弥陀小学教师节 Mee Toh School Teachers' Day

我是以三合一志工的身份参加这项活动，并不太了解“大爱妈妈”的性质，只从义胜师兄那知道“大爱母亲”的主要任务是教导学生“静思语”。

I attended this events as a 3-in-1 volunteer, having not much clue what a "Great Love Mothers" do. But I do know Yi Sheng SX and heard from him that that main task of "Great Love Mothers" is to teach students "Jing Si Aphorisms".

今天是个特别的日子。“大爱妈妈”安排了场由同学进行的奉茶仪式来庆祝教师节。奉茶仪式在慈济学校极为普遍，但是在新加坡则是闻所未闻。由于家长的反对，同学在奉茶给老师时不下跪，改以深深的一鞠躬取而代之。

Today is a special event. "Great Love Mothers" have arranged a tea-offering ceremony by the students in celebration of Teachers' Day. The tea-offering ceremony is very common is Tzu Chi schools but hardly performed in Singapore. Due to parents' objection, students are not asked to kneel in front of their teachers when offering tea, but instead replaced by a deep bow.

当天的奉茶仪式我就不多写，可以从以下的链接和新闻报导得知。报导中的一张照片是我这三合一志工拍下的。我也已经把报导译成英语，应该就快上网。

What happened during the actual events can be view from the link and new report below. One of my pictures was used for the article and I did an English translation of that article which should be out soon.

http://www.tzuchi.org.sg/news/education/2008/20080829.html

因此我谈谈别的。慈济人是出了名的喜欢整洁。这也就不难理解为什么义胜师兄会在一排排奉茶时老师座的椅子背后，边走边把椅子排成完美的直线。上人希望我们从小处着手，安好自己的心。

Hence, I will talk about something else. Tzu Chi volunteers have a particular liking for orderliness. Therefore, it is no surprise to see Yi Sheng SX walking behind the rows of chairs when the teachers will be sitting later for the tea-offering ceremony, ensuring that all the chairs are in a perfect straight line. Master hope that we can use these little details to cultivate a thoughtful heart.

奉茶仪式上，年青教师无法体会奉茶背后的意义，对劳师动众的奉茶仪式感到惊讶和困惑。不过我注意到两位过了半百的教师，被整个奉茶仪式深深的感动，想必已经很久没有受到尊师重道的感觉。

During the tea-offering ceremony, the young teachers did not fully appreciate the meaning behind the ceremony. They seem to be surprised and confused about all the formality. However, I noticed that there are 2 teachers over their fifties who are very touched during the ceremony. I am guessing that it has been a long time since students gave them such high appreciation.


仪式后，“大爱妈妈”整齐地排在礼堂后，陪大家观赏接下来的教师节庆祝活动。从慈济人的背影中，想起了上人常分享的一句话。当别人问慈济人叫什么名字时，慈济人都回答说“慈济”。人人都叫“慈济”，不分你、我、他。用意是要会众认识“慈济”这个团体而不是个人。更重要的是我们的修行，不说出自己的名字是在缩小自己、培养纳米良能、去除“我相”。

After the tea-offering ceremony, our "Great Love Mothers" lined up behind the hall while the Teachers' Day celebration continued. From all these shadows reminded me of what Master said, when people ask what our name is, we replied "Tzu Chi". Everybody is called "Tzu Chi". There is no name that differentiates you from me. The idea is for the public to recognize the organization rather than individual. At the same time, it is for us to cultivate the sense of tiny, such that we can get rid of the concept of "me".

教师节，我向大导师学了一堂充满智慧的课。

I have learned an important lesson from the best teacher.

中秋月饼制作 Making Mooncakes

慈济每年的月饼制做又来了！一个多月里，慈济人将在厨房内努力工作以确保大家都有美味的月饼过中秋。无论慈济的那项活动，师姑一定呼吁大家踊跃请购月饼。所有收益将进入我们的活动基金。

Tzu Chi annual mooncake session is here! For more than a month, volunteers will be hard at work in the kitchen ensuring that we got tasty mooncake for the coming Mid-Autumn Festival. Whatever Tzu Chi events, there will be appeals for mooncake appeals. All proceeds will go into our activities fund.

我一直认为，制做月饼只涉及厨房。真是大错特错，即使只是厨房也已经是大工程了。首先，需要量好面粉，再加入正确分量的麦芽糖和油。其次，慈济人会把面团搓均匀搓软。过后把面团分成小团，每团重量要一致。另一批慈济人接着把馅料包进面团里。这就到了最有趣的部分，师兄们开始把面团放进模子，敲敲打打，把面团打出月饼的形状来。

I always thought that making mooncake just involved the kitchen. How wrong I was. Even if only the kitchen was taken into account, a lot of work was involved. First, the flour has to be measured, with the correct input of sugar and oil. Next, volunteers will be beating the dough till they are all soft and even. This is followed by measuring the correct dough weight for each mooncake. Another set of volunteers will be wrapping the fillings inside the dough. Now come the most interesting part. Male volunteers who are stronger will place the dough into the mould and start hitting them into the correct shape.

现在月饼的形状已清晰可见。月饼表面上会擦上一层油，放进烤炉烘烤，周而复始地取出、擦油和放入。

The mooncake can now be distinctly recognized. They will be covered with layers of oil and placed inside the oven to be baked, taken out again for another layer of oil and back into the oven, in repetitive cycles.

新鲜出炉的月饼被放置在托盘上，送往有冷气的房间冷却，并在隔天包装。以过来人的身份而言，包装并不是件容易的事。因为我们都在处理食物，每位慈济人必须把头发和嘴包起，以及戴上手套和穿上围裙。一只手把月饼放入小纸盘，另一只手把月饼和小纸盘同时放入包装盒子。双手不能互换，以确保包装盒子不会有油渍。每粒月饼的方向一定要一致。此外，每盒中的四粒或两粒月饼必须确保有相同的深度，不能一粒烘得太深另一粒烘得过浅。最后烧焦或变形的月饼必须被淘汰。

The freshly baked mooncakes will be transported in trays to air-conditioned room to be cooled. They will be packed the next day. Packing is not an easy task, because I had first hand experience. As we are all handling food, every volunteer had their hair and mouth covered as well as having to wear gloves and apron. One hand will be handling the mooncake, placing it into its small paper tray. Another hand will be placing the mooncake and its small paper tray into the box. The 2 hands must be interchanged with each other to ensure that there will be no oil stains on the box. All mooncakes must be facing the same direction. Furthermore, we will have to ensure that the 4 or 2 mooncakes in each box are of similar shades of brown. Finally, we have to reject mooncakes that are burnt or deformed.


除了厨房还有哪些地方需要慈济人的参与？已有一组负责把月饼包装。另有一组负责把包装盒子组装好。再一组负责把放包装盒子的纸袋张组装好。大家分工合作，各持其职，以确保慈济的爱心月饼能如期完成。

Where else are our volunteers involved other than the kitchen? There are groups placing the mooncakes into the boxes as mentioned above. There are also the group forming the boxes from paper and another group making the paper bags for putting the boxes. Everybody put in their part to ensure that our mooncakes are presentable.


月饼从来就不是健康食品。但是我们的月饼没有加入防腐剂。因此月饼必须冷藏和只有一个月的保鲜期。

Mooncakes are never considered as healthy food. But our mooncakes have no preservatives. Hence they must be refrigerated and last only a month.


但是最终我们成功地和大家结了一段即美味又体面的月饼缘！

But, the end results are our tasty and presentable mooncakes!

菩提心要 - 零八年八月二十七日 Puti - 27 Aug 08

解释保特瓶如何变成毛毯，每件毛毯需要七十支保特瓶。

Explaining how to reuse plastic bottles into blankets; each blanket requires 70 plastic bottles.

Thanh as first donor 小越成了我的第一位小鸡

You Yi SB told me to start recruiting contributing members for Tzu Chi as it will be an enriching experience for me. Hence I started talking to friends about it. The target people of course are my juniors who went with me to Boston, received food from Boston Tzu Chi and took part in our fund-raising during the Sichuan earthquake.

有义师兄告诉我因该开始劝募会员。这将会是十分有意义的经验。为此我开始邀约朋友。目标当然是和我一块到波士顿就读、长期让我“食门度人”以及参加过慈济四川地震街头募款的学弟学妹。

The first person who agreed to be my contributing member is Thanh, my roommate in Boston. Initially he does not agree with me totally about the work of Tzu Chi, especially the time spent by Tzu Chi volunteers on Tzu Chi missions. However, he is open to the idea of donation, especially when I told him that the donation will be under international relief, consolidated at Taiwan and distributed over the world to whichever countries that need it, including his home country Vietnam.

第一位小鸡是我在波士顿的室友小越。起初他并不十分同意慈济的工作，尤其是慈济人花在志业上的时间。不过他并不排斥向慈济捐款，尤其是我告诉他款项将当做国际救济基金，全部汇回台湾整合后将下放给需要的国家，包括他的祖国越南。

I must thank Thanh for kick-starting my recruitment of contributing members and bless him for the kind thought.

感恩小越开启了我的劝募活动以及祝福他起的善念。

爱洒社区，人间菩萨大招生 Introducing Tzu Chi to the community and inviting them to join Tzu Chi

上个礼拜当瑞莲师姑问我有没有空加入今晚的“爱洒”活动时，我高兴地同意了。不过惭愧的是我完全忘了此事，直到瑞莲师姑在晚上八点打电话给我。我们约好晚上七点半集合。幸好父亲刚好要出门，我赶上了顺风车，在晚上八点十五分到达慈济会所。

Last week, when Rui Lian SG asked me whether I am free to join the "Ai Sa" program this evening, I happily agreed. However, I totally forgot about this event until I got a call from Rui Lian SG at 8 pm, when I am supposed to meet them at 7.45 pm. Luckily my dad is going out and I managed to catch a ride from him, reaching Tzu Chi office at 8.15 pm.

“爱洒”是一项社区活动。慈济人挨家挨户，登门拜访，向会众介绍慈济，诚心邀约他们加入菩萨道的行列。

"Ai Sa" is an event where Tzu Chi volunteers introduce Tzu Chi to the community and invite them to join us. We went up to their door personally and knock, hoping to have a chance to explain Tzu Chi to them.

因为慈济举办的捐血运动即将到来，今晚的爱洒活动集中在会所附近的几座组屋。手拿着慈济月刊、捐血邀约卡、环保小册子和介绍慈济各项人文课程的传单，师姐和我开始向其中一座组屋爱洒。

Tonight event is concentrated on the few residential blocks beside our Tzu Chi office as our Blood Donation Drive is coming. Armed with our Tzu Chi magazine, Blood Donation invitation card, Recycling pamphlet and a handout introducing the various classes conducted by us, a SJ and I started combing a particular block.

这是十分有趣的经验和我观察了几项新加坡家庭的特点。首先，大部分的家庭在晚上九点后才到家，因为很多我们敲门都没回应。其次，师姐告诉我一些家庭其实透过门孔看见我们，但是决定视而不见。其三，我们对到话的家庭大多不认识慈济，但是知道有一间灰色的寺庙在高速公路旁。其四，大多数家庭同时使用英语和华语交谈，但是只能阅读英文。我注意到只有告诉他们月刊后有英文文章，他们才会接过月刊。

It was an interesting experience and I made several observations. Firstly, most of the families are not back home before 9 pm since many of the doors we knocked got no response. Secondly, SJ told me that some families actually peek through the door-hole and ignore us. Thirdly, the families that we spoke to mostly do not know about Tzu Chi but know that there is a grey temple beside the expressway. Fourthly, most families speak in both English and Mandarin but only read in English. I noticed that they will only take our magazine when I informed them that there are English articles behind.

我有两个有趣的经历。有一户家庭很认同我们正在做的事，尤其是环保的努力。她的孩子更是对解决全球暖化非常支持和充满积极性。我们聊了很久，向她解释慈济志业。她则向我们分享她对环保的看法和行善的经历。

There are two interesting encounters. There is one family who agreed with what we are doing, especially our recycling efforts. Her kids are highly supportive and filled with enthusiasm over global warming. We had a long chat with her, explaining to her what Tzu Chi does and she in turn telling us what she encounters regarding recycling and charities efforts.

我们与另一户家庭做了极短的交流。我们提起慈济后，他们以本身是基督徒为理由拒绝再交谈。其他师姑也遇到类似经验。这种反应没有什么不妥，尤其是我们总以“我们是慈济，在Elias Road旁的寺庙… …”开始交谈。我觉得我们应该强调慈济也是非政府组织和慈济人当中也有基督徒、穆斯林和其他宗教信仰。

Another short encounter is with a family, who told us that they are Christians and do not wish to hear further. Other SGs encounter similar experience. There is nothing wrong with that reaction, especially when we start the conversation with "We are Tzu Chi, the temple along Elias Road....". I feel that we should be emphasising the NGO aspect of Tzu Chi and the fact that we have volunteers who are Christians, Muslims and other religious beliefs.

晚上九点左右，大家回到会所分享各自的经验。到时刚好遇见执行长济雨师伯。济雨师伯问了问今晚爱洒的反应，是否有家庭邀请我们进家聊天。我认为我们需要更多的努力还能使这种情况发生。济雨师伯接着告诉我们“爱洒”不只是人间菩萨大招生，是培养缩小自己的好方法，也是体验二千五百多年前佛陀托钵的经历。

At around 9 pm, we met back at Tzu Chi office and shared among us our experience. We happen to meet Ji Yu SB, our CEO, who asked us how was tonight response. He asked whether any family invited us into the house for a chat. I think we need to put in a lot more effort to make that happen. Ji Yu SB further commented that the "Ai Sa" program is not only about introducing Tzu Chi to the community, but also for us to cultivate a sense of humbleness and experience what Buddha did 2500 years ago when he was out begging for food.

的确，我们如果不够谦虚，如何能缩小自己，小到能进入别人的门孔呢？

Indeed, if we are not humble enough, how are we able to enter the door-hole of families?

菩提心要 - 零八年八月十八日 Puti - 18 Aug 08

上人决定建医院的缘起。

The reason why Master decided to build Tzu Chi Hospital.

菩提心要 - 零八年八月十七日 Puti - 17 Aug 08

温故知新，方能体会慈济当年办医疗是多么的筚路蓝缕。

Only by reviewing our past, can we understand how tough it is in the early days when Tzu Chi started out our Charity Mission.

中秋感恩发放日 Mid-Autumn Festival Distribution Day

东北协力组打了通电话给我，邀约我为在中秋感恩发放日帮忙。我也借此机会向协力组长洁义师姐报告我已回国。我被安排帮来发师兄的忙。来发师兄向我提起我们曾经一起参加过灰衣志工培训，不过我已完全记不起来。

I got a call from North-East zone to come and help out during the Mid-Autumn Festival Distribution Day. I also took the opportunity to report to my leader that I am back from USA. I was tasked to help out with Lai Fa SX, whom he reminded me that we attended the Junior Tzu Chi Volunteers Training Day together, which I had totally forgotten.

中秋感恩发放日活动简单。桌椅已经排好在停车场内，厨房也已经挤满了人忙着煮午膳。我主要是跟着来发师兄搬搬扛扛。感恩户已陆续抵达，大部分都坐着轮椅。感恩户是慈济每个月定时救济的家庭。

The Mid-Autumn Festival Distribution is a simple affair. Tables are already arranged inside our carpark and the kitchen is busy with people cooking lunch. I mainly hanged around with Lai Fa SX and helped out in carrying and moving. Families started arriving, mostly in wheelchairs. They are the families that Tzu Chi has been helping out monthly.

发放日以一些热身运动拉开序幕，接着是三位年轻小妹妹大展歌喉。再来是特别嘉宾登场。我们请了位气球艺术家为感恩户制做了不少有趣的气球。

The morning started with some warm-up exercises and singings by our young volunteers. This time, we got a special guest. A balloon artist who made several interesting figures all our needy families.

活动如果没有我们的妙手生华表演就不算完美。师姑师姐们一如以往地把手语演绎的即优美又有人文气质。最后一首歌曲是大家都会比的台语歌，《爱拼还会赢》。因此台上台下每个慈济人都动了起来，又唱又比手语。

No event is completed without our sign languages SGs. As usual, there are onstage performing their graceful movements. But the last song was a simple Hokkien song and most of our volunteers knew the sign movements. Hence, everybody was singing and performing, onstage and offstage.

手语表演之后是慈少班的歌舞表演。小菩萨们自得其乐的唱着，赢得了如雷的掌声。

This was followed by a song performance by our very young volunteers, dancing and enjoying themselves at the same time. Their performance got themselves a big round of applauses.

活动结束之前，一家感恩户上台与大家分享。妻子分享慈济人是如何地照顾她和她坐轮椅的丈夫，带给了他们无限的关怀和爱护。

The event ended with a speech by one of our needy families. The wife of a wheelchair bounded husband, she shared with us how Tzu Chi volunteers have been taking care of them, showering them with care and concern.

整个中秋感恩发放日在享用美味的午膳后结束。

The entire distribution day concluded with a delicious lunch for everybody.

他们坚持环保从个人开始 They insist that environmental protection begin from them

莫应善小而不为，莫应恶小而为之。

No act of kindness is too small for us to ignore, no act of evilness is too small for us to perform.

他们坚持环保从个人开始 - 吴汉钧

一些来自重视环保国家的外国人，把自己从小就接受的环保观念带到新加坡来，而且继续身体力行。环保并非只是口号，一切从个人做起。本期《生生不息》访问德国驻新加坡大使，向他了解德国人对环保工作是如何的重视。另外找来两名外国人，看他们如何在日常生活中保护环境。

到德国驻新加坡大使的官邸专访新任大使拉瑙（Jorg Ranau）。车子停在屋外，一行人等着守卫打开铁门时，大使馆的新闻与文化参赞骑着史古打抵达。身着西装的参赞没有开车，反而骑着史古打抵步，着实让记者们大跌眼镜。

其实，只要了解德国人对环保工作的重视，就会明白参赞为什么愿意以史古打代步。

德国人的环保意识始于二战之后。战后的德国积极发展经济，忽视了环境保护。现在景色迷人的莱茵河，当时污染严重。有人形容，莱茵河能让负片显影。

到了1970年代，人们开始意识到德国的环境污染到了极点。联邦政府于是耗费巨资治理环境，当时人们常挂在嘴边的一句话是“我们为环境付出代价的时候到了”。

能源危机唤醒环保意识

此外，石油危机也扮演了另一种角色。拉瑙说：“当时一公升汽油只不过是新币五角，开车不是负担，人们也不愿意乘搭公共交通。可是1970年代的能源危机进一步提醒德国人，石油不是用之不竭的。”

1972年，德国第一套环保法出台。前西德在1980年成立绿党，是世界上成立最早、也是最为成功的绿党组织。至今，全国及各州有8000套与环境相关的法律及条例。德国可说是拥有世界上最完备、最详尽环境保护法的国家。多年来，德国人的环保意识已经从被动环保转变为个人自觉。在德国，环保问题是国内第二大课题，仅次于就业。

刚从巴勒斯坦调任新加坡的拉瑙受访时说，能源政策在德国是国家安全的一部分，政府清楚意识到石油短缺的问题，所以很早便开始大力发展可再生能源。德国更设定目标，在2020年，全国必须有20%的电力来自可再生能源。这当中最大的来源是风力发电，因为德国有绵延的海岸线，适合采用风力发电。

“话说回来，在大力发展可再生能源之余，我们也必须节约能源。你总不能人不在家，空调却开着不关。我们必须教育人民，让人民知道什么是重要的。”

德国能源署（Dena）也有一个与新加坡能源标签计划相仿的制度，协助人民选购能源效率最高的电冰箱、空调等。德国政府也规定房屋的能源效率，房屋构造必须能保暖，以减少对暖气机的依赖。

拉瑙说，德国能源署今年起实施针对建筑物能源效率的评估制度。这套制度直接影响建筑物的市场价值。

德国绿色房屋转售价更高

这套制度刚在6月1日开始实行，其概念与电器和车子的能源标签如出一辙。德国能源署规定，在1965年以后兴建的房屋和大厦都必须经过能源审查，得到一张能源证书后，房屋才能出租或出售。经审查的房屋基本上可以分为绿色、黄色和红色三种级别，绿色为能源效率最高的级别。能源效率越高的房屋，售价或租金就越高。德国能源署希望此举能鼓励业主改善房子的能源效率。

拉瑙在德国的住家也进行了能源审查。不过他笑说，由于他的房子太老旧，所以只获得绿黄之间的级别。

官邸换110个灯泡年省千多元电费

位于植物园附近的大使官邸不久前也进行了一番提升工程。官邸更换了所有灯泡，改用欧司朗（OSRAM）的节能灯泡和灯管，总共更换了110个灯泡，每年可以节省1500多元。

事实上，德国政府对大使的用电可谓锱铢必较。拉瑙透露，楼下正式官邸和楼上私邸各有一个电表。楼下的电表由政府结账，楼上则须他自掏腰包。

发达国家如德国的政府当然不会计较这一点钱，但由此可见他们在能源节约方面的坚定立场与不妥协态度。

六楼以下走楼梯上下

如果你的办公室或住家在五楼，搭电梯上下很可能是你唯一的出入方式。不过，法律顾问马普则选择走楼梯，原因很简单——他要身体力行支持节约能源。

来自美国的马普（54岁）小时候经历过石油危机，深知石油终会枯竭的道理，所以很早便有节约能源的习惯。

两年前来到新加坡之后，他发现新加坡处处都很便利，于是更有意识地培养各种可以节约能源的生活习惯，包括搬到高楼公寓。

马普说，他和妻子原本租住的公寓在一楼，可是一楼空气不流通。租约到期后，他们就搬到别处，租了一套位于13楼的公寓。

他说：“13楼除了风景好，最重要就是空气流通，白天不必开冷气也很凉爽。”

搬到13楼，他当然不可能每天走13层的楼梯出入家门。马普说，他并不是极端环保主义者，他主张在维持舒适生活的同时，尽可能节约能源，例如洗澡用冷水、使用节能灯泡和电器。他也承认，晚上睡觉还是会短暂开冷气，让卧室保持凉爽。

马普没有车子，每天搭巴士和地铁往返乌鲁班丹住家和国际商业园办公楼。办公室在五楼，他尽量走楼梯。只要不超过六层楼，他都尽量不使用电梯。

他笑说：“超过六层楼如果还要坚持走楼梯，那就有点不实际，因为走完六层楼，我可能已经浑身汗，很难专心工作了。”

为少开冷气从低楼搬到高楼

和马普一样，来自瑞士的阿尔尼（36岁）也为了少开冷气，从原本三楼的公寓搬到另一处的18楼公寓。

阿尔尼说，瑞士人的环保观念很强，父母在他小时候就灌输环保意识。

他说：“我到过一些新加坡朋友的家，注意到他们白天一般都不开冷气，都是打开窗口让空气自然流通。当然，我不是很清楚这是不是跟环保有关，还是他们纯粹为了省钱。”

住在勿洛水池路的阿尔尼没有车子，妻子也是乘搭公共交通上下班。阿尔尼和马普为了节约能源，一些生活习惯确实很不像一般的洋人。

有时，他们太早把家里的热水器关掉，妻子会投诉没有热水洗澡。阿尔尼也说，他的朋友从瑞士来到新加坡住在他家，因为受不了新加坡的天气，白天也开冷气。马普则说，他坚持走楼梯的习惯，在一些人看来觉得奇怪。

不过，这不影响他们的坚持。

马普说：“我觉得节约能源就是从生活中的一点一滴做起。”

阿尔尼也说：“遇到有人忘了关灯，我随手关上就好了，没有必要去指正或指示别人，最重要的是自己以身作则。”

联合早报 - 2008年8月11日

菩提心要 - 零八年八月十日 Puti - 10 Aug 08

点塔七层，不如暗处一灯。

Giving to the needy is much more significant than giving to the poor.

菩提心要 - 零八年八月八日 Puti - 8 Aug 08

佛说人有二十难，贫穷布施第一难；
随业受生轮回转，困顿横逆迢迢难；
布施助人多方法，悭吝未除最贫乏；
心中有爱贫亦富，贫穷布施并不难。

菩提心要 - 零八年八月六日 Puti - 6 Aug 08

佛说人有二十难，富贵学道第二难；
凡夫易被名利牵，贡高只因权势显；
荣华总是三更梦，富贵如同九月霜；
谦和好礼心有爱，富贵学道也不难。

菩提心要 - 零八年八月四日 Puti - 4 Aug 08

上人开示后，我才恍然大悟，杀众生以养生或保命，是如此的无知。如果你信因果，杀生如何能保生？

After Master’s teaching, only do I realize that killing countless lives to save your health or your life is very silly. If you believe in Karma, how does it think it is possible that killing others can save your own life?

Help with a bow 赈灾与鞠躬

A Tzu Ching passed this article to me. It surprised all my friends when I told them that in Tzu Chi, we handled disaster relief ourselves and always give victims a 90 degree bow plus a “Thank you” when we handed them the relief items. We are thanking them for going through the suffering so as to give us a chance to do something good.

一位慈青送了这篇文章给我。当我告知朋友我们慈济自己执行国际赈灾并向灾民发放物资时，行九十度的鞠躬及一声“感恩”，所有的朋友都是一脸惊讶。我们是感恩灾民显苦象，让我们有机会行善。

Help with a bow – Taipei

An unexpected bringer of relief in Myanmar and China

The natural disasters that recently befell Myanmar and China have tested the willingness of both stricken countries to let in foreign helpers. Western relief organisations are still waiting to see whether Myanmar's armed forces meant what they said when they promised to let in all aid workers, regardless of nationality. China, though quick to accept money and material from the West, was slower to let in its people. But whereas Western do-gooders have queued for entry, volunteers from Taiwan's non-governmental organisations (NGOs) received a warmer welcome. A chartered relief mission from Taipei, led by a Burmese-born Buddhist monk, was among the first to land in Yangon, Myanmar's main city. In China, emergency workers from a Taiwanese foundation were among the first to reach Sichuan. This first-responder feat is all the more remarkable given the political impasse between China and Taiwan.

Disaster relief plays to the strengths of Taiwan's NGOs. They have plenty of experience coping with earthquakes and typhoons at home, and can mobilise legions of volunteers at short notice. Operating in a vibrant democracy that encourages civil society is also handy, as is the charitable impulse of many Taiwanese. This is often channelled into Buddhist philanthropy, which troubles receiving countries less than the proselytising zeal that comes attached to some brands of Christian charity. Paradoxically, Taiwan's diplomatic isolation helps: its aid agencies can plead neutrality in countries such as Myanmar.

The largest NGO in Taiwan—and by all accounts in the Chinese-speaking world—is the Tzu Chi Foundation, which has dozens of international chapters, around 10m supporters and annual donations of $300m. In Taiwan it runs hospitals, schools, a university, recycling centres and one of the world's largest bone-marrow banks. It began overseas relief work in 1991, responding to flooding along China's Yangzi river. Initially, its offer of help got a cool response from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Critics at home asked why they wanted to aid “the enemy”. Eventually both sides relented, and China is now the biggest overseas recipient of Tzu Chi's low-key largesse. Earlier this year, it finally got a licence to operate freely as a 100%-foreign NGO, a first for China, it claims.

With projects in dozens of countries, Tzu Chi is starting to resemble its Western counterparts, except that its aid workers are trained volunteers who pay their own way to disaster zones. Master Cheng Yen, a Buddhist nun who founded the organisation in 1966, teaches that charitable givers must thank those they help in person, preferably with a bow. That is not just a wonderful bit of courtesy. It is also a way to make sure that aid reaches its recipients, rather than ending up in the hands of an unworthy government.

The Economist print edition - May 29, 2008

Feeling as watching "The Dharma as Water 1" 法譬如水1心得

万般带不走，唯有业随身

因缘果报

如是因，如是缘，如是果，如是报。“因”是累身累世在业田种下的业，善与恶业并存。“缘”是让“因”成熟的条件。当“因缘”成熟，就开花结“果”，“因”就现“报”。比如，我前世与慈济结了善的“因”。在波士顿上超市买菜时，在超市门口随手拿了几份报纸和期刊，其中就有慈济月刊。三个月后，我搭长途巴士下纽约接父母时，把月刊带着阅读，第一次深入了解慈济。这是我的“缘”。“因缘”成熟、结“果”、现“报”，零七年二月，我回新加坡后加入慈济；同年八月，再回波士顿念书时，加入当地慈济。

恶法障人天道

今世得人身，是累身累世种的善因，缘份成熟，结果现报。得人身，是喜也是忧。如果是凡夫，在无名与无知中蹉跎人生，造了无数的罪与过，种下恶因，就不断地轮回与六道之中。如果觉悟，希望来世不堕恶道再得人身，就要守五戒：不杀生、不偷盗、不邪淫、不妄语、不饮酒。如果进一步想生天道，就要行十善：身不犯杀、盗、淫；口不犯妄语、绮语、两舌、恶口；意不犯贪、嗔、痴。

善法障出世道

行十善能生天道。不过，在天道，无佛法可闻，天福天寿享尽，累世的恶果现报，还是会堕入恶道。（生天道和往生西方极乐世界或东方净琉璃世界是不是一样；在极乐或净琉璃世界有没有寿终的一天；为什么人寿终时，我们助念《佛说阿弥陀经》，往生者就能往极乐世界，那因缘果报没有作用了吗）所以，我们来世要再得人身。不过得人身不只是守好五戒。生生世世守好五戒，虽永得人生，但还是在六道中轮回。我们要人身，是能听闻佛法，可以修行。如果将五戒、十善合起来，再发一份菩提心，就是行善法。但是，行善法要记得不要执著，过于计较名利而自大自满，或因为做得不够好而心生烦恼。

不动法障菩提道

修行的最终目标是修得正果，登佛界（自觉、觉他、觉行圆满），脱离六道轮回之苦。修行要消累生累世的恶因、种累生累世的善因、还要行菩萨道。

消累生累世恶因最好的方法是诚心“发露忏悔”。忏悔可以洗涤我们的错误、罪过，降伏自我内心的无明无知，纠正偏差的观念。“恶业的种子要连根拔起，否则春风吹又生；忏悔，也要向微细处深入，否则，尽管行为已经改了，但心中的恶业种子却还没有拔除。”此外，当恶因现报，要欢喜的接受，“甘愿还，打八折；不甘愿还，就要加利息”。“遇到不顺利的人事，无论是不是故意来折磨我们，都要赶紧说：‘感恩你来成就我。’而且做到心中无怨，这是消除业障最好的方法，也是诵忏的真实意义。”

上人为了让众生种累生累世的善因而开创慈济世界：四大志业、八大脚印。只要任何一项慈济事业能与众生“对机”，“做就对了”，众生就能与大家一起耕福田。

可是，消了恶因，种了善因，要小心修行时，修成不动法。少了慈悲喜舍，冷眼观世界，从大乘修成小乘，成不了佛，修成阿罗汉果（阿弥陀佛得正果后开创了极乐世界；药师琉璃光如来成正果后开创了净琉璃世界；阿难尊者得阿罗汉果位及往生后去了哪里；佛陀入灭后又到了哪里）。所以，我们要常保持四无量心：大慈无悔、大悲无怨、大喜无忧、大舍无求。

至于如何行菩萨道，《法譬如水》或《慈悲三味水忏》没提到，可能是末学我领悟不出。行菩萨道的方法，因该在《法华三部经》：《无量义经》、《妙法莲华经》、《观普贤菩萨行法经》，末学我还在拜读《无量义经》，刚读完《说法品第二》，还需要多用功（执著着成佛，是不是起了痴心；那不想要成佛，是不是不够精进）。

总而言之

诸恶莫做，诸善奉行。人生难得今已得、佛法难闻今已闻、菩萨道难行今已行，所以我们要好好的把握如此难得的因缘，要多用心护好、安好自己的一念心。

注意：蓝字是我的疑问