Tzu Chi's missions are being carried out in Taiwan as well as abroad. One step has six footprints - charity, medicine, education, culture, bone marrow donation and international relief. The responsibility on my shoulders is extremely heavy. I am very grateful to so many Tzu Chi members who help me shoulder this burden. In order to relieve the suffering of all living beings, all Tzu Chi members take Buddha's compassion as their own compassion and their Master's commitments as their own.

In a man's life, 30 years is a long time. But in the unlimited time of the universe, 30 years is just like one grain of sand on the earth. Whether 30 years is a long time or short, we Tzu Chi members have sincerely spread our true love to the whole world. At this moment, it is really difficult for me to fully express my gratitude.

"I Am Grateful to All of You"

Several days ago, 120 senior commissioners in Hualien came to the Abode of Still Thoughts, each with a bamboo saving bank. They sincerely asked me to accept their donations. I stretched out my hands to take one bamboo bank. It was so heavy that I couldn't hold it. Several commissioners immediately helped me. "It's too heavy," they said thoughtfully. "We should hold it for you. We shouldn't leave it all to you." At that moment, I was deeply touched.

They tried to do the same thing they did 30 years ago when the Tzu Chi Foundation had just been founded. At that time, there were only 30 members. Each of them put a 50-cent coin [US$0.02] into a bamboo saving bank every day. At the end of each month, they took the banks to the Abode. There was only NT$15 [US$0.60] or at most NT$20 [US$0.80] in each bank, which was so light that I could easily pick it up with two fingers. However, the bamboo banks they took to the Abode the other day were all packed full. I couldn't even pick one up, no matter how hard I tried.

Tzu Chi had nothing 30 years ago. We started with charity work, "one step with one footprint." Whatever we did was based on whatever capacity we had. Today our missions are being carried out both in Taiwan and abroad, "one step with six footprints" - charity, medicine, education, culture, bone marrow donation and international relief. My responsibility is really very heavy. I am extremely grateful to so many Tzu Chi members, who, by taking Buddha's compassion as their compassion and their Master's commitments as their commitments, help me shoulder this heavy burden.

Happy To See the Suffering Get Help

Although the responsibility is heavy and the pressure is intense, I feel very happy to see suffering people get help.

Take Tzu Chi Hospital as an example. They help people every minute and second. From the first through the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, when all the other hospitals were closed for the holiday, the emergency room saved more than 2,400 sick or wounded. If there had been no Tzu Chi Hospital, where would those sick and wounded people have been sent to? Luckily, we have Tzu Chi Hospital.

A few days ago, an old man living in Juisui was mowing grass. His two feet were accidentally cut off by the electric lawn mower. He was immediately sent to Tzu Chi Hospital, along with his severed feet in a bag of ice. Fortunately, Tzu Chi Hospital is very well-equipped and the medical personnel are very skillful. The man's feet were successfully sewn back on.

I went to the hospital to see the wounded old man the following day. I touched one of his toes lightly and asked him whether he could feel it. He said it was the third toe. He was correct. You can see the operation was a great success. Each time I went to see him, he said, "I'm very grateful. We are lucky to have Tzu Chi here."

I am very grateful that there are so many Tzu Chi members working hand in hand and heart to heart to give great love to the suffering. I am also very grateful that so many people give us help, support and encouragement. I myself and all Tzu Chi members throughout the world will work harder. We will be more and more diligent as we walk on the Path of the Bodhisattvas.

Words Cannot Express the Unlimited Gratitude in My Heart

I am grateful that so many distinguished guests could spare time from their busy lives to attend the celebration for Tzu Chi's 30th anniversary. I am grateful that so many Tzu Chi members living abroad came back from thousands of miles away for this reunion.

The building we are in now is the Still Thoughts Hall. Ten years ago, Mr. Lin Yang-kang, former senior advisor to the president, together with my teacher, Dharma Master Yin Shun, took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for this hall. In order to have it ready for use today, all the construction people have worked day and night. Each time I came to the site and saw them drenched in sweat, I felt truly grateful deep in my heart.

I am also grateful to members of the Tzu Cheng Faith Corps. For two months, they worked here without rest, cleaning the interior and planting grass and trees around the building. The commissioners also worked hard to exhibit the accomplishments of our four missions.

Yesterday, the Hall compound was like a desert with dust flying in the air. Today it has become a clean, beautiful oasis. This is the result of a whole night of hard work by enthusiastic Tzu Chi members. No words can truly describe my gratitude to them.

At every moment we should maintain a sense of gratitude.