Master's Dharma Talk: Inspiring Goodness and Wisdom in All

Yesterday, our volunteers in Indonesia, including Mr. Sugianto Kusuma, came to our Abode in Hualien. They shared how they have been carrying out their volunteer work step by step for many years. Their stories are truly heartwarming.

They walk the Tzu Chi Path step by step, and with their persevering dedication, Tzu Chi can better work for the common good in Indonesia. Tzu Chi began its missions in Indonesia when a few ladies started our volunteer work. They worked with such dedication that some prominent entrepreneurs were deeply moved and joined us, including Mr. Sugianto Kusuma and Mr. Eka Widjaja.

Mr. Eka Widjaja was originally a devout Christian, but he took refuge in me when he visited the Abode with his son, Mr. Franky Widjaja. Mr. Franky Widjaja vowed to recruit at least one million people to join Tzu Chi. Now, all his employees are Tzu Chi volunteers, and all of them are promoting the practice of Tzu Chi coin banks.

So, not only does he serve as our commissioner, he also has his employees work in unity while dedicating themselves to community volunteer work. To bring aid and care to every community, they work in groups so that they can better care for the needy in different places. The one million or so volunteers he has recruited not only donate to help those in need, but also go into communities and benefit people in every possible way.

In addition, Mr. Widjaja promotes Tzu Chi's culture and spirit among his employees. As he is so willing and all-embracing in serving people, he is blessed, and he can humble himself in serving people. Such is his understanding of how to benefit humanity. He never gets attached to his social status. Rather, he focuses on how to dedicate himself to Tzu Chi's missions.

He even does cleaning work with other volunteers if need be. He takes it as his life's direction to nurture his employees' wisdom-life with Tzu Chi's culture and spirit. So, what are correct religious views? Religion is about the education of life's true principles. With life's true principles, we know how to adjust our direction of life at all times.

 We also see Sint Maarten. Hurricane Irma damaged almost the entire island. Ci Xi is our commissioner there, and her family are all Tzu Chi members. She owns a bakery, so in the immediate aftermath, she offered bread to the victims although she was also affected by the hurricane. She did so in order that those affected wouldn't starve.

See how she lovingly cared for the needy. Also, as there was still some rice from Taiwan, she quickly arranged another aid distribution. Yet, as there was not much rice left, each recipient could only have three cups of rice this time. Despite that, in giving each cup of rice, we shared a wholesome teaching with them.

Recently, because there were still people in need, we held one more distribution to give out clothing and shoes, in addition to rice. When giving out aid, we encouraged the recipients to think good thoughts, speak kind words, and do good deeds. We hope that when they eat the rice, they'll remember people's aid and love

and speak kinds words to pay love forward. We also hope that the clothing we gave can remind them to think good thoughts and be gentle and loving, and with the shoes we gave, they can walk the right path and do good.

See how full of wisdom our volunteers are. Regardless of religion, this is what we can share with others. Whatever our religious faith, it is right to speak kind words, think good thoughts, and do good deeds. This is how Tzu Chi members give with love to help and inspire people all over the world.

We also see that our volunteers in South Africa brought care to homeless people. There is a community volunteer of ours providing hot food for homeless people. Her charitable action has gained support from a local councilor so she can provide hot food for homeless people once a week.

When our volunteers went to care for homeless people, they found a young man who used to be a college student and worked as a court interpreter. He became addicted to drugs and quit his job because he thought that if he had no money to buy drugs, he could rid himself of drugs completely. Determined to quit his addiction, he wandered from place to place, ending up being homeless. But our volunteers have brought him care and have inspired him.

"I am very willing to get involved in this because I am also a homeless person. I understand the needs of the homeless because we have a close relationship. Many people come to give what they have without asking what we need. All we needed was toiletries, blankets, clothes, and shoes. I also want to involve myself in charitable organizations, such as Tzu Chi, "said a homeless person.

He is now volunteering with us, doing interpreting work at our events. This is truly very touching. Seeing him change his life for the better, I am truly relieved and grateful. In all, whatever religion we may follow, if something is right, we should just do it. If everyone can care for one another with love, even if there is still much suffering, there will be joy and warmth in this world.