I Will Do Good Today

A day is made up of 86,400 fleeting seconds. If we think a second carries little or no importance, we can easily let our time slip by in vain. Time waits for no one. It’s up to us to make the best of it. Do your best to improve yourself. Live each second with pious sincerity. Make a vow to be a good person every day. Always speak kindly. Seize every chance to do good. We make our lives worthwhile when we put our time to good use by doing what’s right.

I encourage everyone to take stock of their lives, of what good or bad they’ve done. If you’ve done wrong or hurt others, sincerely repent and change your ways. If, on the other hand, you’ve done good for your family and community, if you can say with a clear conscience that you’ve made a positive difference in the world, then you owe yourself a “thank you.”

Looking back at my life, I feel all has been worth it. I founded Tzu Chi over 50 years ago. In response to my call to do good every day, 30 housewives who had been listening to me expound the Dharma each saved 50 Taiwanese cents (about 1.2 U.S. cents) every day to help the needy. That planted the seed for today’s Tzu Chi. A thought, a resolution to help others, shaped the spirit of our foundation. From that humble origin in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, we have since grown to encompass the four missions of charity, medicine, education, and culture. The love of our volunteers has reached many corners in the world. In fact, our international aid missions have reached 126 countries and areas.

Tzu Chi will soon enter its 57th year. I’ve given my best all along the way, dedicating my life and all my time to Tzu Chi. Despite all that I’ve given, I feel I’ve received even more. I want to thank all the real-life bodhisattvas walking this path with me. Starting with 50 Taiwanese cents a day, we together have been working to enable poor, sick people to receive treatment and the needy to improve their lives. Tzu Chi wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s help.

Our spirit and ideals have since spread from Taiwan to many other countries. Take Malaysia for example. Severe flooding ravaged parts of the nation at the end of last year. Local Tzu Chi volunteers quickly mobilized to help. Culinary volunteers first jumped into action to prepare hot meals for flood victims. Then, after the floodwaters had receded, everyone came together to help clean up devastated communities. Volunteers also visited affected families to find out how they were faring. When they found people requiring long-term assistance, they included them on Tzu Chi’s long-term care recipient list. As for those who required just temporary aid, volunteers offered them one-time emergency financial assistance to tide them over their present difficulties.

Whenever a disaster strikes in countries where there are Tzu Chi volunteers, they quickly mobilize to deliver love and aid—they want to shorten the time the afflicted suffer. That’s why I thank all our volunteers around the world every day. I see hope for the world when I see them rush to the aid of the needy, calming unsettled minds and restoring stability to upended lives.

People around the world live different lives. Some were born into extreme poverty and trying circumstances; some lead blessed lives, never having to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. We must embrace a heart of gratitude if we belong to the more fortunate group of people. Gratitude is a sure path to contentment and happiness. But being grateful isn’t enough. We must also do good to sow more blessings. If we can all do our best to sow blessings, harmony will prevail, ensuring a safe, peaceful society.

When it comes to doing good, we mustn’t limit it to where we live. If the international community needs us, we must pitch in to help too. Our combined strength will be able to reach even the farthest corner in the world and relieve people in the direst circumstances. When we reach out to help, when we give our time or money to others, we also create blessings for ourselves. As we sow, so shall we reap.

Everyone has a light in their heart. Keep it aglow. Don’t pass up any chance to do good deeds just because they seem trivial. The accumulation of small kind deeds will create a tremendous force of love. Let our good deeds be like twinkles of light from fireflies: together we can light up the world with love.