A Perfect Character Leads to the Buddha-Nature

By Peng Mei-chao

Prior to joining Tzu Chi, I yearned to learn about Buddhism. I listened to sermons and participated in pilgrimages and other events. I thought that this was what Buddhism was all about.

When I entered Tzu Chi, I could not fully recognize its value at first. The reason was that Master Cheng Yen did not come out to preach in order to enlighten the public, but instead she focused on relief work. Her way was far from my idea of Buddhism. The Buddhist doctrines are awe-inspiring and there are many ways to learn, but I thought Tzu Chi was only doing a limited kind of charity relief work. Maybe I did not know Tzu Chi so well, and now I feel awful about this misunderstanding.

Later I had a chance to browse through the Tzu Chi Monthly magazine and the Companion newspaper. I noticed a sentence, "A perfect character leads to the buddha-nature." What a meaningful sentence! The Master has been trying to awaken everyone's nature and uncover everyone's "treasure"* the buddha-nature. The Master also said that we should look for the Buddhist teachings among people, not in sermons and ceremonies. Instead of just talking about Buddhism, we should practice it. Lingering in the past is distraction, speculating about the future is delusion, and seizing upon the present is the right spproach. That's right! Right now! Now I am a human being and I should have a human character, practicing good conduct, morality and cultivation. A person must do one's best. Now I realize that every word the Master has said reflects true Buddhist philosophy and wisdom.

I began to respect and to love the Master more and more. Once in a dream, I even told her, "Master, I really enjoy your speeches." She unexpectedly replied, "If you like listening to my speeches, why don't you listen to my tapes?" This really happened in my dream! As a Buddhist disciple, I cannot lie. After I woke up, I felt ashamed about my laziness.

I remember I once told Sister Ching-ying that I wanted to write to the Master in repentance but had no courage to do so. So through this topic, "The Phrase That Benefits Me Most," I want to say what is on my mind: the phrase "A perfect character leads to the buddha-nature" and my gradual understanding of Tzu Chi have demolished my lingering attachment to old-fashioned Buddhist doctrines. Now my husband and I cultivate ourselves together and work to become happy Tzu Chi people.

I am very grateful to Tzu Chi for the following teachings: "For Buddhism and all living beings," and "Buddha's compassion is my compassion, the Master's commitments are my commitments." The door of Tzu Chi is open to everyone, so let's work for the good of the world.

A sutra says, "Your wisdom is incredible; your compassion is incredible. You transform yourself into multitudes, and each one of you relieves a multitude from suffering." Yes, I have found the buddha in my mind.

Appreciate, Cherish and Create Good Fortune

By Lien Li-hsiang

With deep gratitude, I participated in relief work in mainland China. It was not until that time that I realized that Taiwan could be compared to a paradise, whereas the mainland after heavy flooding was a hell. The disaster victims on the mainland had very little to eat and their clothes were covered with patches. I felt very sad.

When we were distributing relief supplies, we also prepared some biscuits for the elderly and the children. Although each person only got a couple of biscuits, they were very happy. They would fold their hands together in prayer and keep saying: "We thank you for coming to help us." Looking at their smiles, I felt more distressed than ever.

When we were about to leave after completing the distribution of relief supplies and biscuits, Sister Tzu Hang came to ask if there were any more biscuits. There was an old woman who was crying loudly that she didn't get any biscuits. After checking, we found that the old woman was not on our relief list. When she found out that others had gotten biscuits while she alone hadn't, she cried bitterly. Fortunately, my brother, who had stomach trouble, had brought some digestive biscuits with him. We gave them to the old woman, who then stopped crying. That night, Sister Lin Pi-yu sighted: "To think that two or three biscuits could stop the cries of an old woman!" Each time I recall this event, tears fall from my eyes.

Indeed, the people on Taiwan are blessed. We must therefore appreciate, cherish and create our good fortune. To create good fortune means we must try our best to expand the heart of love * those who have money should contribute money and those who can offer service should contribute service. There was an old woman who had served as a maid at our home for some 30 years. Each time we returned from Tzu Chi, we would tell her all the details of what we had done and learned. She was greatly touched and vowed to become an honorary board member. She contributed what she had collected from a mutual help fund to fulfill her pledge. Upon learning that on the China Mainland, some NT$100,000(US$3,640) might build a house, she contributed another NT$100,1000. This shows that giving is not the monopoly of the rich. Any person who has resolve and love can give. He can also give time or introduce Tzu Chi to his relatives and friends and help people to cultivate the field of good fortune together.

There is a saying: "Nothing but karma remains with you after you die." When you do good deeds, they will follow you like your shadow. Human beings are born empty-handed and will leave empty-handed. Therefore, because we have been blessed to hear Buddha's teachings in this life, we must appreciate, cherish and create good fortune so as to become a fortunate Tzu Chi follower in the next life.

Do More, Gain More; Do Less, Lose More

By Chan Li-yun

I did not know what I was doing in the past, but I liked to compare myself with other people. When friends joined a folk dance club, I joined too. They joined because they had the money and the time, but it simply made me busier than ever.

When I saw people wearing beautiful clothes, I asked myself why I couldn't have beautiful clothes to wear too, even though I was also working. In short, my life was filled with complaints. When I encountered frustration at work, I brought it home. When my husband said I did not look good, I immediately shot back, "I've been working hard all day, I'm exhausted, and I still need to serve you with a smile?"

But since I joined Tzu Chi, I get along with people much better. Recently some people have even said that I look much better and that my skin appears more elastic and radiant. I told them it was because I had been using the "Tzu Chi Facial Cream" * a smile! If you want to use it, come and join Tzu Chi! If we live happily, our days will be wonderful.

And another thing: my son used to be an average student and never received any awards. But this year he received a scholarship from his high school. He wanted to pay his tuition with the scholarship money, but I suggested that he donate the money to the Master to build a hospital or a school. I told him that if he worked hard and received more scholarships, someday there would be a column or a wall in the Tzu Chi Hospital or the future Tzu Chi University with his name on it.

After considering this, he happily accepted my suggestion. He decided to study hard so he can realize his wish someday. These things let me understand the Master's phrase, "Do more,gain more; do less, lose more." If you do more, there will always be some unexpected result.

To Expand the Heart of Love, Be Compassionate to All

By Li Li-o

In 1994, a group of five, including Master Yin Shun and I, set out for the Abode of Still Thoughts in Hualien by way of Yuli and Chihshang. What a familiar route! My late husband and I had often looked on these familiar scenes together in previous years. Reminiscing, I was distressed and I couldn't calm down for a long time. I remembered what Master Cheng Yen said: "Relying on the future is delusion, and sticking to the past is distraction; people have to safeguard the heart of love in the present moment and carefully do their duties." Thinking of this, my mind gradually became calm.

Upon reaching the Abode, I found the surrounding environment very serene. The people and things in the vicinity were so nice and beautiful. The nuns who till the land here and uphold the tenet of "no work, no meal" deserve people's respect.

When I went to see Master Cheng Yen, she asked me in her usual calm voice if I had anything that I wanted to talk to her about. Then I revealed to her my mental anguish, my understanding of the meaning of life and my difficulty in getting rid of delusions. "Don't attach too much importance to loving your husband," the Master reminded me. "Love those who are less fortunate than you. If you resolve to get rid of your delusions, it can be done. If you look backward while walking forward, you'll trip and fall. Even the best couple will one day part with each other. The saying 'Heaven and earth will last forever' is not true. In fact, the earth cannot last forever. Look, one earthquake may destroy a whole village. Human beings are also impermanent.

In my conversation with the Master, I deeply felt that I was very feeble. I repeatedly cautioned myself: in the future, love all unfortunate beings with kindness and compassion, recite the Buddhist sutras frequently in order to get rid of delusions, and courageously face the challenge of reality. This trip to Hualien made my mind more serene and my understanding of life more profound.

Raise Your Children With a Bodhisattva's Wisdom

By Huang Li-fang

Master Cheng Yen once said, "Raise your children with a bodhisattva's wisdom, and serve society with a mother's love." Raising children is like planting seeds: if you add too much water and fertilizer, the roots will rot because there is already abundant water, sunlight and air in nature. The same thing can be applied to raising children. However, I never understood this principle, so I created a lot of problems for myself and my child.

I remember when my son was four, I bought some books on raising children. When I read that a child's future could be decided by the age of six, I became very nervous and I wanted to raise a child prodigy. I bought some vocabulary cards and posted them on the walls, and then I told my son to learn them. I sent him to a school to learn math when he was four. If he refused to learn, I would beat him. I didn't care whether he was interested in the subject. Besides, I was busy with my own business and did not have the time and patience to educate him or listen to his complaints. Instead I insulted and beat him.

When he was in the first grade, other mothers and I constantly compared our children's grades, creating more worry and pain. In the past, I educated him without the wisdom to open up his innate abilities and knowledge. I just wanted to compare him with other children. After I began listening to the Master's teachings, I began to realize that raising a child is a parent's responsibility and that parents are not the absolute authority. A mother cannot make a child do what she wants just because she is the mother. The Master said that this kind of love is too painful and too severe. It damages the love itself and brings a lot of problems. I have the Master to thank for the fact that I now try to raise my child with a bodhisattva's wisdom and serve society with a mother's love.

Bless Yourself More

By Liu Tsung-mei

Since I joined Tzu Chi, the phrase that has helped me the most is "Bless yourself more."

When I get up in the morning, I recite, "I am very happy, I am very grateful." Before I go to bed, I also recite, "I am very happy, I am very grateful." I repeat the phrase numerous times * grateful, grateful and more grateful. What is incredible is that everything goes well as planned.

This sincere self-blessing can soothe one's mind and make one's life happy. When I am frustrated, I murmur unconsciously, "I am very happy, I am very grateful." I always expect myself to continue learning in the spirit of "Work willingly and receive the results happily."

I used to be the most ill-tempered person in my family. I would easily become enraged at the most trifling matter. Since I started blessing myself, I have learned to be a vegetarian and my temper has slowly improved. Now I am more optimistic than ever.

Self-blessing can be a revelation, especially now that I comprehend the essence of the Master's words, "When your mind changes, your karma changes." You must constantly keep your mind and thoughts in check.

To Step Back Is to Move Forward

By Li Li-o

"Hey, Miss Li is a good worker, industrious , responsible, efficient*"

"Yeah, no kidding! she can beat three men in efficiency*"

"She is a strong woman, smart*"

Luck and opportunity combined to enable me to demonstrate my special traits in my work. My ambition and enterprising spirit made me work like crazy. Ever since I had stepped into the business world, I'd always heard the boss's praise and the acclaim of trading partners. When I myself became the boss, their praises continued. Unconsciously, I thought all others should do like I did * work, work and more work. This concept alone provided the needed push to get ahead in business.

As the days rolled by, I measured the diligence and capability of others and checked whether their work ethic matched mine. I would correct them if their ideas were not up to my standard. I thought that it was for their own good.

Thanks to this kind of "strong leadership," the performance of our unit was excellent. However, some employees frequently asked for sick leave, complaining of ulcers or migraines. As for myself, I suffered from chronic insomnia, heart palpitations and neurasthenia. I had to take medicine all year round. Despite all this suffering, I still held my yardstick firmly.

One day I found the following lines in a Buddhist sutra: "When you plant seedlings in the field, bow your head to see the sky reflected in the water. Cultivating morality constitutes the Way. To step back is to move forward." Suddenly, I realized that if the farmer, while planting the seedlings, does not step back, the seedlings will be trampled.

Similarly, if I kept on rushing forward, blindly seeking business achievement and the accumulation of money, my life would be like the trampled seedlings. No matter how much wealth you accumulate and how much fame you gather, you cannot take them with you when you die. Like many others in this modern world, I could see only what I could see and hear only what I could hear, but I could not feel things or experience the immense domain of emotions. I had lost the ability to feel. I had lost the heart of an innocent child. My mind was filled with mundane thoughts of success or failure, right or wrong, glory or humiliation, gain or loss...

In retrospect, I realized, "To have a broad mind which can accommodate the whole universe" was a beautiful, wonderful thought. This phrase is not vague and insubstantial, but real and solid.

Now I work as hard as before and continue to lead my colleagues forward, but my grasp on that yardstick is not as firm as before. Now I exercise my magnanimity, open my vistas, observe the people and things around me and join in the Tzu Chi missions. There are many things that are worthy of my efforts, and I can devote my energies to them without undermining the performance of my regular work.

"When you plant rice seedlings in the field, "Bow your head and see the sky reflected in the water.

"Cultivating morality constitutes the Way.