Caring
Protecting
Respecting lives-
As simple as paying attention to the ants by our feet and
As considerable as saving individuals, cities, and countries in danger
Compassion stems
From bravery and selflessness
From a single kind thought
These stories
Touch us
Encourage us
To live
Wholeheartedly
To treat others well
We may even feel inspired to look around us
Who can I help?
What can I put forth?
And like this
Our negative moods no longer weigh us down
When we place our energies into supporting other lives
Suddenly we forget ourselves
And the troubles that so occupied our minds
Touched, our eyes brighten
Kind thoughts arise
Life becomes so beautiful
As do others
Lovable and dignified
After learning of these stories
The world within our eyes also changes
Words
Illustrating touching stories
Or illustrating the heart?
The heart:
Colourful, lively, gentle, noble, dignified
The gentle heart
Is like a soft canvas and its
Colours
The heart is a masterful artist,
Painting all of the world.
Colourful stories
Bringing warmth to people’s hearts
Hearts
Bringing warmth to the world
And us-
We are wielding the colours
Creating thousands of beautiful scenes
In our lives
Helping ourselves, helping others
Bringing warmth to ourselves, bringing warmth to others
Wield them well-
Wonder!
Caring
Protecting
Respecting lives-
As simple as paying attention to
the ants by our feet and
As considerable as saving
individuals, cities, and countries
in danger
Compassion stems
From bravery and selflessness
From a single kind thought
These stories
Touch us
Encourage us
To live
Wholeheartedly
To treat others well
We may even feel inspired to look
around us
Who can I help?
What can I put forth?
And like this
Our negative moods
no longer
weigh us down
When we place our energies into
supporting other lives
Suddenly
we forget ourselves
And the troubles
that so occupied
our minds
Touched, our eyes brighten
Kind thoughts arise
Life becomes so beautiful
As do others
Lovable and dignified
After learning of these stories
The world within our eyes
also changes
Words
Illustrating touching stories
Or illustrating the heart?
The heart:
Colourful, lively, gentle,
noble, dignified
The gentle heart
Is like a soft canvas and its
Colours
The heart is a masterful artist,
Painting all of the world.
Colourful stories
Bringing warmth
to people’s hearts
Hearts
Bringing warmth
to the world
And us-
We are wielding the colours
Creating thousands
of beautiful scenes
In our lives
Helping ourselves, helping others
Bringing warmth to ourselves,
bringing warmth to others
Wield them well-
Wonder!
The Story Behind Our World
From the Editors
In the winter of 2012, vast stretches of ice around the world began disappearing due to the effects of global warming. Without floating ice as a safe breeding ground, many mother seals had to give birth to their pups on the seashore, despite the risk of predators on land. On the coast of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, where we live, we encountered one of these baby seals and witnessed its life hanging in the balance as its mother, its only protector from coyotes lurking and howling in the woods nearby, had to leave in search of food.
That was when George, a kind Islander, came to the seal pup's rescue, together with the help of a few monks at the GEBIS monastery, who at the time were still new to PEI and adjusting to the Island's cold winter themselves. For nearly a month that followed, they stood guard over the baby seal 24 hours a day, through freezing wind, brutal snowstorms, and endless nights, until eventually the pup was ready to enter the sea.
The story is one filled with love, wisdom, and courage. In the eyes of our spiritual teacher Zhen-Ru, a good deed, no matter how small or fleeting, is always something to be cherished deeply—not to mention a marathon of kindness like this one, which put one's body, mind, and heart all to the test as the days and hours passed with seemingly no end in sight.
Ever since Zhen-Ru was a child, she has had a tender heart for all living creatures. Whenever she saw animals in danger or people in need, she would go out of her way to help them, doing everything in her power to alleviate their troubles. For years now, she has advocated for the protection of and compassion for all living beings. Through the monastery, the community of laypeople, and her work both locally and abroad, she hopes to spread the spirit and stories of kindness for all to enjoy.
With her encouragement, her friend Pengfei Zhao, an artist, created 12 oil paintings to capture the scenes of guarding and caring for the baby seal. Together with the story itself, they comprise Bliss and Wisdom Publishing Co.'s first illustrated story book–Our World: Protecting the Baby Seal.
Delighted to see the completion of the book, Zhen-Ru composed a short preface for it titled “Compassion”. The story in fact moved her so much that she also went on to write a poem by the same title as the book, “Our World”, in her personal collection of writings, Lotus Recollections. We hope that in the future, there will be more and more books just like this one, to warm our hearts with stories from all over the world of people's kindness toward other living beings. Above all, we pray for all living beings to have peace and happiness, and to thrive harmoniously in this beautiful world that we share—our world.
The Story Behind Our World
From the Editors
In the winter of 2012, vast stretches of ice around the world began disappearing due to the effects of global warming. Without floating ice as a safe breeding ground, many mother seals had to give birth to their pups on the seashore, despite the risk of predators on land. On the coast of Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, where we live, we encountered one of these baby seals and witnessed its life hanging in the balance as its mother, its only protector from coyotes lurking and howling in the woods nearby, had to leave in search of food.
That was when George, a kind Islander, came to the seal pup's rescue, together with the help of a few monks at the GEBIS monastery, who at the time were still new to PEI and adjusting to the Island's cold winter themselves. For nearly a month that followed, they stood guard over the baby seal 24 hours a day, through freezing wind, brutal snowstorms, and endless nights, until eventually the pup was ready to enter the sea.
The story is one filled with love, wisdom, and courage. In the eyes of our spiritual teacher Zhen-Ru, a good deed, no matter how small or fleeting, is always something to be cherished deeply—not to mention a marathon of kindness like this one, which put one's body, mind, and heart all to the test as the days and hours passed with seemingly no end in sight.
Ever since Zhen-Ru was a child, she has had a tender heart for all living creatures. Whenever she saw animals in danger or people in need, she would go out of her way to help them, doing everything in her power to alleviate their troubles. For years now, she has advocated for the protection of and compassion for all living beings. Through the monastery, the community of laypeople, and her work both locally and abroad, she hopes to spread the spirit and stories of kindness for all to enjoy.
With her encouragement, her friend Pengfei Zhao, an artist, created 12 oil paintings to capture the scenes of guarding and caring for the baby seal. Together with the story itself, they comprise Bliss and Wisdom Publishing Co.'s first illustrated story book–Our World: Protecting the Baby Seal.
Delighted to see the completion of the book, Zhen-Ru composed a short preface for it titled“Compassion”. The story in fact moved her so much that she also went on to write a poem by the same title as the book, “Our World”, in her personal collection of writings, Lotus Recollections. We hope that in the future, there will be more and more books just like this one, to warm our hearts with stories from all over the world of people's kindness toward other living beings. Above all, we pray for all living beings to have peace and happiness, and to thrive harmoniously in this beautiful world that we share—our world.
Translated by Amrita Translation Foundation
Author: Zhen-Ru
Translator: Kacy Lin
Chief Editor: Ven. Alick
Editors: Ven. Yvonne, Ven. Sabrina, Ven. Joanna, Ven. Elena, Ven. Sonia, Ven. Tina, Jingli Wang
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