Date: April 14, 2008 (Monday)
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
The world can truly be inconceivable sometimes. Having religious faith is indeed important, but our faith should be sincerely based on correct views. People are always seeking peace and blessings, so, they’ll pray to any deities they come across. Of course, we should have proper respect. Of course, we should have proper respect toward various deities, but in praying for our protection, we must first reflect on whether we have done as the sages, saints, or bodhisattvas teach such as how we can work together with others to make a contribution to the world the planet. This is what we all should first reflect upon it is said that the family that does good enjoys many blessings. When people abide by their duties and do everything they are supposed to do, they are respecting and following natures laws. Those who respect natures laws will be blessed. But if you go against the laws of nature, it’d be very difficult to remain safe and sound. It is just like how if we keep to traffic regulations, then conditions on that road will be very smooth and everyone will be safe. But if we go against traffic regulations such as go over the speed limit then it would be difficult to remain safe.
I remember about twenty or so years ago, a commissioner brought a donating member to see me. She was in tears. She kept saying over and over. “I asked Mazu”. I asked her: “Please try to clam down a little”. “Tell me what it was that you asked Mazu”. She said, “My son kept asking me to buy him a motorcycle. But I was very afraid that he would have a motorcycle accident”. “So, I kept refusing to buy one for him. But he kept begging me”. “So, I went and asked Mazu by throwing the divination blocks three times and every time I got the sign of consent. So, that’s why I bought it for him. But before two days had passed, he was killed in an accident.” I asked her: “How did the accident occur?” She said, “He was riding too fast. He was riding over the speed limit.” I said, “Though Mazu gave you her consent and said that your son would be safe, that was because the speed limit Mazu had set was 60km per hour, but he was riding at over 80km per hour. So, he was riding over the speed limit and that’s why he had the accident.” She asked, “Is that really so?” I then said to her: “How long your son is with you is based on your karmic affinities with him. Since your son had begged you so hard, your heart was already swayed, and were inclined to buy it for him. The divination blocks are connected to the mind. It manifested what was in your mind. So, seeing the divination blocks you said Mazu had given her consent. But in actual fact, people need to follow rules. Because your child didn’t follow traffic regulations, he had an accident. Since it has already happened, don’t give yourself such a hard time over it anymore.” I spent a lot of time talking with her. All in all, in seeking peace and safety, we must first see if we have followed correct principles and nature’s laws.
In the footage, we see the annual parade of Mazu which began April 5. The tour began in Dajia (in central Taiwan) and passed through many places, including Taichung, Zhanghua, Yongjing, Yunlin, Chiayi, and all the way to Xingang before making its way back to Dajia again. Instead of joining in the parade, Tzu Chi volunteers set up many recycling stops along the route, taking turns tirelessly one after the other to spread the word about recycling. They care about the environment, and so they promoted this concept by working to keep the environment clean. Since the procession passed through Yunlin, Chiayi, and Xingang, which are all in the vicinity of our hospital in Dalin, Asst. Superintendent Jian and our hospital staff as well as Tzu Chings, who, despite having to prepare for midterms, helped to sweep the streets and pick up garbage. Their way of cherishing the Earth and their heart of sincerity is the most sincere form of piety. Protecting the Earth and helping to keep the air clean is the most sincere way of showing respect for nature. See, how adorable they are and how moving their efforts are.
Similar to the tour of Mazu in Taiwan, each year in Malaysia, there is a Wesak Day to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. On that day, there is a procession with floats and a parade through the streets. Like our volunteers in Taiwan, our volunteers in Malaysia set up recycling stops along the route and also follow at the back of the parade to pick up garbage and sweep the streets. They say that each time they bend down, they recite Buddha’s name once. They said, “We’re also making a bowing pilgrimage. By bending down to pick up garbage, we’re also paying our most sincere homage. That’s right. This is the way to show our most pious and sincere respect. See, besides trailing behind the procession, they also set up recycling stops and continually spread the word (about environmental protection). Be it our volunteers in Taiwan, or our volunteers in Malaysia--- see how adorable they are. These are all ways to express our sincere piety to the deities.
Then in Kenting, a three-day music spring festival was held earlier this month. Do you know how much garbage was created in those three days? Our volunteers from Hengchun of Pingdong County went to spread the word about not littering for two days. Though they called on everyone not to litter, however, it still took four 3.5-ton trucks to carry away all the garbage that had been created. Think about the amount of garbage that was created. How frightening it is. If there had been no one to clear away the garbage or no one had spread the word about not littering, what would the state of Kenting have been like after the festival? So, wherever there are people, there’ll be pollution, and garbage will be created. Why are people so deluded? They lose themselves in seeking pleasure and seeking peace and blessings. Why don’t people do as they should, and truly show sincere piety at every moment of everyday, at every place, toward every person, and with this pious sincerity and self-discipline, also work with others to give back to the land? So, we really should reflect on ourselves. I hope that these situations (these processions) will improve with each year. This is our hope. While it is best if we have a religious faith, it should be based on right thinking, right faith, right conduct. This would be the true and correct way of protecting our family and society as well as ensuring peace upon Earth.
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
The world can truly be inconceivable sometimes. Having religious faith is indeed important, but our faith should be sincerely based on correct views. People are always seeking peace and blessings, so, they’ll pray to any deities they come across. Of course, we should have proper respect. Of course, we should have proper respect toward various deities, but in praying for our protection, we must first reflect on whether we have done as the sages, saints, or bodhisattvas teach such as how we can work together with others to make a contribution to the world the planet. This is what we all should first reflect upon it is said that the family that does good enjoys many blessings. When people abide by their duties and do everything they are supposed to do, they are respecting and following natures laws. Those who respect natures laws will be blessed. But if you go against the laws of nature, it’d be very difficult to remain safe and sound. It is just like how if we keep to traffic regulations, then conditions on that road will be very smooth and everyone will be safe. But if we go against traffic regulations such as go over the speed limit then it would be difficult to remain safe.
I remember about twenty or so years ago, a commissioner brought a donating member to see me. She was in tears. She kept saying over and over. “I asked Mazu”. I asked her: “Please try to clam down a little”. “Tell me what it was that you asked Mazu”. She said, “My son kept asking me to buy him a motorcycle. But I was very afraid that he would have a motorcycle accident”. “So, I kept refusing to buy one for him. But he kept begging me”. “So, I went and asked Mazu by throwing the divination blocks three times and every time I got the sign of consent. So, that’s why I bought it for him. But before two days had passed, he was killed in an accident.” I asked her: “How did the accident occur?” She said, “He was riding too fast. He was riding over the speed limit.” I said, “Though Mazu gave you her consent and said that your son would be safe, that was because the speed limit Mazu had set was 60km per hour, but he was riding at over 80km per hour. So, he was riding over the speed limit and that’s why he had the accident.” She asked, “Is that really so?” I then said to her: “How long your son is with you is based on your karmic affinities with him. Since your son had begged you so hard, your heart was already swayed, and were inclined to buy it for him. The divination blocks are connected to the mind. It manifested what was in your mind. So, seeing the divination blocks you said Mazu had given her consent. But in actual fact, people need to follow rules. Because your child didn’t follow traffic regulations, he had an accident. Since it has already happened, don’t give yourself such a hard time over it anymore.” I spent a lot of time talking with her. All in all, in seeking peace and safety, we must first see if we have followed correct principles and nature’s laws.
In the footage, we see the annual parade of Mazu which began April 5. The tour began in Dajia (in central Taiwan) and passed through many places, including Taichung, Zhanghua, Yongjing, Yunlin, Chiayi, and all the way to Xingang before making its way back to Dajia again. Instead of joining in the parade, Tzu Chi volunteers set up many recycling stops along the route, taking turns tirelessly one after the other to spread the word about recycling. They care about the environment, and so they promoted this concept by working to keep the environment clean. Since the procession passed through Yunlin, Chiayi, and Xingang, which are all in the vicinity of our hospital in Dalin, Asst. Superintendent Jian and our hospital staff as well as Tzu Chings, who, despite having to prepare for midterms, helped to sweep the streets and pick up garbage. Their way of cherishing the Earth and their heart of sincerity is the most sincere form of piety. Protecting the Earth and helping to keep the air clean is the most sincere way of showing respect for nature. See, how adorable they are and how moving their efforts are.
Similar to the tour of Mazu in Taiwan, each year in Malaysia, there is a Wesak Day to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. On that day, there is a procession with floats and a parade through the streets. Like our volunteers in Taiwan, our volunteers in Malaysia set up recycling stops along the route and also follow at the back of the parade to pick up garbage and sweep the streets. They say that each time they bend down, they recite Buddha’s name once. They said, “We’re also making a bowing pilgrimage. By bending down to pick up garbage, we’re also paying our most sincere homage. That’s right. This is the way to show our most pious and sincere respect. See, besides trailing behind the procession, they also set up recycling stops and continually spread the word (about environmental protection). Be it our volunteers in Taiwan, or our volunteers in Malaysia--- see how adorable they are. These are all ways to express our sincere piety to the deities.
Then in Kenting, a three-day music spring festival was held earlier this month. Do you know how much garbage was created in those three days? Our volunteers from Hengchun of Pingdong County went to spread the word about not littering for two days. Though they called on everyone not to litter, however, it still took four 3.5-ton trucks to carry away all the garbage that had been created. Think about the amount of garbage that was created. How frightening it is. If there had been no one to clear away the garbage or no one had spread the word about not littering, what would the state of Kenting have been like after the festival? So, wherever there are people, there’ll be pollution, and garbage will be created. Why are people so deluded? They lose themselves in seeking pleasure and seeking peace and blessings. Why don’t people do as they should, and truly show sincere piety at every moment of everyday, at every place, toward every person, and with this pious sincerity and self-discipline, also work with others to give back to the land? So, we really should reflect on ourselves. I hope that these situations (these processions) will improve with each year. This is our hope. While it is best if we have a religious faith, it should be based on right thinking, right faith, right conduct. This would be the true and correct way of protecting our family and society as well as ensuring peace upon Earth.
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