Can you picture how the bombings must have terrified the Iraqis? Innocent civilians lived in fear of being killed at any moment. War is very cruel--it takes away lives, destroys homes, and wounds Mother Earth. Scientists have warned that the US-Iraqi war would trigger global climate changes, severe earthquakes, and famines. The concentrated bombings have damaged the land and affected the climate, decreasing Nature's ability to produce food and thus leading to food shortages.

The terrifying aftereffects of war are long-lasting. Extensive spraying of defoliants and planting of landmines in the Vietnam War over three decades ago still cause many people to lose their limbs or to be born with deformities even now. In the 1991 Gulf War, massive oil spills polluted lakes and oceans, creating havoc in the ecosystem and making many species extinct. Some scientists have estimated that environmental damage induced by wars in the past five decades amounts to US$47 trillion. How many impoverished people's lives could have been improved with that much money?

I remember when Tzu Chi volunteers first entered eastern Cambodia to distribute relief in 1994, they were cautious of every step they took. Why? Because the country was littered with landmines, which outnumber the human population. People without an arm or leg can be seen everywhere in the country.

In life, being rich or poor is not the most important thing. Even if we are very poor, as long as our society is stable and peaceful, we can still be together with our families and sustain ourselves through hard work. But once war breaks out, no amount of wealth can save us.

Innocent civilians are always the biggest victims of war. After a war ends, civilians remain alone in going on with their broken lives, ruined homes, and handicapped bodies. Whose heart does not go out to people suffering from war? This is why Tzu Chi carries out humanistic relief work. We hope our love will alleviate these people's pains.

Tzu Chi helps Iraqi refugees

In February 2003, Chen Chiu-hua, director of the Tzu Chi office in Jordan returned to the Abode of Still Thoughts in Taiwan. He told me he was worried that when the war broke out, many Iraqis would flee for Jordan, which borders Iraq.

I asked him if he was still returning to Jordan, knowing that the war could start any minute. He replied that he would stay in Jordan because he believed it was his duty to take care of the Chinese in the country. Moreover, he had to prepare daily necessities in order to provide timely assistance to the refugees.

Mr. Chen, who was born in Taiwan, believes he is a citizen of Jordan because he has served as Prince Hassan's royal guard for 20 years. Since he joined Tzu Chi six years ago, he has been helping underprivileged people regardless of their nationality and religious beliefs.

A few days before the war, he and many other volunteers drove to the Ruwayshid refugee camp before the crack of dawn to help set up tents. Not knowing how long the refugees would be trapped in that yellow land, where the temperature drops drastically at night and desert storms often occur, he said sadly, "The refugees must feel miserable abandoning their homes. I really hope they will not suffer any further." So he and the other volunteers quickly purchased 50 tons of relief goods for the refugees. He also made 500 simple gas masks for volunteers and their family members. Our headquarters in Taiwan immediately airlifted 300 gas masks to Amman, Jordan. We also shipped two 40-foot containers and one 20-foot container of blankets and canned food.

Someone asked Chen if he was scared. He replied, "Because of the Tzu Chi spirit of Great Love and gratitude, I still see hope in the midst of despair."

The turmoil of the world originates from greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and suspicious thoughts. Do not feel that we are far away from the battlefields. As long as there are oppositions and disputes, there are bound to be wars. From relationships between individuals to those in the family, society, and even the entire country, if the mind is not at peace, there will be disputes. Hence, to quell adversity and create a world without disasters, one must start from purifying the mind.

Dealing with SARS

The Buddha said that in this world there are three major and three minor calamities. The three major calamities are all natural catastrophes [fire, flood, and a big wind which will destroy the earth] while the three minor calamities comprise man-made disasters--starvation, epidemic, and war. These three make up the crises in the world right now. Natural and human disasters that threaten countless lives are brought about by the three mental poisons--greed, anger, and delusion--that breed prolifically in human minds.

In countries around the world, famines have been occurring since many years ago. Factors such as climate change and the greenhouse effect have caused many countries to experience floods or droughts leading to food shortages. From 1994 to 1997, Tzu Chi visited east Cambodia eight times and distributed rice, grain, and farming tools to help the country pull out of its food crisis. From 1998 to 2000, Tzu Chi also carried out seven food relief distributions in North Korea.

The SARS epidemic has put the world on alert in recent months. It is not one individual's fault for triggering this epidemic. If we must find fault, then we should say that all people need to be blamed. Human beings are too arrogant in thinking that they are the most intelligent among all beings and that they can overcome nature. Before the outbreak, we had no idea that SARS existed. But at this point, we see that the power and intellect humans possess are far inferior to those of a microscopic virus. At times like this, human beings know very little. Who can say, "I am all-knowing?" So we must be humble and vigilant in our words and actions.

Do not be seized by fear or get emotional. Otherwise, we will disrupt social order and stability and lengthen the time it takes to contain the epidemic. Instead we should calm our minds and give support and blessings to the quarantined patients, their families, and the medical professionals working on the front lines. It takes cooperation and effort from everyone, not just government officials or medical professionals, to prevent SARS from spreading. The SARS epidemic will vanish if everyone can follow the government's prevention and quarantine measures, trust that people can coexist peacefully with the viruses, and above all sincerely pray for a world free of disasters.

Although we know that SARS comes from a mutation of animal coronavirus, vaccines and drugs have not been developed to cure SARS patients yet because it is the first time humans have been infected by such a virus. Therefore, quarantine is the only way to stop the spread. Those who suspect that they have SARS should dutifully go to receive treatments and seclude themselves from others. This individual act is an immensely meritorious deed because it protects oneself, the family, and the greater community. SARS patients are not scary at all; it is just as if they caught the flu and need time alone to slowly recover. We should respect and support them. They are already tormented physically and mentally, so please do not make them feel any more upset or anxious.

Moreover, we should esteem and appreciate medical professionals. Even as everyone tries to keep from contacting SARS sources, medical professionals put aside their own fears and tirelessly save patients' lives at the risk of their own.

Furthermore, we should develop good personal hygiene. We should wash our hands frequently, wear masks whenever we are with groups of people, maintain a clean environment, and avoid visiting poorly ventilated areas.

Three acts of kindness

During ancient times in China, whenever natural or man-made disasters occurred, the whole country would pray for blessings from heaven by abstaining from eating meat or killing animals, and by cleansing the impurities caused by their actions, words, and thoughts.

I hope everyone will uphold vows of abstinence and observe a vegetarian diet. Eating meat only satiates our desires temporarily. We should not forsake our health for temporary pleasure. I heard that the coronavirus that causes SARS was originally found only in animals such as pigs and chickens, but not humans. But people like to eat all kinds of meat. In Taiwan, each person consumes 40 kilograms of pork every year. On the global scale, human beings consume about 1.8 billion cattle, 25 billion domestic fowls, and trillions of sea organisms a year. Just imagine how many lives people consume with their mouths? Our stomachs are like graveyards. How filthy the air we exhale must be!

If we continue to unscrupulously breed animals and raise them prolifically in cruel environments, anger will breed in animals. The bad karma created from humans harming other living beings has resulted in many disasters. If we can respect all life, then all living beings on earth can coexist together peacefully.

Since we dwell on this vast earth and receive grace from all living beings, why can we not appreciate and hold nature in awe?

The Buddha taught that all living beings possess a buddha-nature. All religions teach about love and kindness. We should stop harming living beings but should protect and respect all life instead. One thing we can do is to observe a vegetarian diet. Since vegetarian food is clean, adopting a vegetarian diet can protect us from harm. Furthermore, we should constantly maintain compassion in our hearts and expel thoughts of greed, anger, and delusion from our minds. From there, we can engage in the three acts of kindness by saying good words, doing good deeds, and making good wishes.

Time is running out. The forces of evil and good are in a tug of war. So many catastrophes are befalling the world; we must quicken our pace in purifying all minds.

The Buddha taught, "An evil thought eradicates myriads of merits while a kind thought eradicates innumerable calamities." The only way to quell disasters is to purify the minds of all people and to inspire everyone to love one another. When everyone can do this, the accumulation of everyone's kind thoughts and deeds will become a great power to save others.

Beginning from this year, I have been urging Tzu Chi people to practice speaking kind words, performing good deeds, and making good wishes. This is to guard our bodies, words, and minds from defilement. We must be mindful with our words. Sometimes a careless statement might bring serious disasters. Quarrelling and bad-mouthing will sicken the mind as well. When this spiritual sickness becomes strong, it will manifest itself as a virus.

We must listen with wisdom and not blindly follow others' emotional speech. We must cherish what we have and protect the earth. If we can always speak good, think good, and do good, then harmony will prevail in society.

The tug of war between evil and good is continuous. Whenever I see wars, famines, and epidemics afflicting suffering on so many beings, I feel that we are running out of time to reverse the tide. Nevertheless, we must do our best to minimize suffering.

I hope all Tzu Chi volunteers will diligently encourage more people to sincerely pray, "May all minds be purified, may society be peaceful, and may there be no disasters in this world." The world is in a state of chaos, so we must work hard to spread the seeds of love around the world and bring out the compassion in all people.

If we can love all, trust all, and forgive all people in the world, and if we can work together in harmony, then this lowly world will become a Pure Land. A single thought can decide if the world is cruel or heartwarming, full of blessings or disasters. The hope of people comes from mutual help and care. Let us bring out the love and wisdom in all people. May the blessed help the suffering, may the rich help the poor, and may the powerful help the weak.

If people everywhere can pray sincerely, our voices will shake the universe and all the buddhas will surely hear our prayers. Let us be ever more mindful!