Bidding farewell to 1996 and stepping into 1997, we are coming closer and closer to the 21st century. As we approach the next millennium, the rapid development of scientific technology has undoubtedly pushed human civilization to the highest summit. However, when we look at the world we live in, we can see that it is full of disturbance and insecurity. People feel helpless and don't know what to do.

Living in this extraordinary time, what are the significance and objectives of our existence? What action can we take to prevent people from deteriorating spiritually because of anxiety, doubt and confrontation?

Some people maintain the passive argument that human beings are products of the environment. A society, whether it is a greedy or a generous one, will generate citizens of its own kind. These people further argue that in a utilitarian society which always gives prime consideration to political and economic interests, it is very difficult to change people's narrow-mindedness and selfishness.

However, people endowed with the higher concepts of religion and humanitarianism believe that human goodwill can actually change the bad customs of our society. The greatness of the human soul is that it can demonstrate altruism, help the poor, repent mistakes and change a violent atmosphere into a peaceful, harmonious one. Working together, people can help each other reveal the great love hidden in each of their hearts and build a world filled with compassion and love.

In the Buddhist point of view, all human events are related to the law of cause and effect. The good deeds that we do (the causes) breed good karma which in turn brings good results or rewards (the effects) either in this life or in another incarnation. In the same way, our bad causes ultimately produce bad effects. We create our own karma. We can exert ourselves actively to create good causes and to bring out good effects. At the end of the 20th century, this is what people need to do the most.

For the past 30 years, the Tzu Chi Foundation has been creating good causes and effects. The foundation has quietly engaged in a mental revolution by bringing harmony, love and unselfish giving to the world. As a result, we have successfully activated the great love hidden in people's hearts. Last year, our four missions of charity, medicine, education and culture received tremendous support from loving people, both in Taiwan and abroad. For example, Tzu Chi distributed a great amount of relief material to numerous victims of Typhoon Herb, started to build the Talin General Hospital in central Taiwan, raised funds for the Disabled Children's Rehabilitation Center, etc. The coundation has aroused significant love and concern in the general public.

The foundation has never slowed its pace on international relief. The Tzu Chi Marrow Donor Registry has linked up with its counterparts in other countries, such as Japan and Australia. We are now moving vigorously in the areas of environmental protection and community services. We firmly believe that people have unlimited potential for kindness. We are grateful that so many people give us support and walk with us hand in hand. We deeply hope that people's minds, which already have the latent buddhanature, will return to purity and cleanliness and that the conviction of respect for life will be truly realized.

Lao Tzu, a 6th century B.C. Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism, said: "A highly virtuous person is like water. Water has three characteristics: 1) it nurtures all living things and makes everything clean; 2) it is very soft, just follows its natural course and never competes with anything; 3) it can stay in the lowest place. A highly virtuous person is very humble and quiet, gives without expecting anything in return, is honest and accommodating, and teaches people by virtue which can purify their minds. So his character is like that of water." To nurture all living things without competing and to stay in the lowest place regardless of how bad the environment is-that is what we should keep in mind and what we should do.