With the passing of time, we experience joys and sorrows, partings  and reunions. This has been true in the past up to the present, and it  will be the same in the future. 

The Buddha said, “Everyone inherently possesses Buddha-nature,” yet  in this world, people gradually lose their innate goodness. In our short  lifetimes, we are constantly in the cycle of causes, conditions, effects  and retributions. “Dust” of ignorance accumulates, layer upon layer.  With continual accumulation, thick layers of “dust” are formed. 

The Chinese character “埃” (aī) in the word “dust” is pronounced the  same as “哀” (aī) in the words “sorrow” or “grief.” Our radiant intrinsic  nature is buried by dust of ignorance, and lifetime after lifetime, we  lose sight of our true nature. We are born in ignorance, and as we live  in ignorance, we create more and more karma. Like being trapped in a  quagmire, it is difficult to escape. 

The concept of suffering is at the core of the Buddha Dharma. We are  fortunate to have good affinities and to share the same aspirations  in Tzu Chi. Wherever there is need, wherever there is suffering, those  connected with Tzu Chi will have the opportunity to relieve suffering. 

For instance, recently, following Typhoon Ragasa, Tzu Chi volunteers  have done a lot in Guangfu township. However, I also witnessed the  beauty of Taiwan, with so many people—the young, the middle-aged,  and even the elderly—all flocking to Guangfu, Hualien, on their own  accord. People were enthusiastic, yet orderly; they were quiet and  composed, without making a fuss or noise. Wearing rain boots and  carrying shovels, they naturally held up signs and lined up as they got off  the train. Quietly and silently, they lined up one after another, without  rehearsals or having to call out formations. I know that to speak of  “beauty” when facing such a massive disaster is a contradiction, but  this is truly a beautiful sight. 

There is a saying, “The land is fragile, and life is impermanent.” Due to  rainfall in the mountains, the barrier lake overflowed, and a large area  suddenly became submerged. Fortunately, most people were safe,  and although mud and water rushed into homes in an instant, most of  the houses remained intact. 

Though my heart ached, seeing everyone’s strong mobilization and the  beauty of their silence made me feel at ease. The power of so many  people was not mobilized by any particular organization; it was the  result of everyone acting spontaneously and proactively, with hearts  united in harmony. The government mobilized quickly, but even more  important was the massive mobilization of the people. People who  had vehicles offered them, whether they were construction vehicles,  trucks, excavators, or backhoes.Those who volunteered brought  rain boots, buckets, and shovels; they all came prepared. I am deeply  moved by Taiwan. Although feeling proud is not something I should  say, I do feel very honored. Only the three words “truth, goodness,  and beauty” together can describe it. 

People’s rain boots were covered in mud. So, there were people who  took the initiative to help wash the mud off with a brush while squatting  on the ground. Such actions were the most sincere acts of gratitude.  Was the volunteer washing shoes someone from out of town, or a  local resident of Guangfu? It did not matter. Before leaving, those who  worked together on the clean up efforts expressed gratitude to each  other, as if they were all family. 

I often use both hands to make a triangle above my mouth and then  bring them down to my heart, in reference to the Chinese characters  for unity. This gesture refers to the sentiment of “our hearts being  united.” The beauty of unity of hearts is what this wave of clean up  efforts revealed. This energy of love is so warm, and it will surely leave  a deep impression on everyone. Regardless of who came to Guangfu,  their memories after returning will be vivid; even those who were not  there in person can turn on the TV, and without a moment’s delay,  through technology’s continuous broadcasts, they can see the beauty  of Taiwan, the peace of Guangfu. 

After Guangfu was damaged and left in disarray, filled with mud, it could  quickly regain its beauty because of mutual trust and goodness. The  volunteers did not know each other, nor did they know the families,  yet they still went door to door to clean. They washed things clean,  and even asked the homeowners, “Should we bring this inside? Where  should we put it?” It is not just about “unity”; their hearts were tightly  bound together, and the homeowners expressed their gratitude on  behalf of Guangfu! 

In addition to turning the wheel of the Dharma, we have to also “turn  the wheels of food.” How were meals arranged over so many days?  Some lunch boxes were prepared at the Jing Si Abode, while others  were prepared by culinary volunteers in Ruisui. We also have to thank  the food truck vendors and “mobile kitchens” that were mobilized from  the north, central, and southern Taiwan. In this wave of relief efforts,  we turned the wheel of virtuous Dharma, as well as the wheel of food.  Everyone said, “Tzu Chi’s lunch boxes are delicious,” and everyone was  very satisfied with their meals. Leaving behind the memory of helping  Guangfu return to normal, those with loving hearts felt at ease, joyful,  and fulfilled. 

I have always felt that I am very blessed; Tzu Chi’s work and Tzu Chi  volunteers are already very well established. No matter which country  or where the disaster occurs, the arrangements will be orderly, and  disaster assessment teams will also send messages back. I am also  grateful to CEO Yen Po-wen’s team for caring for international matters  on my behalf. 

Since last year, I have been saying, “I need to stand aside now and  watch quietly to see how Tzu Chi will continue in the future.” The more  I watch, the more at ease I feel. The lives of the resident monastics at  the Jing Si Abode are already quite stable, sustained by their own efforts  in farming. As for the continuation of the Jing Si Dharma Lineage and  the expansion of the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism, the Dharma Lineage  also extends deeply into communities. 

Tzu Chi also has pure practitioners; although they do not have the  appearance of monastics, their hearts have let go of their limited,  personal families to devote themselves to the greater family, serving  in this world. There are also resident practitioners who have been  living at the Abode and will one day become monastics; all follow the  Dharma and precepts properly. 

The team of the Tzu Chi School of Buddhism was fully mobilized. The  CEO and Deputy CEO mobilized staff members from all departments,  while volunteers and the Four Missions acted spontaneously and  proactively. I did not go out during this round of relief efforts; I did  not lead our efforts, but I am grateful to those who did. For more  than half a month, everyone knew what to do in the disaster area in  Guangfu, helping it recover and return to cleanliness and concluding  the efforts beautifully. This is truly worthy of the praise of bringing  “infinite merits.” I am grateful to everyone for bringing these merits  to perfection.