The Power of the Heart《心的力量》英文版

About Author

Dharma Master Cheng Yen was born in 1937 and survived the ravages of the Second World War. Inspired by the insights of Buddhism, she was convinced that she ought to work for the good of humanity. Her vision found powerful resonance in the direction her teacher, Venerable Dharma Master Yin Shun, gave her: “Work for the good of Buddhism and all living beings.”

To carry out her vision, she founded a charity, which later turned into the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, to address the needs of the poor and suffering around her. Now, after decades of Tzu Chi work, serving as a bodhisattva has been recognized as Tzu Chi’s path of spiritual practice. From the humble beginnings of a few cents’ daily donation from a handful of donors and volunteers, Tzu Chi has grown internationally and responded to the needs of a changing time, expanding its mission from charity for the poor to medical care for the sick, then adding education, culture, international relief, bone marrow donation, community volunteerism, and environmental protection for all living beings.

Today, the Master remains as actively engaged in her lifework of Tzu Chi as she has ever been, and continues to inspire her followers—who come from all religions, age groups, and educational backgrounds—to serve as bodhisattvas worldwide.

This book is compiled by the Jing Si Abode English Editorial Team, which is composed of religious disciples of Dharma Master Cheng Yen who reside at her monastery, the Jing Si Abode. The team compiles the Master’s teachings into English, using the logic and structure of the English language, in hopes that teachings presented in such a way can be more understandable to English readers and provide inspiration.

Introduction

In this book, Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s spiritual teachings are compiled into relatively short English articles for reflection and contemplation. The collection is an eclectic one, based on talks to different audiences and from different sources. While they are loosely grouped into separate topics, each occupying one part of the book, the articles may stand on their own.

Part I offers basic teachings on Buddhism, which can serve as a foundation for understanding the Master’s wider teachings. Part II is about cultivation, or ways we can put the teachings into practice to become a better person. Part III introduces Tzu Chi, its spirit, and how Tzu Chi volunteers learn to be bodhisattvas through Tzu Chi work. Part IV shares the practice of repentance in a series of articles which teach us to look inward to find solutions to the many problems that we see in our world and encounter in life.

In giving teachings, the Master guides people to see the real truths and principles in life, and these are universal to all human beings no matter what country they are from, what religion they practice, and what language they speak.

The teachings have been compiled with care to reflect the Master's style of using simple, easy-to-understand language to help people to "understand the spiritual teachings, take them to heart, and be inspired to practice them in their daily lives"—for this is the Master's heartfelt wish.

作者介紹

證嚴上人以其悲天憫人之宗教家胸懷，服膺上印下順導師「為佛教、為眾生」之慈示，秉持「佛法生活化，菩薩人間化」之理念，在「內修誠正信實，外行慈悲喜捨」精神貫徹下，漸次開展「慈善、醫療、教育、人文」以及「國際賑災、骨髓捐贈、環保、社區志工」之「四大志業、八大法印」。事理相融、以淺喻深暢佛本懷，善導大眾心存菩薩大愛，落實佛法於生活中，帶動付出無求同時感恩之風氣，達到「淨化人心、祥和社會、天下無災難」之人間淨土目標。

內容簡介

本書蒐集 證嚴法師的隨緣開示，雖然都是尋常生活中的諄諄教誨，卻都蘊涵著無量的智慧。只要隨著法師的指引，滌心垢、去習氣，自度化他；轉個心念看人生，人生自然無限寬廣。

本書以短文集形式呈現，概分為四大篇章，每個小節也都是獨立的一篇。

目錄

第一章 從修行的角度看人生

發覺自身的佛性

皈依的意涵––反黑歸白

三皈依的精神––誠心、淨心、願心

人與人的緣分

因緣果報觀

佛法為慧命資糧

第二章 修行在日常生活中

轉心念

淨化自己的心

去除習氣

親近善知識

第三章 力行菩薩道

慈濟簡介––慈悲濟世

當一位觀世音菩薩

修四無量心

修戒定慧

悲智雙運

從無量義經中培養善心種子

第四章 改變人生––懺悔的力量

人心污濁世間共業

認識三障

人的欲望

一切唯心造

三障

去除三障

力行

懺悔

發願

大懺悔、小故事

現代經典––現實人生懺悔故事

從釣魚迷到素食的志工

三嵗女孩的懺悔

提起勇氣做對的事

犧牲自己幫助他人

治愈絕症––懺悔及素食