The world of Tzu Chi March-April 2022 (Vol.140)

49 TZU CHI 140 O nce when I was walking across a patch of earth outside of the prayer hall, there was a very long earthworm whose whole body was covered in mud. This long creature was desperately struggling, as its body had been surrounded by an army of ants. I considered reaching out my hand to move him and chase the ants away, but then I drew it back because I took pity on the ants. They had a unified spirit and worked with coordination and perseverance to move this earthworm. The earthworm had become completely covered in dirt, showing that his life force was already departing. As he was nearing death, he was now becoming just a pile of matter. The same is true for people. While our life force remains in our bodies, they are useful, but after we take our final breath, they become no more than a pile of matter, which will stink and rot and be eaten by ants. It is the same with aster Cheng Yen Tells Stories The Cooperative Spirit of Ants the earthworm. There was no way for me to save the earthworm, so I thought I may as well cherish these small living beings that were working so earnestly together. Ants, these tiny living things, are insignificant and small, yet they are full of the spirit of cooperation. An ant’s life is so short, and an anthill cannot be built in such a short amount of time. Therefore, ants must work together and pass down their determination to the next generation. In this sense, I sometimes fear that we humans cannot compare to them. If only we could have the same will, determination and faith as a colony of ants, then society would not be so full of chaos and conflict. Humans have the greatest capacity for intellect of all beings, and as such, we must not be deterred by hardship. Instead, we must give rise to faith and work together to help and protect the world we love. * Extracted from the book “A Steady Heart and Steady Practice—Stories for Living a Good Life”.