Date: April 24, 2008 (Thursday)
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
In the past, we often heard people describe the U.S. as a heaven on Earth. But, since many years ago, The U.S. has been constantly affected by disasters with one natural disaster occurring after another. This year alone, it has already suffered from wildfires, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. There has almost been no break in between. On March 21, Missouri received heavy rainfall that continued for 12 hours, greatly devastating Missouri. The surging water levels burst the riverbanks, submerging several towns in water. For several days, these towns were inundated. The nearest Tzu Chi chapter was in St. Louis, Missouri so on March 29, when the waters started to recede, our St. Louis volunteers went to survey the disaster condition. Then in mid-April, Tzu Chi volunteers began distributing debit cards worth US$300 to the flood victims, so that they could purchase the things they need. Our volunteers also gave them necessity packs. This is what has been happening these few days. So, Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. have truly been kept busy in recent years. Indeed, they have been working ceaselessly to bring relief aid to people affected by disaster. My heart truly goes out to them. These disasters happen because of the effects of global warming. That’s what causes such erratic climate conditions like floods, wildfires, hurricanes, etc. And so, our volunteers have been carrying out relief work constantly. So, environmental protection is something we must promote and practice always in normal times, so that the effects of global warming can be eased.
Yesterday was Earth Day in U.S., so Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. also worked hard to promote environmental awareness. However, it was not only for yesterday as they have been doing so many years now. On that vast piece of land, Tzu Chi volunteers in every state have been working diligently to protect the environment. Let’s first look at Tzu Chi’s recycling work in Northern California. Many of us know that there are a lot of high-tech companies in Northern California. So, in a place with so many high-tech companies, there are lots of things that can be recycled. In that are alone, we have 30 or so recycling points and over 200 recycling volunteers. The things they recycle are mainly paper products like cardboard boxes and cardboard cylinders because there are newspaper printing companies, many computer companies, and electronics companies in the area. ASUS also has a branch located in that area. The deputy manager there also leads the staff at ASUS to join him in doing recycling. Usually, Friday afternoons are allocated as recreational time for the staff. In the past, they would go hiking or swimming, or do other sports activities. However, Tzu Chi volunteers went there to promote and bring awareness about recycling. So now, during this recreational time at work, everyone dedicates themselves to doing recycling. During this two-hour period, if they spent it recreationally, the time would pass without anything really being accomplished, but they have now chosen to make use of this time to do recycling together, and they have truly accomplished a lot. From this, we can see that a change of action or a change of thought can transform our life, it can lend greater meaning and value to our life as we put in a effort to protect the Earth. This is the difference that a change of thought and acting can make. No matter what the weather is like, everyone works diligently to do recycling as usual. This is what a great difference promoting environmental consciousness can make and what Tzu Chi volunteers everywhere are working hard to do around the world.
Among these recycling volunteers in California, there are blue-collar workers as well, such as Mr. Lu Guo-qiang for example. He is Vietnamese. In 1975, during the Vietnam War, he fled his country and became a refugee. During that period, many Vietnamese fled their country by boat. If you all still remember around thirty years ago, these boat people from Vietnam truly faced very tragic fates. Mr. Lu was on one of these boats. This one boat carried over 400 passengers. They drifted in the sea for 16 days and had run out of water and food. During these 16 days, he saw how the atmosphere of the crowded boat went from noise to occasional groans, to silence. At a time when everyone had reached the end of their ropes, a glimmer of hope appeared. A ship from Taiwan saved their lives including Mr. Lu’s. That’s why he has always felt indebted to this ship from Taiwan that had saved him and brought him to the U.S. Though he had arrived in the U.S., he was still a refugee. Being a refugee, it was very difficult to find a job and sustain a living. However, with a heart of gratitude. In the end, he found a job working as laborer for a canned food company. However, he has always kept in mind the Taiwanese ship that had saved him. Sp, since retiring in 2005, he has been dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the charity organization from Taiwan—Tzu Chi. He is now already 67 years old. Every Saturday from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., he does recycling. He has been doing so for over three years. Even though winter was very cold. In the U.S. this year, he still did not rest for a single Saturday. He ahs said before that it was so cold that when he had a runny nose, the mucus would immediately freeze up, so it wouldn’t even run down. As for his hands, it would be all swollen. Others would ask him to rest for the day, but he wouldn’t. He truly uses his life to the fullest to benefit others. At the same time, as soon as he thinks of Taiwan. He has never been Taiwan, but knowing that his life was saved because of a Taiwanese ship, he is filled with gratitude. So, now is his opportunity to give all that he has to repay his debt of gratitude with all his life in caring for the Earth, he is also working tirelessly for Taiwan’s Tzu Chi by dedicating himself as a volunteer. It truly is very touching to see. So, there are truly many touching stories to tell. Be it helping the suffering or protecting the Earth, the work that Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. do is truly very touching. For that, I can never say enough “thank you”.
Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
In the past, we often heard people describe the U.S. as a heaven on Earth. But, since many years ago, The U.S. has been constantly affected by disasters with one natural disaster occurring after another. This year alone, it has already suffered from wildfires, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. There has almost been no break in between. On March 21, Missouri received heavy rainfall that continued for 12 hours, greatly devastating Missouri. The surging water levels burst the riverbanks, submerging several towns in water. For several days, these towns were inundated. The nearest Tzu Chi chapter was in St. Louis, Missouri so on March 29, when the waters started to recede, our St. Louis volunteers went to survey the disaster condition. Then in mid-April, Tzu Chi volunteers began distributing debit cards worth US$300 to the flood victims, so that they could purchase the things they need. Our volunteers also gave them necessity packs. This is what has been happening these few days. So, Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. have truly been kept busy in recent years. Indeed, they have been working ceaselessly to bring relief aid to people affected by disaster. My heart truly goes out to them. These disasters happen because of the effects of global warming. That’s what causes such erratic climate conditions like floods, wildfires, hurricanes, etc. And so, our volunteers have been carrying out relief work constantly. So, environmental protection is something we must promote and practice always in normal times, so that the effects of global warming can be eased.
Yesterday was Earth Day in U.S., so Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. also worked hard to promote environmental awareness. However, it was not only for yesterday as they have been doing so many years now. On that vast piece of land, Tzu Chi volunteers in every state have been working diligently to protect the environment. Let’s first look at Tzu Chi’s recycling work in Northern California. Many of us know that there are a lot of high-tech companies in Northern California. So, in a place with so many high-tech companies, there are lots of things that can be recycled. In that are alone, we have 30 or so recycling points and over 200 recycling volunteers. The things they recycle are mainly paper products like cardboard boxes and cardboard cylinders because there are newspaper printing companies, many computer companies, and electronics companies in the area. ASUS also has a branch located in that area. The deputy manager there also leads the staff at ASUS to join him in doing recycling. Usually, Friday afternoons are allocated as recreational time for the staff. In the past, they would go hiking or swimming, or do other sports activities. However, Tzu Chi volunteers went there to promote and bring awareness about recycling. So now, during this recreational time at work, everyone dedicates themselves to doing recycling. During this two-hour period, if they spent it recreationally, the time would pass without anything really being accomplished, but they have now chosen to make use of this time to do recycling together, and they have truly accomplished a lot. From this, we can see that a change of action or a change of thought can transform our life, it can lend greater meaning and value to our life as we put in a effort to protect the Earth. This is the difference that a change of thought and acting can make. No matter what the weather is like, everyone works diligently to do recycling as usual. This is what a great difference promoting environmental consciousness can make and what Tzu Chi volunteers everywhere are working hard to do around the world.
Among these recycling volunteers in California, there are blue-collar workers as well, such as Mr. Lu Guo-qiang for example. He is Vietnamese. In 1975, during the Vietnam War, he fled his country and became a refugee. During that period, many Vietnamese fled their country by boat. If you all still remember around thirty years ago, these boat people from Vietnam truly faced very tragic fates. Mr. Lu was on one of these boats. This one boat carried over 400 passengers. They drifted in the sea for 16 days and had run out of water and food. During these 16 days, he saw how the atmosphere of the crowded boat went from noise to occasional groans, to silence. At a time when everyone had reached the end of their ropes, a glimmer of hope appeared. A ship from Taiwan saved their lives including Mr. Lu’s. That’s why he has always felt indebted to this ship from Taiwan that had saved him and brought him to the U.S. Though he had arrived in the U.S., he was still a refugee. Being a refugee, it was very difficult to find a job and sustain a living. However, with a heart of gratitude. In the end, he found a job working as laborer for a canned food company. However, he has always kept in mind the Taiwanese ship that had saved him. Sp, since retiring in 2005, he has been dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the charity organization from Taiwan—Tzu Chi. He is now already 67 years old. Every Saturday from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., he does recycling. He has been doing so for over three years. Even though winter was very cold. In the U.S. this year, he still did not rest for a single Saturday. He ahs said before that it was so cold that when he had a runny nose, the mucus would immediately freeze up, so it wouldn’t even run down. As for his hands, it would be all swollen. Others would ask him to rest for the day, but he wouldn’t. He truly uses his life to the fullest to benefit others. At the same time, as soon as he thinks of Taiwan. He has never been Taiwan, but knowing that his life was saved because of a Taiwanese ship, he is filled with gratitude. So, now is his opportunity to give all that he has to repay his debt of gratitude with all his life in caring for the Earth, he is also working tirelessly for Taiwan’s Tzu Chi by dedicating himself as a volunteer. It truly is very touching to see. So, there are truly many touching stories to tell. Be it helping the suffering or protecting the Earth, the work that Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. do is truly very touching. For that, I can never say enough “thank you”.
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