Over two thousand years ago, the Buddha attained enlightenment.  This transcendent awakening enabled him to turn the Dharma wheel  with virtuous Dharma, guiding people toward the right path in life  in the hope that everyone would learn to speak kind words and do  good deeds, transforming evil into goodness. 

At that time, Earth’s population was not very high; transportation was  inconvenient, and different languages could not be easily understood  across regions. The Buddha relied only on his two feet to walk. Though  he taught the Dharma for forty-nine years, not many people could learn  it. 

In spreading the Dharma to benefit sentient beings, we can now  utilize technology so that Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide can listen  simultaneously through video conferencing. When the sound of the  Dharma flows forth and we maintain right mindfulness, the words we  speak become the true Dharma. However, when speaking on Tzu Chi’s  teachings, the slightest deviation can lead us far astray. Thus, we must  not allow our biases to affect the Dharma. 

You all share karmic affinities with me. I am very blessed that in this  lifetime, I have karmic connections with my master; these causes and  conditions are inconceivable. Recently, Da Ai TV has been broadcasting  videos about my master1, faithfully presenting his growth during  turbulent times. He studied diligently and with great effort, transcending  the mindset of ordinary people. He taught while learning the Buddha  Dharma–a process of learning and awakening. 

Without learning, there is no awakening. The Chinese character  for “learning” contains the element “child,” and the character for  “awakening” contains the element “seeing.” Though their forms differ  slightly, their meanings span from the beginning of the process to the  end. From birth, people must “learn”; when we learn thoroughly, this  is called “awakening.” In this world, there are virtuous Dharma and  unwholesome teachings. Tzu Chi volunteers must learn the Dharma of  awakened sentient beings and learn the Bodhisattva Path. 

It is said, “Human nature is originally good.” Everyone inherently  possesses pure and undefiled kind thoughts. From the beginning of  time, this intrinsic, awakened nature that allows us to see the nature  of reality is always in everyone’s heart. 

Through written words, we help everyone see the Path. Every character  and every sentence should be wholesome and good, skillfully guiding  all sentient beings. 

The character for “guide” in “guiding teacher” combines the element  for “path” with the element of “duty.” The Path lies in fulfilling our  duties, and we use various causes and conditions to guide everyone  toward good paths in this world. 

Tzu Chi’s teachings are loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and  equanimity–giving without expecting anything in return, showing  compassion to all sentient beings, and guiding everyone onto the  Buddha Path. 

The path of awakening in this world is the Buddha Dharma. From  beginning to end, from learning to awakening, the middle path is the  Bodhisattva Path–this is Tzu Chi’s direction. 

Recently, I have been constantly feeling a sense of awakening,  awakening to the impermanence of this world.  

We need not ask when to engage in spiritual practice, we need only  to ask about the principles of being a human being. It all begins with  the practice of respect; only with respect can we be diligent. Diligence  teaches us to awaken to our true nature. When we clearly recognize  our true nature, our nature of True Suchness is equal to the Buddha’s.  As the sutra says, “The mind, the Buddha, and sentient beings are no  different in their nature.” 

Though we have become lost, having the karmic conditions to recognize  the direction of life is inconceivable! 

With so many people on Earth, how many can clearly recognize the  purpose of human existence? All religions have good teachings, but  Tzu Chi has identified the path of awakened sentient beings. Sentient  beings are inseparable from this human realm. Moving upward in this  world is awakening; seeing goodness is awakening. When we cannot  see the Path, we become lost; being lost means following evil, and this  makes us ordinary sentient beings. 

To stand out among sentient beings, we must cultivate our awakened  nature. To progress from learning to awakening, we must practice the  Bodhisattva Path; only by walking through places of learning can we  see the Path. 

In the Lotus Sutra, a parable says, “The place of treasures is close by.”  A guiding teacher brought people to a conjured city where everyone  could rest, as they were tired. Yet, the place of treasures was not far  away. 

I constantly feel that there is not much distance left–the place of  treasures is near. When we return to our true nature, that moment  is where we find the place of treasures. We must constantly awaken  ourselves. When we all gather together, we are the Bodhisattvas’  place of treasures. We should always reside in this place of treasures,  mutually awakening and guiding each other. 

In book study groups, we work diligently and gather good people  together to guide each other. We open each other up to different  perspectives by learning from the Buddha Dharma and Tzu Chi’s  teachings. In this way, we mutually guide each other toward the  Bodhisattva Path. 

There are many methods for guidance. For instance, the “Needle and  Thread Affection” program invites elderly Bodhisattvas to engage in  the skillful work of using needles and thread. Young people help thread  the needles, while elderly Bodhisattvas sew, stitch by stitch, to create  forms, keeping the Bodhisattvas’ hands from becoming dull. 

Take this phone lanyard–it is made so sturdy that I thought it was for  pulling luggage, but it turns out that it is for “pulling principles,” pulling  along the provisions of the Dharma. 

A small phone contains limitless information about everything in the  universe; it can speak good words and transmit virtuous Dharma at any  time. This “rice basket of the world” needs to be carried well with this  cord. A phone carries “thousands of pounds,” of valuable information,  and everyone must carry it as the world’s rice basket. 

I feel joyful–everything I see is the Dharma. I am grateful that everyone  seizes the time to “Read to the Cloud.”2 When the Dharma is transmitted  widely, everyone can be filled with Dharma joy. Clouds of compassion  can universally nourish all beings. When accumulated drop by drop,  this pure and undefiled Dharma water can bring nourishment to all  living beings.