Life Wisdom: Rebuilding Society with Love and Selfless Giving
(In our world,) many people’s hearts are out of balance. In South Africa, some people live in extreme poverty, so much so that their minds are not calm, and the difficulties of poverty are unbearable, so, people give into looting. This way, such society cannot be peaceful, and people’s minds are not calm. For residents in South Africa, life is very hard right now.
“My husband’s factory, which took us ten years to establish, was destroyed overnight. The initial estimation of our financial loss was at a million South African Rands. During the whole time, I think what we’ve (done well) is that we really don't have any hate in our hearts. We've accepted it all. Lines from the Water Repentance Musical keep popping up on my mind, especially: in times of disasters, we must nurture great compassion. In times of turmoil, we must practice deep repentance,” Zhu Yan-fang, a Tzu Chi Volunteer said.
“We really repent that we’ve not spread Master’s teachings far enough, so we couldn’t do anything to stop the riot from taking place. Although the riot cost us very much financially, I’m grateful that our families and staff are safe. Compared to many people, we’re very lucky,” she continued.
Indeed, this loss was monumental. Such is life, which is full of suffering. Yet, what can be done if not let it go? Let it go, and start over again. As long as we are not harmed, and our families are safe, we can let go of all material things.
“I don’t think my financial loss was something that made me upset or sad. What I’m sad about is... How can we apply Master’s teachings in Africa? What can I do? How do I lead others to do the same? How can we purify people’s hearts? Only when people’s hearts are purified will the society be more harmonious, and there will not be more social unrest,” Lin Zhao-wen, another volunteer said.
So, I often say that people’s hearts must truly be calm, having little desire and being content are the greatest blessings and make us safe.
Take Indonesia for example, over 20 years ago, there was an unrest. Everyone felt (fear and anxiety). Entrepreneurs there visited me (and asked) how they can attain peace in mind. I told them, “Only love can eliminate disaster; only by removing hatred can one open his heart. Love is giving selflessly without asking for anything in return. Only by doing so can the hearts of the poor there be pacified. So, we must give of ourselves.”
So, during that time, many entrepreneurs gave their love and went to impoverished places to distribute rice to people who lacked food. Tzu Chi volunteers who are entrepreneurs also went and joined the aid distribution there and handed out rice in person.
For those old, weak, and young who couldn’t carry their rice bag, our volunteers carried the rice bag for them. Since then entrepreneurs have worked with Tzu Chi volunteers in Indonesia.
We saw their deeds. It was heartwarming.
They also carried rice bag for the old, weak, and young to their homes. After the rice distribution, in no time, people could smell the fragrance of cooked rice. This happened more than 20 years ago, and we can recall that the Angke River was truly polluted.
Tzu Chi volunteers also went and mobilized (people) to clean the Angke River; they called on entrepreneurs there to ask the government to help clean up the river. Entrepreneurs there also came together for the cleanup efforts. For those who had no place to live, these entrepreneurs constructed Tzu Chi’s Great Love villages for them. They cleaned up the muddy, polluted Angke River, so the water could flow and become clean again.
(We saw) a boat moving in the river with its propeller caught in floating garbage. It was hard to completely remove all the garbage and mud. The water needs to flow in order for the river to gradually become clean. It wasn’t completely clean yet because there was still mud at the bottom of the river. The river had been polluted for decades. It was not possible to clean it completely in a cleanup. So, it did take time and continued effort. It’s not the case that the river could be completely clean with one major cleanup effort.
After the cleanup, people needed to be patient and slowly improve the development around the river. This is an example. For a period of time, Indonesia was like the Angke River with mud, which had been slowly cleaned up.
Now, the sceneries along the banks of the Angke River are very beautiful. Its society has been developing and flourishing. Its international trade is also very active. Hence, in life, people need to work together in unity and harmony with love with all professions in place. Farmers need a peaceful society so that they can farm without worries. Laborers also need peace and stability. There are also businesses in society.
When businesses flourish with growing industries, the whole society will prosper. (These are the contributions of various professions to society.)
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