This year, our Christmas gift is a trip to Peru; one of the countries on the west coast of South America. The main spoken language is Spanish. The Peru population includes Amerindians. I am not sure whether the Amerindians in Peru are the same people I impressed me from the history book in school a long time ago? Of course, this trip is not purposely going to see people. Mainly it is to visit one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu was an official site for the Inca rulers at the time of Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire!
Ok, please wait until we are back home, and I will share our travel to one of the world’s great Wonders that we have seen…
We wish all of you ‘FELIZ NAVIDAD’ (Spanish: Merry Christmas), and welcoming a Prosperous New Year!
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation started in Taiwan, and nowadays, they have centers in cities around the world. They also have several centers in Malaysia. While I was in Penang, I became a counseling volunteer and didn’t have much time to join in Tzu Chi, even though I knew they had a center in Penang. However, I always praised Tzu Chi’s volunteer group for their mighty spirit in charitable works in disaster relief, helping poor people, medical clinics, education, etc.
Recently, we found a Tzu Chi center in St. Louis. Tzu Chi’s volunteers greeted us the first time we entered the center. And we met one of the persons in charge who is a Chinese-Malaysian; she has already been in the USA for many years. I joined their study group which is on alternating Saturdays. The USA is very big and not every city has a Tzu Chi center, so I appreciate that I met this nice group of people!
By the way, I’ll share a little part of one of the stories shared in the study group. It was about a Tzu Chi group that went to Haiti distributing food. They heard some local people used dirt to make crackers as food, and the dirt was almost gone too. The people were starving mob. When the Tzu Chi group went there, for their own safety, they had to give out the food by throwing it to the local people...
Once, an Angel was sent to hell to interview Hate.
Angel said, “How are you?”
Hate said, “I am in pain! I get punishing everyday; life is sick. “
“Why has this happened to you?”
“It’s my boss, Thought, who harms me.”
“What has Thought done?”
“Thought assigned a project to me, Revenge and Murder. Although we were successful, the result is hell!”
Angel was also sent to heaven to interview Happy.
Angel said, “How are you?”
Happy said, “I am good, I am joyful everyday!”
“How do you do that?”
“Well, I think the reason is that I have a good boss – Thought.”
“What about your boss?”
“Thought always encourages me to work together with Forgive and Free, and we have become very close co-workers and friends!”
Angel wrote a report about the interviews, before it was sent to Angel’s boss (can you guess who the Angel’s boss is?), Angel wrote a little conclusion at the end:
Memory says, “What’s up?” Heart says, “I feel bored! I came to visit you and entertain a little while.”
“My house is full of stuff; I’m afraid I don’t have any place for you to sit.” “Oh…that doesn’t matter, I wanted to look around your home to see what good stuff you have.”
“Hey…don’t simply touch my things! Some of them are in a terrible mess or in a state of utter confusion or entanglement; some of them have been covered in dust for a long time…. Err!” “Ahh…why don’t you reorganize them?”
“I am busy! I am busy collecting things to bring back home everyday; new things coming in and I still like to keep the old things!” “How can I help you?”
“How can you help me?” “Mmm…I don’t know yet. I will see what things I can learn!”
“Ha…learning? Don’t take away my things!” “No, I couldn’t take away your things!”
“Then what are you attempting to do?” “I will try to help you reorganize or realize some things that you didn’t recognize or some things very complicated or confused you since you collected them.”
“What’s the fun?” “It isn’t fun? So, why do you want to collect new things everyday, huh?”
“I mean a thing is still a thing after you look at it again. What will be different, huh?” “When you re-examine it, and if you know how to transform and give it a new definition, you might appreciate the things you have.”
“Mmm…it is none of my business. I just like to collect them! Ah…if you are interested in reorganizing them, then you just do it!”
I have several good friends, and I admire their moral characters. One of the characteristics I’ve noticed is that they praise and talk other people’s good points. They rarely gossip or criticize others. I shall learn from my friends! In communities, some people point others wrongs, faults, etc. Nevertheless, when we are in a group, big or small, in a political association or a religious association, etc., we often to hear that A commented that B shouldn’t…, B provoked A’s comment…, C criticized that A’s comment was false and also criticized that B’s provocation was incorrect…, A and B refuted C…. Abuses are hurled everywhere. Who is right and who is wrong? If everyone just talked about who did a right thing, a good thing, a wonderful thing or a great thing…, they would also get respect in return. Everyone likes to be praised, everyone would be happy. If you see or listen or read someone’s erroneous, bad, mistaken, flawed words… just see or hear or read them with your wisdom. If you don’t make any judgment and wait for a while, would they disappear? Do you want to try it? Let’s start with people around you! Learning to praise and talk about other peoples’ good points... 我有几位好朋友,他们的品德都是让我欣赏的,其中有某项品德让我看到的是,他们只赞人及说他人好的方面,绝少评击他人非。这些朋友是我须向他们学习的! 在社会上,你会看到不少人都会指人的不是、不对等等。不管我们身在大圈子或小圈子、政冶团体或宗教团体等等,我们很容易听到A评论B不该…,B 挑衅A评论…,C批判A这评论不对也批判B这挑衅不对…,A和B又回驳C…, 一场一场的谩骂,谁是谁非? 如果每个人都只是评论他人做了对的、好的、赞的、棒的…,他人也会回敬你,每个人都爱听好话,皆大欢喜。若你看到或听到或读到他人不对的、不好的、不是的、不该的…,你只须看他或听他或读他,用你的智慧不于置评,若干时日,且看他会否自动消失? 你要不要试试看?从你周围的人开始!学习赞人及说他人好的方面…