Life Wisdom: Following True Principles and Walking the Path of Goodness
“I'm very grateful to Master, as serving with Tzu Chi brings me the greatest joy. My son also serves with Tzu Chi and has been certified as a Tzu Cheng member. He has passed on Tzu Chi's spirit in our family, which also brings the greatest joy to me. Thanks to Master, I have a happy family. My son gives of himself and my children are all very filial. Thank you, Master,” said Xiao Chun-feng, a Tzu Chi Volunteer.
Everyone, during my stay here over these few days, I've heard many people share how they've been living out the Dharma at home. By living out the Dharma, they are all filled with joy. Yet, I've heard some of them share how their parents are advanced in age and have been experiencing a physical decline.
Aging is a law of Nature. I considered them to be truly blessed when I saw their parents. As they've been good to their parents as sons, daughters, or daughters-in-law, they've also been sowing blessings for themselves. They've truly been taking action to repay their parents, who are like living buddhas in their families.
“When my father passed away at age 80, my mother was 77 and was still in good health. By the time she was 86 or 87 years old, her brain began to decline. After that, as she became very stubborn, it was hard for me to communicate with her. What could I do? Thankfully, as we've been doing volunteer work and paying visits to the needy, we know that the ill need their family to take care of them. Back then, I thought that I must take care of my mother on my own. Life is truly impermanent. My mother's condition worsened very quickly. She became incapable of walking and then bedridden soon after she developed dementia. I'm grateful that I've learned a lot of medical knowledge in Tzu Chi. My wife and I had no difficulty taking care of my mother. I took care of her for more than ten years, until she passed away at age 101. She didn't develop any bedsores. Many medical workers said during home visits: "Both of you have been taking good care of her. Despite her old age, her skin was in good condition.” As I was her son, I took care of her willingly and joyfully. It's a blessing to be able to be with our mothers,” said Chen Dong-ming, a Tzu Chi Volunteer.
Some might think: "My parents nag at me every day. It's annoying." Can this count as being filial? No, because they do not respect their parents. So, we must know to practice respect and propriety. Propriety is a true principle of life.
Everyone, whenever I visit here, you are always very orderly. When I arrive, I see you stand together with order When I arrive, I see you stand together with order and pay respect to me. You've truly been holding the Three Jewels in Buddhism in high respect, and to live out the Dharma, you've also been practicing propriety.
As a monastic, I'm a part of the Three Jewels in Buddhism too. Monastics have to live out the Dharma, so I hold the Dharma in high respect too and I seize every opportunity to give a Dharma talk. Everyone, you hold me in high respect as I have taken in the Buddha's teachings and have been striving to make them widespread, hoping people around the world can understand them clearly. This is how I've been passing on the Dharma around the world.
As Tzu Chi members, we must pass on the Dharma and practice propriety. If everyone is kind and practices propriety, won't the world be at peace? The Buddha came to this world to teach us how we can have a healthy body and mind. He also told us that as there are both good and evil in this Saha world, we must share the Dharma and urge people to turn from evil and do good.
To keep evil at bay forever, we must work hard to guide and inspire all. This is also how we can spread the Dharma around the world. Look at Mr. Faisal Hu, our Tzu Chi volunteer from Turkey. He doesn't need to convert from Islam because of doing Tzu Chi's work. He pays utmost respect to me with this gesture and I put my palms together in return. By putting our palms together, we turn all our wandering thoughts into the single thought of eliminating our ten evil ways and walking towards the path of goodness.
By eliminating all wandering and unwholesome thoughts in my mind, I now give you my best wishes with sincere piety. You have also eliminated your wandering thoughts and have been following Tzu Chi's Ten Precepts unwaveringly. Our purpose of learning the Dharma is to awaken ourselves and walk towards the path of goodness. This is also how we eliminate our ten evil ways and learn to serve with enlightened love, sincere piety, and respect. Can you understand this? (Yes.)
Today, Mr. Hu and his father are here with us, which reminds me that we must all respect one another regardless of religion. I mention this every day. Please remember that this is how Muslims pay their utmost respect. If we see Muslims, we can also make this gesture to them. We can also return their respect by putting our palms together, for this gesture means we've eliminated our ten evil ways and we are paying our utmost respect.
In all, propriety is a true principle of life and all religions uphold propriety. We all share the same good nature, which is the Buddha nature. The Buddha said that as we all share the same Buddha nature, as we all share the same Buddha nature, we can also attain Buddhahood by cultivating ourselves. So, let us be grateful to the Buddha for guiding us to become people with enlightened love. Let us take action to show our utmost respect to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
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