Translated by Teresa Chang
When we have everything we need, live in a pleasant climate, and are blessed with peace and safety, it is natural to feel that life as a human being is one of enjoyment. But not everyone is able to live like this. Suffering abounds in our world, in all shapes and forms. A storm can destroy homes and crops. A drought can lead to famine. Extreme poverty causes children to be malnourished and always hungry. Some people live in flimsy tents that can’t protect them from the cold or the heat. In addition to suffering brought about by the above conditions, greed, anger, and ignorance lead to conflicts and tumult, driving people, rich or poor, to leave everything behind to seek safety. Forced into exile, they live day to day in limbo and don’t know what tomorrow holds.
The war in Ukraine has persisted, prolonging the turmoil in the country. No matter how sturdy they were built, buildings collapsed in a second under Russian bombardment. People have lost their homes; children have lost their parents. An endless stream of people has crossed the border, escaping for their lives. They are safe once they are out of Ukraine, but who knows when they will be able to return home? Some Ukrainian mothers have entrusted their children to relatives, then returned to Ukraine to defend their country. They don’t even know if they will ever see each other again.
People in Poland, bordered by Ukraine to the east, have shown a lot of love for those fleeing to their nation. Some welcomed Ukrainians into their homes, even though they were complete strangers. Others provided hot meals on the streets. Our volunteers in Germany, Great Britain, and France have also mobilized to help. With their assistance and that of several young people in Poland, we have been able to launch distributions for Ukrainian refugees, providing them with blankets and shopping cards, with which they can make purchases at local stores. Many Ukrainians hastily fled the war in their country and arrived in Poland with little cash. Their future is as uncertain as can be, but when they received aid from us—made possible by love from far away and from people they had never met—their troubled minds were soothed. They broke into smiles, their eyes filled with tears.
I was both sad and touched when I saw video footage showing such scenes. People in our world are like one big family, but instead of loving one another like family, some have turned against others, initiating conflict and bringing about a lot of suffering. It’s easy to imagine the pain of those dragged into such conflicts. As fellow human beings, we must share compassionately in their suffering and seize all opportunities to help them. In addition to physical aid, we must bring them love and care. This will not only help them with their material needs but will also warm their hearts, leaving more lasting imprints on their minds. Some day, when a chance arises for them to reach out to others in need, they might more readily do so. When love can spread like this, hostilities can be resolved and our world transformed.
How blessed we are to live in abundance, to be well-fed and clothed and reside in buildings that provide us with good shelter from the elements. Such good lives wouldn’t be possible if we can’t live in peace with each other. The same is true of nations on a larger scale.
When turmoil occurs, people are bound to suffer. For the world to be peaceful, there must be love, love in everyone’s heart. Love begets peace.
We can enjoy happy and peaceful lives today because of the blessings we have sown. Everyone knows the saying: “Save for a rainy day.” We must know our blessings, cherish them, and sow more blessings. When everyone thinks good thoughts, speaks kind words, and does good deeds, we create blessings for the world. Today’s advanced technology allows us to see places even far away in real time. We can see how others are living in this very second. When we see people suffer or cry out for help, we must put ourselves in their shoes and put our love into action.
We all have the same love and compassion as the Buddha’s—the same love and compassion that enables us to commiserate with and care for others. If we can tap into our innate Buddha nature, doing good won’t be difficult. Look at the multitude of people suffering in the world. If we each do our part to help, all our small actions will add up to a powerful force and relieve the misery of countless people.
Tzu Chi volunteers in Taiwan help the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pack goods donated by Taiwanese people to aid people displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war. Hsiao Yiu-hwa
