Discourse by Teacher: The Concept of Compassion; Plant-based Diet Movement
Today, I would like to spend some times to share my thoughts with everyone. There are many calamities happening non-stop all over the world since end of last year till the beginning of this year, in particular, the Covid-19 pandemic that is affecting the whole world. There are many who did not manage to overcome it, many are infected, and some are working hard in fighting the virus. Even though some are still considered healthy, yet their profession or business are greatly affected. Hence, everyone feels panicky, not knowing how the pandemic would develop, the extent of the spread, and also the impact it would have on our livelihoods.
Originally, it happens in Asia, but now many countries like United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Italy, all are also affected, and the pace of spreading is accelerating each day. When the danger strikes, those who are staying overseas, like people in Canada, tried to send masks and other necessities back to China, or do something to help them out at the start of the virus outbreak. When that wave of outbreak began to show some signs of stability, a new wave started over here. Some may feel very exhausted and suffering, as if it is hard to even catch a breather. Everyone is flustered over the daily broadcast of Covid-19 figures, showing how many were infected then and how many more by now.
But during this process, how are we going to keep our inner-self calm first, and then calm down our family members and friends later? So I would like all of you to think it over, “During this period, what should we be doing?”
Amidst this outbreak, I hope everyone has taken all precautionary measures, like to wash our hands frequently. Though this looks very normal, but all doctors unanimously agree that we need to always wash our hands, also do not use our hands to touch our face or eyes before washing our hands. But if we observe carefully, the number of times that we subconsciously touch our face and eyes in a day, as some have counted, can be up to 90 times, some said 50 times, or even 20. So if our hands are not thoroughly cleaned, the probabilities of contracting the virus is relatively high especially within the infected areas.
While we practice appropriate quarantine, social distancing and refrain from having gatherings, but what shall we do after all these are done? Being part of this society, it is our duty and responsibility to protect ourselves and our families, and we would try our very best to do so. We have to seriously think through today’s situation, how should we improve it, or cease it at its origin source?
Everything has a cause. The root cause of everything that is happening in the world right now can be traced to the word “karma”. Ah, karma, the effects of karma!
We can think about our relationship with the environment. In reality, are we able to develop a flow of actions to create a virtuous karmic environment in our lives, letting us create the ten virtuous actions in our daily activities in terms of our clothing, food, shelter and actions? Master founded the Lamrim discussion classes, and we have been learning in these classes. Hence, we will habitually look at things from the karmic point of view whenever we meet with any issues, we will look for ways to improve from the causal point of view. Then the Dharma Enterprises have helped us to actualise the improvement of the society, transforming it into one with ten virtuous actions through the hard work of a group of people. Hence, we have an organic enterprise.
This organic enterprise, imagine, from the time the seeds are planted into the soil until the seedlings sprout, or the vegetables are served on our plates, the whole process is pesticide-free. Minimally, a guarantee to those who hold similar ideals about organic food, or our families, are able to eat vegetables without pesticides contamination. Everyone knows that continual consumption of contaminated vegetables will greatly increase the probability of our bodies catching diseases. Therefore, many people overseas are taking vegetarian meals. Everyone knows that currently in Holland and England, practically the whole country is advocating vegetarianism/plant-based diet.
Just like the current Covid-19 situation, and the SARS a few years ago, all seem to have transmitted from wild animals. Humans eat meat and it has progressed to all sorts of meat including wildlife. Hence, a non-virtuous act of killing! The animals will be killed when humans want to eat animals. (No doubt that) The innumerable animals all have their own ripening karma. Even if they have their own ripening karma, it does not mean we should kill them, just so to satisfy our taste buds. Further, we are not in a state that is lacking of food, but on the contrary, we are spoilt for choice. There are many delicious varieties of fruits and vegetables. In fact, we can completely eat organic fruits, vegetables and organic food sources.
The Lamrim [Volume 1, Page 237] states, “From the nonvirtuous action of killing, such things in the external environment as food and drink, medicine, and fruits will have little strength, be ineffective, have little potency and power, or, being difficult to digest, will induce illness.”
Let us take a look at the statistics some scientists have compiled. It is said that on planet earth, there are about 1 billion sheep, 1 billion pigs - I am unsure how accurate these figures are - more than 1 billion cows, more than 25 billion chickens……, and the majority of these livestock will meet the inevitable end of being killed. What else is there? Fishes and other types of marine life. Just in a year, how many lives will humans kill? What exactly is the reason for killing so many lives? It is simply for our consumption!
Let us look at the agricultural land area on Earth, it far exceeds the amount of land that is required to produce food for human consumption. Why is that so? It is because these crops are not grown directly for human consumption, but to feed the cows, goats, etc. As large amount of feed is required, forest lands are cleared; once the forest are being cleared for farmland, the animals and creatures living within will not have any other places to go, leaving their habitats destroyed and making their livelihood uncertain – still arising from (our) eating! Humans cut vast forest lands and did a lot of things to rear various livestock in order to eat them ultimately!
Just look at how much resources have been wasted in this cycle, take a look and give it a thought, “What has brought about this current situation?” Isn’t it to fill our stomachs and have “better” food for consumption to make our body healthier. In this whole chain, how many of these actions are those that create negative karma which we have to pay a price for? Once a negative karma is created, we will not be able to escape from its fruitional effect of suffering. Further, there are so many lives being killed in this chain. This is such a weird chain, just for the sake of eating! And after consuming, does the person becomes better? For the sake of eating, so much karma from killing has been created, where the Buddha said good health and longevity will not be gained. Just take a look at all the illnesses and diseases globally, you would know. Some people have contracted certain illnesses and when they consume vegetarian for a while, take organic food, his immunity would gradually improve and eventually recovered. I think there are many of such examples around us.
Now, let us calculate, even if the food that we consume now are not animal or animal products, they are plant-based food, but if you observe the methods used in farming, there are a lot of pesticides and chemical fertilizers being used. These pesticides and chemical fertilizers not only took away lives of many small beings, they also contaminate and degrade the soil. This is a compassion concept that Master had put forward more than 20 years ago.
If the other living beings cannot survive, gradually this would also threaten the survival of mankind. Hence, superficially, wow, we have no worries of clothing, food, everything is available, in great amount, simply well-resourced. But, in fact, the materials we obtained, the food gained, what do we exactly gained? There are so many non-virtuous karma hidden within this whole process, and furthermore our lives are bind tenaciously to such chains.
May I ask, “How are we to jump out of this web of collective karma? How are we going to deal with this?” In this world, how many people really believe in karma and its effect? Say for example, “If one kills a being in order to eat something, he will experience a short lifespan, contract many illnesses.”, how many people will believe in this saying? Another saying, “This is wasting the resources on earth, with the usage of great amount of land and causing great destruction to the forest. All these will lead to the Earth getting warmer, warmer and warmer until it is unbearable for human to live on it.” Definitely there will be a saying that would ardently touch our hearts – we want to make changes!
This is a matter happening right before our very eyes, hence, when we are facing this pandemic, we need to reflect on our lifestyle/way of life. What and how can we strive to change our lifestyle through our own efforts? For example, the first way – go on a vegetarian diet! Able to start going on a plant-based diet? If there is one more person among us who goes on vegetarian diet, perhaps not so many more animals would be slaughtered. If a family gradually goes on vegetarian diet, this will lead to many lives being protected. Therefore, we can refrain from killing and liberate lives. Even when we are unable to go out now, we can, through the phone, persuade our friends to go on vegetarian meals, and even teach them how to prepare delicious vegetarian dishes? Actually plant-based dishes can be done scrumptiously, they are extremely, extremely delectable! For the vegetarian dishes prepared by our Sangha members, they are very, very delectable. Some people, after eating, they would say, “Wow! These vegetarian dishes are so delicious, who would want to consume meat?” Hence, whether (being) able to prepare tasty, nutritious and enriching vegetarian dishes, it is a form of responsibilities of ours.
If it is just for taste and flavour, appetizing plant-based dishes can also achieve great heights, able to exceed (the taste of) the meat dishes! Because many, many people are turning vegetarian food into a cuisine. And so I believe we have the responsibilities to make vegetarian dishes to be very appetizing, and we can treat non-vegetarians to them, slowly influencing them, allowing them to be able to consume plant-based food. After more and more people go on vegetarian diet, there would be less lives being killed in this world. As such, we will not have to shoulder much of the negative karma due to eating. In this case, we will truly be able to cultivate the causes for good health and longevity.
Nowadays, the scientists are also clearly pointing out that: due to the habits of eating meat, it has brought about too many catastrophes upon the human race – disappearance of forests, global warming, rising of sea levels, floods, mutation of virus, extreme weathers, including prevalent damage by insects, devastatingly large fire disasters… These grand scale catastrophes will absolutely affect the survival of mankind, as they are closely related to the slaughtering and killing of lives by the human race. It can even be said that, to resolve these imminent world disasters, eliminating meat consumption is a compulsory way that has been publicly recognised and accepted by everyone. Mankind needs to start taking action, start to change ourselves, start to protect the lives of the small and weak, even their living space – quit the habit of eating meat!
Everyone in the world knows the negative impact to our own health due to meat dishes, which includes pesticides, and chemical fertilisers. Hence, hope that everyone can persevere on this point, as I have not done any general survey with our students, I am thinking - Are all of you on vegetarian diet? Today, we are a group of fortunate people, because we have organic (food), we have Leezen (shops), when we want to eat something that is free from contaminating pesticides, we just need to obtain them from the shops. We won’t say, “Oh, where is there organic stuff?”, where you can’t find them.
I recalled visiting a particular country, and blister appeared on my mouth after I ate something. It was a peach or something? Peach. I said, “Strange! Why is there a blister on my lip?”. In fact, I only took half the peach. The Venerables around me who also ate the peaches, also had blisters on their lips. Later, I found that the peach was non-organic and a lot of pesticides was used, hence it caused blister after eating.
Hence, 20 plus years ago, Master Jih-Chang had advised farmers to switch to organic farming, and so we formed the organizations, Tse-Xin and Leezen, both that are very closely related to each other – from planting of the first seeds into the soil, to the vegetables served on our plates, they are guaranteed to be free from pesticides. Such beautiful protection chain has encouraged many to protect our earth, those living on it, small little ones that cannot speak nor protest, the little lives that couldn’t scream for help. We should not poison them just because we want to have meals/food. As they are so little, a little pesticide would disallow them to live.
Since we started the enterprises, there are many wonderful touching stories that happened in this protection chain we are in. I hope that all of us will muster the courage to pull through this pandemic! And enabling the Lamrim classes, and Tse-Xin organisation to continue on during these tough times. If all of us can start vegetarian diet early, and able to be mindful of our soil and river, and not spray so much pesticide, perhaps the earth environment would not have changed so much in these 2 years that we are unable to deal with it now!
Are we able to spread the concept of vegetarian diet, eating organic (food), protection of our soil, to our friends, neighbours, and even to people whom we just met? If we humans want to live in a healthy, non-harmful environment, we should start protecting others’ lives, others’ lives! If we neglect the life/existence of other beings, mankind will feel that we are the sole importance in the Universe, be self-centred, for our food, (we) relentlessly killing those other lives. How can we continue to live in peace? This is an undebated Truth!
During this trying time, hope that everyone recognises this phenomenon and able to contemplate once more: More than 20 years ago, Master had led us to start on organic farming, so how important it must have been! At that time, we have already started to take action, a group of us! Hence, there is the Tse-Xin Enterprise now, where it exists a big group of people who agree on the concept of organic farming.
Like the Kungfu pants that are produced by our Leezen, which is that black-coloured pants, they are purely (made from) organic (cotton). For many years, I have given away that particular design pants to others, where I usually would buy a carton of it, and when meeting certain individuals, I would say, “Ah! This is pure organic (cotton) pants, you can try it!” Some time ago, I gave it to a young adult who likes to work out. He has many types of stylish fitness wear, and all are of popular sports brands. I was thinking: Will he like such “organic” pants? Because, in terms of designs, they aren’t as stylish as those fitness wear. But the moment he donned it, he suddenly said, “Wow! The pants are so comfortable! Do you have some more? I want to buy 10 of them!” So I asked him, “You want to wear 10 (of the pants)? You, yourself, want to wear the 10 pants!” He said, “I’m afraid they would be gone? Do you still have anymore?” I said, “I won’t have so many in such a short time.” He asked me how much they cost, as he is still a young person, and money can be a concern.
Just that design of kungfu pants, I have given them away for these many years, and almost all would return to ask for more, saying they are just too comfortable! Although there isn’t much of a design aesthetically, maintaining it to be very plain and simple, (for) meditation, prostration, and some people wear this organic design pants even when at home. There was also one person who said that his skin would easily get itchy patch on the legs, like skin issue, the moment he wears other types of pants. Therefore, after he returns from work, he would change into the kungfu pants, and the moment he wears them, the problem on his legs would slowly, slowly become better. Not sure how many of you are wearing them? I am not advertising that particular design pants, I am saying it is really a kind of feeling, I have also been wearing that for many years.
Due to such cause, everyone of us should think about: Our responsibilities toward the earth, responsibilities toward the environment, responsibilities toward the other living beings, responsibilities toward our family members… Hence, we need to promote the concept of vegetarianism, advocate that everyone is able to consume organic (food), use organic (stuff), allowing the business in organic (produce) to go on endlessly. Because it benefits entire mankind, it will prevent our earth not to worsen like this, environment not to continue worsening.
Therefore, this is such a beautiful beginning, during this time, create virtuous deeds, try and change the self-centred behaviour, and the environment will change subsequently. This is what happened when every time, matters that seem very challenging, trying, and even when something truly catastrophic happened, Master would find and bring that gleam of joy and hope for us into our lives – that path is right under our feet, (we) just need to take the step forward!
In the interim, although our Lamrim discussion classes have to transform and take place online, and there are many things that we are unable to do, we can still support the organic food enterprises, or even purchase organic vegetables and fruits as gifts for people who are non-vegetarians, or are still unaware of the concept of organic farming. During this time, we can still practice our generosity! Just like this person I have heard of - When the pandemic began, he bought lots of organic product to distribute to the co-workers in his department. It is common during such times that everyone will want to stock up supplies for their homes. Hence, while buying for our own household, why not buy some for our friends at the same time? And if we are buying things, won’t it be better if we purchase items that are organic?
So during this period, I really hope that everyone can work on amassing virtuous deeds of such, by supporting and sustaining the conducive environment that Master has built for us. Because this will truly benefit all mankind and lives! When we go on to benefit mankind and beings, our lives will also be purified, nourished and protected in the process. We will then live in a mental state of goodness that is filled with mutual and reciprocated gratitude between other beings and ourselves. Isn’t this very beautiful?
I hope all of you would take good care of yourselves! I am currently taking very good preventive measures, which is definitely not going out. May more people not be in a state of panic or worry, do more virtuous deeds during this period, do not further fuel the selfishness and self-centredness within us, and practise generosity through – giving kindness in thought, giving kindness through material objects such as organic clothing items, food products and more. I believe a group of people like us coming together to carry out these movements, even if we may seem small as compared to the vast great earth, our sparks of brightness can still light up every corner – one heart igniting another and this world will then be illuminated!
Being able to hear of and learn the Lamrim today, learn about the concepts of organic farming and vegetarianism, all these originate from the compassionate teachings of our Master to us. It was due to the “thistles and thorns” that Master had gone through to remove for us that we are able to live in such goodness now. Therefore, we should fondly remember his kindness and repay by continuing to propagate this lifelong learning and transformation of habits through self-reflection – via studying the Lamrim, the Dharma, as well as applying the measures to heal the Earth such as organic farming and Compassion Movement that Master had guided us on, and spread it to more people, from one generation to another. Hope we will work hard on this together. All of you please take good care of yourselves!
I’ll repeat this once again, “Wash your hands diligently everyday! Washing diligently means washing your palms first, the back of your hands, the spaces between your fingers and thumbs again, and then your wrists. Rinse your hands for a few seconds and wash it clean everyday.” All in all, I hope all of you would take good care of yourselves and not meet with any mishaps. We have to stay resilient, composed and continue to do virtuous deeds! Thank you!
老师开示：慈心理念、素食行动
今天想利用一点时间，跟大家讲一下我的想法。从去年年底到今年年初，世界各处的灾难没有间断，尤其现在的新冠肺炎已经影响到全球了。很多人没有扛过去，有很多人被感染，还有一些人正在跟疾病辛苦地抵抗，其他的一些就算是很健康的人，他们的行业也受到了很大的影响。所以大家心里都是感到恐慌，不知道接下来的疫情会怎样发展、会扩展到多快，甚至会为我们的生活带来一个怎样的影响？
像原来都是在亚洲，现在已经在美国和加拿大、英国、义大利这些地方开始了，而且每天速度增长得还满快的。当有这样的危险袭来的时候，住在国外，像住在加拿大的人，一开始大陆发生疫情的时候，都是想把口罩啊、什么什么的就寄回去，或者能做一些什么。但这一波刚刚好像有好一点了，结果这边又开始了。对于有一些人来说，好像没有喘息的感觉，很疲惫、很辛苦！每天很多数字播报，说是有多少、有多少了，有多少、有多少了，大家都真的免不掉心慌。
但是在这个过程之中，我们要怎样稳住自己的内心、然后稳住自己的家人和朋友？所以我想和在座的各位想一想：在这个阶段内我们到底应该做些什么？
对于眼前的事，也希望大家要做好各种防疫的措施，比如说勤洗手这件事。这件事虽然看似平凡，但是所有的医生都如是说，就是一定要常洗手，没洗手的时候不要拿手碰脸、碰眼睛。但是如果我们仔细观察一下，就会发现：我们一天下意识碰脸和碰眼睛的次数，有的人数了一下说九十次，有的人说五十次，还有的人说二十次。所以如果手没洗干净的话，被传染的机率是满高的，如果在疫区的话。
那么适当的隔离、不要出去老是聚会，这样的事情都做完之后，我们还应该做一些什么呢？作为社会这个群体中的一份子，我们的责任和义务，自己尽量防护好自己，也保护好自己的家人，尽力而为。我们真的要再考虑一下，今天这样的一个状态，要怎么样去改善它，或者从源头上令它止息呢？
凡事都有因。之所以现在世界上发生这样的事情，归根结底一定会推到[业]字，业力啊，业力的影响！
我们可以想想我们和环境的关系，我们能否在现实的生活中创造出一种可以随顺于造善业的环境，让我们平常的生活衣、食、住、行都可以造作十善业？师父创立了研讨班，然后我们一直在研讨班里学习，我们会习惯从因果的道理去面对我们现在遇到的种种事情，会想法从因上去改善。那么法人事业就是我们实践改善这个社会的浊流，变成一个十善社会的这样的一群人的努力，所以有一个有机的事业。
这个有机的事业，可以想像从种子种到土壤里开始，一直到它成为青青的禾苗，或者端到我们盘中的菜，这整个流程不要有农药，要保证至少认同有机理念的人可以吃到不会被农药污染的菜，或者我们的家人。大家都知道，一直吃到有污染的菜的话，身体得到病的机率是非常高的。所以国外很多人都在吃素，现在大家都知道荷兰、英国，差不多是举国都在倡导吃素。
像这次的新冠肺炎，还有前几年流行的 SARS，好像都是从野生动物这边传来的，就是人吃肉，吃吃肉就吃到野生动物。所以，杀业呀！人类要是吃动物，动物就要被杀。很多很多动物它们有它们应该成熟的业，但它们有该成熟的业，我们也不该去杀害它们，只是为了满足那一点点口味。因为我们现在不是没吃的，有很多好吃的、有很多美味的蔬菜，而且我们完全可以去吃有机的蔬菜、有机的粮食。
《广论》上说：谓由杀生，能感外器世间所有的饮食及药果都没有光泽，势力、异熟，还有它的威德都慢慢地变弱了，所以吃了这些东西之后，就会容易生长疾病。
我们可以看一看，有一些科学家做了一个统计，说全球大约有十亿只绵羊、十亿只猪—— 我不知道这个数字是精确到什么程度—— 超过十亿头牛、超过两百五十亿只鸡......，这些生命绝大多数都免不了被杀害。还有什么呢？鱼类、其他水中的生命。一年之中，人们将杀害多少生命？杀害这么多生命的理由到底是什么呢？就只是为了吃而已！
再看一看这个世界的耕种面积，远远地超出了人类所需要粮食的耕种需求面积，为什么呢？因为这些农田种的作物不是直接拿来养人的，而是拿来喂养牛啊、羊啊等等。需要大量的粮食，那么就要砍伐森林；一砍伐森林，森林里的生命就没有地方待了，毁了它们的家园，它们的生命就没有保障—— 还是由于吃！人们要砍森林，要做很多事情去养各种生命，然后再把它们吃掉！
单是看资源浪费的这样一个循环，我们回头看一看，会觉得：到这一步到底是为什么？不是为了吃饱了、吃好了，身体健康。这整个的链条中，有多少是要付出造作恶业的代价。一旦造作恶业我们会难逃那个苦果，而且多少生命在这个链条之中就被杀害了，这是一个多么奇怪的链条，就是为了吃！而这样吃完了之后人变好了吗？为吃造作了这么多杀业，佛陀说不会健康、长寿，我们现在看一看世界上这些病，也可以知道。有些人生了一种病，有的时候他素食、他吃有机慢慢免疫力增高之后，他也会变好。我想我们周围都有这样的例子。
现在再算一算，就算我们吃到的粮食它不是荤食、它是素食，但是因为现在的耕作方式，也必须要喷洒大量的农药、化肥。这个农药、化肥不仅直接杀害了许多小的生命，也让土壤渐渐地没有生机了，这是师父在二十多年前就提出的这个慈心的理念。
如果其他生命无法生存，慢慢地就会危及到人也会很难生存。所以表面上看起来我们现在，哇！衣食无忧，什么东西都很多、很多，简直是很富有。可是实际上我们获得物质、获得粮食、获得什么，它的过程隐藏了太多的恶业在其中，而且我们的生活被这样的链条绑得死死的。
请问：我们如何能够跳出这样的共业之网呢？我们应该为此做些什么呢？这世上到底有多少人会相信因果，说：为了吃一口东西杀害生命，会感得短寿、会感得多病，这种说法有多少人会相信？还有一种说法：这样会浪费地球资源，花了那么大的土地，把森林都砍了种那么多东西，结果让这个地球越来越暖、越来越暖，人也是不利于生存的。总会有一种说法，会让我们的心怦然而动—— 我们想做改变！
这是非常眼前的事情，所以当我们面对这次疫情的时候，还是要反省我们的生活方式，到底能为改变我们的生活方式做一些什么身体力行的努力呢？比如说第一条—— 吃素！能否开始吃素呢？因为我们如果有多一个人吃素，可能就不会需要那么多的动物被杀害；那如果一家人慢慢地都吃素，这样的话就保护很多生命，所以我们可以戒杀去放生。是不是我们在这个中间如果出不去，能够用电话劝一下周围的朋友能够吃素，甚至教他做一点美味的素食？其实素食做好吃了，非常非常好吃的！像我们僧团出家人的素食就做得非常非常好吃，有的人吃到了就说：[哇！这个素食这么好吃，谁还吃肉？]所以能否把素食做得非常美味、营养又丰富，这是我们这些人的一种责任。
如果只是为了口味，那么素食也可以达到登峰造极的口味，可以超过肉食的！因为现有很多很多人就在料理素食。所以我会认为，我们有责任把素食做得非常美味，可以请一下习惯吃荤食的人吃一吃，慢慢地去影响他们，让他们能够吃素。吃素的人越来越多了之后，这世界上的生命就会少一些被杀害，然后我们就不会为了吃背负太多的恶业。这样的话，我们就真正地能够修习健康、长寿的因。
现在的科学家也已经很明确地提出：因为肉食的习惯，为人类带来了太多的灾难—— 森林消失、地球暖化、海水上涨、土地淹没、病毒变异、极端气候，还有虫害盛行、大火肆虐......。这些大型的灾难，绝对会影响到我们人类的生存，这都是和人类杀生的业紧紧相连。甚至可以说在解决这些迫在眉睫世界型的灾难里边，断绝肉食已经成为大家所公认的必须方案。人类必须开始行动、开始改变自己、开始保护其他弱小的生命乃至它们的生存空间—— 戒掉吃肉的习惯！
肉食，还有农药、化肥对于个人健康的负面影响，这个也在世界上众所周知了，所以希望大家能够在这一点上再接再厉。因为我没有对我们的同学做过普查，我在想：是不是你们都是吃素了？今天我们这群人是很幸运的，因为我们有有机、我们有里仁，我们想要吃一个没有被农药污染的东西，只要到那个店里边就能拿到。不会说：[啊！哪有有机的东西？]你都找不到。
像我去某个国家，我记得是吃了一个什么东西，吃完之后嘴上就起泡了。好像是一个桃子，还是一个什么？桃子。我说：[奇怪！这怎么嘴上起了一个泡？]其实吃了半颗桃而已。后来问了周围法师，也都嘴上起了泡。后来问一下为什么，说那个桃不是有机的，喷了多少农药，吃完就长泡了。
所以师父在二十多年前劝一些农友改成有机耕种，然后我们成立了这个慈心、里仁这样一个环环相扣的链条—— 从第一个种子下到土里的时候到端到我们的盘中的菜，都保证它是没有农药污染的。这样一个美丽的循环，让多少人在其中都能够保护土地，然后保护在土地上生活的，幼小的、没有语言、不会呼喊、不会喊冤的那些小生命。我们不要因为我们吃饭而毒死它们，因为它们的生命那么小，一点农药就活不成了！
我们在这个链条中有多少动人的故事，这个事业发展到今天。在这次疫情的这种状态下，我希望大家还要勇敢地撑过去！让我们的广论班、让我们的慈心事业，能够继续地在困境中发展下去。大家如果早一点能够素食，能够意识到土地和河流，不要喷洒那么多农药，也许地球的环境不会像这两年变得这么让人措手不及呀！
我们是否能把吃素的概念、吃有机的概念、保护土壤这样的一个概念，继续地传播给我们的朋友、我们的邻居，甚至我们刚见面的人。因为我们人类要想活在一个相对健康、对自我生命没有伤害的环境中，我们真的先要去保护其他的生命，其他的生命啊！如果无视其他生命的存在，人类会觉得自己在宇宙中独大，以自我为中心，为了吃就拼命地去杀害那些生命，我们岂能安然活着呢？这是一个不争的事实！
在这次的考验面前，希望大家看到这样的现象，能够再次地思考一下：在二十多年前师父带我们去做有机，该是有多么地重要！那个时候我们就开始行动了，一群人！所以现在才有了慈心事业，才有一大批人都认同有机的概念。
像我们里仁出了一款[功夫裤]，就是黑色的那个裤子，纯是有机的。我多年来都把那款裤子送给别人，我通常都是买一箱，然后碰到谁就说：[啊！这是纯有机的裤子，你试试看！]前一段时间我把它送给了一个年轻人，那年轻人比较爱健身，他有各种时尚的运动服，都是运动名牌。我在想：他会喜欢这种有机的裤子吗？因为在造型上它没有那些运动服看起来那么时髦。可是他一穿上，他突然说：[哇，这裤子太舒服了！你还有没有？我要买十条！]我说：[你要穿十条？你一个人要穿十条！]然后他说：[我害怕没了！你还有没有？]我说：[一下子没有那么多了。]他问我多少钱，因为他是一个年轻人，可能是钱比较紧张。
就那款功夫裤，这么多年凡是我送的人，几乎都是回头要，说是太舒服了！虽然在外形上我们没有太多的设计，保持它非常朴素，打坐、拜佛，还有的人喜欢家居的时候，都穿那款有机的裤子。还有一个人说他的腿动不动就有一块痒的，好像皮肤病，一穿其他的裤子就开始痒。所以他上班回来之后一定就会换上功夫裤，一换功夫裤，他腿上那块毛病就慢慢、慢慢地变好了。不知道你们有多少人在穿？我不是给那款裤子作广告，我说的是真的一种感觉，我也是穿那个穿好多年了。
在这样的一个缘起下，我们所有的人应该想一想：我们对于地球的责任、对于环境的责任、对于其他生命的责任、对于家人的责任......。所以应该去宣传吃素的理念，宣传大家能够吃有机的、用有机的，让有机的这个事业千万不要中断，因为它会造福全人类，会让我们的地球不要这样恶化，环境不要这样恶化下去。
所以这是一个多么美好的开始，在这个时候造集善业，试着去改变自我的行为，然后环境也会随之改变。这就是师父在每一次看起来是很挑战、很考验，甚至是很灾难的事情面前，师父常常会给我们的生命找出那一线欣喜和希望—— 那个路就在脚下，只要迈步上前就可以了！
在这个中间，虽然我们研讨班变成线上的了，很多事情可能没法做，可是我们可以支持有机事业，甚至可以买一些有机的蔬果去送给那些吃荤的人，或者还不知道有机的人。这时候还可以布施啊！像我就听说有一个人，这个事情一开始的时候，就买了很多有机的东西去发给他们单位里的人，一般在这时候大家都想要买一些东西放在家里。所以往家里买东西，为什么不给朋友买一点？如果去买东西的话，买有机的不是更好吗？
所以在这个时间，我很希望大家能够努力地造集这样的一分善业，把师父为我们营造的这样的一个环境能够永续地经营下去。因为真的会造福全人类、造福所有的生命！当我们去造福全人类、造福所有生命的时候，我们的生命也会被净化，我们的生命也会被滋养和保护。我们会活在一种满满地感恩其他生命，也被其他生命所感恩的这种良善的心态中。这样不是很美吗？
希望大家多保重！我现在防疫措施做得很好，就是绝不出门。希望很多很多的人不要那么恐慌，在这个时候多造集善业，不要滋长自私自利的心，要去布施—— 布施良善的概念、布施良善的衣物、有机的衣物，还有食品等等。我相信我们这一群人如果一起行动起来，虽然看起来地球那么大，我们这一群人还是很小的，但是星星之火它也可以成为遍地的光明—— 一颗心点燃一颗心，这个世界就会为之照亮！
我们今日能够知道学习《广论》、知道有机、知道吃素，这都源于师父对我们慈悲的教诲。所以我们现在能生活在这种美好中，都是源于师父当初的披荆斩棘！所以要好好地感恩师父，把师父带领我们开创出来终身性的自我学习、自我习惯的改善—— 学习《广论》，学习佛法，还有对这个地球环境的改善，有机、慈心理念这些要薪火相传下去，希望我们一起努力。大家要多保重！
再说一遍：每天勤洗手！勤洗手就是先把手心洗了、把手背洗了，然后十指交叉再洗了，再把大拇指再洗一下，然后再把手腕洗一下。说那个水要在手上冲多少秒，可以每天洗干净一点。总之希望大家多保重，不要有什么事情。大家一定要坚强、要镇定、要造善业！谢谢！