(Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
Someone asked Master Cheng Yen, “Life is full of challenges and difficulties (whenever we want to get things done). How do you deal with these obstacles?”
The Master answered:
Indeed, we have to face a lot of challenges and difficulties every day, but we must be able to endure them. We must be able to endure challenges and difficulties that arise from love, relationships, work, hardships, things that we are helpless about, etc. If we cannot endure all these, it will really be difficult for us to continue on the journey of life. This world is one where we have to endure suffering. In coming to this world, we must be able to endure. If we cannot bear with (the challenges and setbacks that come our way), life cannot go on.
However, when I saw the passing on of a few elderly Tzu Chi volunteers, my heart was struggling (to accept that they were gone)…...
One of the prerequisites of becoming a monastic is to renounce all our relationships and family ties. Yet, I chose to involve myself in worldly affairs, and have experienced so much love from people and formed many good affinities. Such love is like clear and clean water. It may not seem intense, but it is indispensable in life.
Whenever we lose such indispensable love, (we will naturally be saddened by the loss). Tzu Chi volunteers serve people with their lives and devote their lives to our Missions. They will definitely share affinities with others.
The same person further asked, “Aren’t Bodhisattvas beings with enlightened love?”
The Master answers:
As long as one still feels for others, one will experience suffering. When a person is enlightened, he will be selfless. But, because he still feels for others, he will experience suffering. Hence, this is why Bodhisattvas are known as “beings with enlightened love”.
Enlightenment is wisdom. There is no true wisdom without enlightenment. (“With love” means people still feel for one another). This is love, and love is compassion. Therefore, we should practise both wisdom and compassion concurrently—this is “enlightened love”.
“To feel the pain of others” is to have great compassion for all. “Showing great loving-kindness even to those unrelated to us” is about bringing happiness to everyone and relieving all from the entrapment of suffering. This means that we must guide people to transcend (their attachments).
Only when one is able to transcend (one’s attachments) can one be truly happy. If we are able to (transcend our attachments), we will not feel that life is hard even if we are materially poor! Hence, we should not be trapped in our material wants. If we wish to be truly happy, we should learn to break free from our wants and desires.
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
Share 
