Most people will agree that it is a joy to be a volunteer. We get a satisfying feeling when doing charitable work. However, to engage in voluntary service once in a while or when you have time is a great joy, because it does not inconvenience you, but when charitable work becomes a regular routine or when it becomes a part of our daily lives, things might be different.
When charitable work becomes routine for us, it is more likely for us to run into problems. When problems arise and things do not run smoothly, it is not easy to be a happy volunteer. To remain a happy volunteer in difficult times is really the ultimate test of our patience. In order to cope with the 'ups and downs' of volunteer work, we need to possess compassion and wisdom. Compassion and wisdom are like the sunlight that nurtures all living things. They keep us full of energy so that we can keep radiating warmth and love.
Someone once asked the Master, "Master, you always work so hard. Don't you feel tired as you always have so much to attend to and so many decisions to make in a single day?" The Master replied, "I'll be lying if I say I don't feel tired. My body definitely gets tired. However, if we do things with a happy and willing heart, it'll be less likely for us to get worn-out. A happy and willing heart is like the sun that brings light into a dark place. Once light enters, darkness will go away." Indeed, as long as we can shoulder responsibilities that come our way with a happy and willing heart, we will not complain that much or blame others when things are not done right. A willing heart fills one with a strong sense of mission, and a happy heart fills one with tireless joy-they provide one with an inexhaustible source of energy and power.
In a dark room, it is impossible to see anything because there is no sunlight, not because the room is empty. In an analogous situation, people who lead a miserable life are not in a hopeless situation: they simply need to open their 'windows' to allow the light to shine into their 'dark room.' Similarly, a happy and joyful person does not feel tired or stressed out even though he is loaded with a lot of responsibilities, because he can always see the light.
But then, where is the 'sunlight'? When does the sun rise? The source of the sunlight is our happy and open mindset. A happy and open mindset is the 'sunlight' that enables us to lead an optimistic and contented life.
A Buddhist believes that "Worry helps us to attain enlightenment." However, very few people are able to appreciate the real meaning of this sentence. A similar expression is "Hardships are like tonics," which we often use to comfort people who are encountering difficulties in their lives. People may argue that since we are not in their situation, it is impossible for us to understand how hard their lives are. However, we must constantly remind ourselves that as long as we keep a happy mindset, we will not find it so hard to combat frustration. If we choose to look on the positive side, darkness will disappear.
In life, it is inevitable for us to experience joy, anger, sadness, anxiety, or worry. We may lose our loved ones or be unable to be close to them. But if we keep focusing on the gloomy side, our lives will be like an overcast sky-the clouds are so thick that sunlight cannot pass through. We need to remind ourselves that everyone's life has its share of ups and downs. "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" If we believe that life is full of hope, then dawn will not be far from us even if we are shrouded in darkness.
A positive mind is like bright sunlight. It helps us go through all difficult situations and overcome turmoil in our lives. Life will be brighter, more full of hope, and easier to go through, with the sun shining.
By David Liu
Translated by Siow Yuen Lan
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