the excellent Dharma; those who do not are no different from beasts.” People who cannot feel shame are no different from beasts. The Saha World is a world where one must endure suffering. Those who have weak aspirations and turn their backs on shame will sink into the sea of suffering, unable to ever escape. Actually, every person possesses pure thoughts of goodness and a sense of shame. If only we can inspire such a mindset, this world of endurance will be no different from the Western Pure Land, and there will be no more disasters in the world. The disasters of this world, whether natural or man-made, are cause by the collective karma of people. The mindset of each person is therefore very important. As long as we do not bury our conscience and potential for goodness, through constant self-reflection and mutual encouragement, we can turn this world of suffering into a Pure Land. Tzu Chi’s world is a world of beauty, created from “ten thousand heart-lotuses”. With everyone’s sincere love and care, we hope that each lotus seed can bloom into a second flower, then a third, continuing to a countless, infinite number of lotus flowers. In this way, our world will become a place of Bodhisattvas, filled with heart-lotuses. This is our dream, but we need everyone’s help to realize it. * This article is extracted from the book “Reminders under the Sala Trees – A Commentary on the Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings”.