Life Wisdom: Curbing Our Desires to Ease the Pandemic
“I witnessed two patients pass away. I was very afraid and didn't want to live,” said Abduhai.
“When I learned of my father's despair, I was very afraid too, for I'd often done him wrong. I hoped nothing bad would happen to him. I was really afraid of losing him and being unable to apologize. I'm grateful to my parents. I should repay their kindness before it's too late,” said Nur Fardeela, the daughter of Abduhai.
No one can escape the suffering of being away from their loved ones and being together with those they do not love, which is the truth of suffering expounded by the Buddha. We all undergo the suffering of birth, aging, illness, and death, and when we are separated from our loved ones or when death takes them away, we will suffer from pain or grief.
There is also the suffering of being with people we do not love. Some patients are confined in small spaces with other patients they don't know. They experience suffering as their loved ones are isolated in another place while they have to be with those they do not love. This is the suffering of not getting what they hope for and being together with people they do not love.
Everything arises from our minds. We must learn the way of the Buddha and understand the state of enlightenment. What is the state of enlightenment? It's about extending pure, selfless love to all without asking for anything in return. Such pure, selfless love is great love. Yet, when giving with great love, we will always be worried about humanity and the world. How can we be free of worry? When we are worried, how can we set our mind at ease?
“I'm very grateful to Tzu Chi for donating devices that can treat the patients effectively,” said Saifudin, Coordinator of Tuanku Fauziah hospital.
“We've sent devices there many times as we know the hospital is truly in need of these devices. What's most important is not how many devices we've donated, but how we can save people's lives,” said Lee Teow Kooi, a Tzu Chi volunteer.
The COVID-19 pandemic is truly hard to describe with words. I know it's been bringing suffering to people, yet I don't know how serious it might become or when it will end. I feel great pain because the virus is invisible and intangible and no one can stop its spread. What can we do? We must strive to bring peace to people's hearts. I often mention this, yet due to the pandemic, it's hard for people to be at ease.
We see how our Tzu Chi medical staff not only take care of COVID-19 patients with love but also do all they can to set their mind at ease. This is truly not an easy feat. How can we ease and end this pandemic? The only way to end it is for all of us to practice vigilance and self-discipline by keeping a safe distance from others, keeping our desires in check, and guarding our body, mind, and mouth.
Let us quell the greed in our mind, do all that is good, and curb our desire to eat animals. and curb our desire to eat animals. Let us heighten our vigilance and guard against our desires. Also, we must all express sincere piety through our body, mouth, and mind. To do that, we must curb our desires and practice all-embracing love.
Every day, I remind you all to love and protect all living beings and stop the killing of animals. I often remind you all to do so because I hope you can have faith in this principle and live it out at all times. Please understand this. With the virus running rampant, its impact is truly significant. So, we must all discipline ourselves by following preventive measures strictly.
Doctors and nurses not only have to protect themselves but to help stop the spread of the virus. Our doctors and nurses, you all serve through your hard work. Thanks to your dedication, people's health has been safeguarded. Thank you. While many people can rest on holidays, you devote your lives continuously to benefiting humanity.
Recently, I've been saying that we can become great people when we create the greatest value out of our life by striving to benefit humanity and bring about safety and peace in the world instead of giving in to our desires and taking issues with others. Our doctors and nurses, you truly are great people as you've been living out your value in life by devoting your lives to benefiting humanity. I'm indeed very grateful.
For this pandemic, your dedication is the key to bringing about safety and peace in society. There is too much to share. I'd still like to express my gratitude to you all. I hope you can keep safeguarding people's health, bringing warmth to all, and giving of yourselves with joy every day. Thank you all for giving with love. Thank you.
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