By minimizing our desires,
keeping our minds clean and pure,
and striving to benefit others,
we can become spiritually wealthy,
which is true prosperity.
About Author
Dharma Master Cheng Yen was born in 1937 in a small town in Taichung County, Taiwan. When she was twenty-three years old, she left home to become a Buddhist nun, and was instructed by her mentor, Venerable Master Yin Shun, to “work for the good of Buddhism and all living beings.”
In 1966, she founded a charity, which later turned into the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, to “help the poor and educate the rich”—to give material aid to the needy and inspire love and humanity in both givers and recipients.
In recent years, Master Cheng Yen’s contributions have been increasingly recognized by the global community. In 2011, she was recognized with the Roosevelt Institute’s FDR Distinguished Public Service Award and was named to the 2011 TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people.
Introduction
In today’s world, humanity is increasingly facing problems brought about by climate change. Many scientific studies provide evidence of a link between climate change and human activity, and the potential environmental and socio-economic consequences they bring.
The pursuit of materialism and modern day conveniences has resulted in overdevelopment and the depletion of natural resources, which has a serious impact on the environment. In From Austerity to Prosperity, Master Cheng Yen highlights how by curbing extravagance and living a simple life with few desires, we can help protect the environment from further damage as well as maintain a healthy body and mind.
The book offers practical tips and advice on how we can return to a simple and natural lifestyle by simplifying our wants, which helps to cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and conserve resources. Using real life stories, it illustrates how people practice frugality and make environmental protection a priority in life.
The Master also explains how if we minimize our desires, keep our minds clean and pure, and strive to benefit others, we can become spiritually wealthy, which is true prosperity.
Contents
Part One –Avoid Extravagance
Chapter One –A Simple and Natural Lifestyle
Chapter Two – Our Versatile Hands
Chapter Three – Diligence and Frugality
Chapter Four – Simplicity is The Best
Chapter Five – Regain Courtesy through Self- restraint
Part Two – Pure Stream in Vogue
Chapter Six – Starting from the Heart
Chapter Seven –Food: Vegetarianism and Dining Etiquette
Chapter Eight – Clothing: Simple and Plain
Chapter Nine – Shelter: Big Heart or Big House?
Chapter Ten – Transportation: Save Energy and Reduce
Carbon Emissions
Excerpts:
“In our modern society, most people have abundant food and clothing. Some think that since they have money they should use it to enjoy life. However, they are not content even when they own a large mansion decorated extravagantly. How, then, can they ever be happy? Does a house really need to be so luxurious?”
“Happiness does not come from owning lots of material wealth. True wealth is in our heart. If our heart is not content, we cannot be considered rich.
Therefore, rather than pursuing the comforts of a large house, we should broaden our hearts and feel more at ease. Once we change our mindset, we will be able to use our money to benefit others. The most satisfying life is one in which we cultivate good affinities with others and accumulate blessings.”
安定心念,勤儉自持;
提升智慧,踏實付出,回歸清淡平實的生活,
就能過著富有愛心的幸福人生。
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
全球氣候異常,驚世災難頻仍,是我們警醒的時機。證嚴上人提出「清貧生活」以對治奢華風氣,鼓勵人人知足快樂、簡樸節約,希望能匯聚眾人的力量產生善的效應,對大環境造成好的影響。
書中,上人倡導回歸原味自然的生活,如何簡化複雜的生活需求、勤用雙手良能;從力行減碳,乃至食衣住行,如何從少食獲致身心健康、簡單素樸。全書彩頁、圖文並陳,以圖像呈現上人所舉諸多實例,其中不乏小人物卻恆持大願力,迄今仍力行不輟者,或者構築清貧生活的願景。