Don’t let a narrow mindset hinder the journey of good deeds

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Yicheng · Jan 17, 2025
On the journey of advancing public welfare, we often encounter the criticism: “Your charity seems too religious.” This is a classic example of a narrow perspective—one that is influenced by bias, limitations, or even misunderstanding, and fails to truly consider the viewpoint of those involved in charitable efforts. To better explain our original intentions, it […]

On the journey of advancing public welfare, we often encounter the criticism: “Your charity seems too religious.” This is a classic example of a narrow perspective—one that is influenced by bias, limitations, or even misunderstanding, and fails to truly consider the viewpoint of those involved in charitable efforts. To better explain our original intentions, it is necessary to offer a clarification, and we hope that every reader can approach the journey of kindness with a broader perspective.

I. The essence of Yicheng welfare

Our commitment has been clear from the beginning. That is to pursue welfare and happiness for everyone, and to promote civilization for the world.

Since day one, our cause has been grounded in this belief. What’s truly thought-provoking, however, is that over the years, all of our funding and support have come, without exception, from the strength of people with religious faiths or spiritual beliefs—those who are committed to turning their faith, love, and kindness into tangible actions. Through their sincerity and dedication, they have helped advance our mission, spreading happiness and promoting civilization.

Unfortunately, up until now, we have not received support from those identified as “civilized individuals” or “non-believers.” In fact, this type of support has been absent.

II. Why does kindness require the basis of faith?

The path of kindness is never a smooth one. It requires unwavering belief, inner strength, and selfless dedication—qualities that faith provides. Kindness without the support of faith often lacks lasting motivation and struggles to endure the pressures and challenges of reality.

The supporters of our organization are willing to persist in doing good in this complex world precisely because of their deep faith. They understand that charity is not an easy task and may even involve sacrifice, yet they are still willing to shoulder this responsibility.

Here we would like to share a story.

A painter was interviewed by a host. The host candidly told him, “I don’t like your paintings at all, and I don’t think you’re a good artist.”

The painter smiled calmly and replied, “You’re right, and that’s exactly why I need to keep striving.”

This story teaches us that when faced with external doubt and misunderstanding, the important thing is not to argue, but to stay loyal to our beliefs and respond through actions. Our cause, much like the painter’s work, may not be understood by everyone, but that will not stop us from pursuing happiness and civilization. The voices of doubt will not hold us back; instead, they serve as a source of motivation for us to keep striving and improving.

III. Don’t judge our world through your narrow perspective

On the path of charity, we sometimes have to face not just challenges but also external misunderstanding and even hostile criticism. Some people try to use their own experiences, perspectives, and logic to make sense of our world and social issues, but such reasoning often lacks validity.

The reality of kindness is far more complex than they imagine. In some places, working to benefit society can come with the constant threat of losing one’s life. This isn’t an exaggeration. It’s the harsh reality many people involved in public welfare face. So, trying to understand the essence of charity through personal logic, without considering the deep faith and sense of mission behind it, only leads to distorted conclusions.

IV. Let kindness overcome the constraints of a limited view

In the face of these misunderstandings, we will not give up or back down. We believe that true kindness is not limited by narrow personal views, but is a force that can break through prejudice and cross boundaries.

Charity initiatives require not only the support of people of faiths and beliefs but also the understanding and participation of everyone. Each person has the choice to approach charity with an open mind, rather than criticizing and rejecting it with a narrow perspective.

No matter how the outside world evaluates us, we will continue to rely on the strength of our faith to stay true to the path of doing good. Just like the painter’s calm response to the host, doubt will only drive us to work harder, not retreat.

The meaning of public welfare lies in seeking happiness for all and civilization for the world. Through our actions, we hope to inspire more people to recognize and practice kindness, regardless of their faith, because kindness should be a universal value that transcends all boundaries.

Conclusion

Don’t allow personal narrow views to hinder kindness, and never let bias and misunderstanding diminish the efforts of those who contribute to public welfare. The world needs more understanding, support, and faith to unite in driving the progress of human happiness and civilization.

We are still on the journey, even though the road is fraught with challenges. Our belief remains unchanged: to seek welfare for all and civilization for the world. We firmly believe that true kindness is a light that is unafraid of doubt and sacrifice, one that will penetrate all narrowness and illuminate the entire world.

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修行,就是不斷的培養善,深入善

Daohe · Oct 28, 2024

許多人認為,修行是尋求內心平靜、智慧與覺悟的過程。在這個過程中,善是基本的要求。然而,很多人對善還存在著根本的誤解。善不是單一的行為,而是一種自內而外的深刻信念,是我們內心對他人和世界無條件的愛。這份愛讓我們不斷擴展與深入善,讓善行成為生活中自然的流露與表達。 善的源頭:內心的愛 很多人對善的理解停留在表面,導致認知和行動的誤區。有些人認為的善是一種示弱,還有些人認為只要不傷害別人,就是一種善。這些都是對善的錯誤定義。真正的善來自內心對他人、對世界的無條件的關愛與祝福。如果缺少這份愛,善往往只是一種自保行為,也可能是為了融入社會、迎合環境的表面努力,只是一種偽善。只有當我們發自內心去關愛和祝福世界中的每一個生命,善才會成為一種發自本能的舉動,並超越了外界的認可與回報。這種善是一種靈魂深處的力量,是對生命的尊重與呵護,是對世界的真誠關懷。這種善可以讓人在複雜的情境中保持純粹,穿透自私和偏見的層層障礙,而不會迷失,能讓人堅定地面對世間的邪惡與冷漠。 長養善根:善的層次與成長 佛教常言“長養善根”,意指善良如種子一般,需要不斷地探索、發展、擴大與深化。善並非固定的狀態,它就像是一株小苗,需要不斷的關注、反思與行動的滋養。當一個人能夠擴大自己原先的善,就會看到善是有層次的,如同剝一個洋蔥,有些善行只停留於表面,往下剝竟然是惡,而有些善行從發心到行為都是出自純粹的善意與愛。從某種意義上說,修行的過程也是不斷長養善根的過程。每一次善念的出現,每一次善行的實踐,都是在為我們的善根提供養分,讓它日漸深厚、枝繁葉茂。 信仰與內在力量 在行善的過程中,這需要我們不斷地反思善的內涵,同時深入理解善的複雜性,理解善並非固定的概念,而是因時而定,因人而異。我們需要藉助信仰的力量,使善行不再是偶爾的努力,而是成為我們生命本質的一部分。信仰幫助我們理解善的真實意義,使得以打破自身的局限,超越自私與惰性,走向一個更廣闊的世界。 每當我們在修行中發現更高層次的善,看到更大範圍的利他方式,就等於在心中開闢了一條新的道路。在這個過程中,我們的視野逐漸拓寬,看待世界的善與惡更加清晰,真正做到明了是非,才能做出正確的行動。這樣的善並非局限於個人利益,而是對他人和整個世界的積極關懷。通過修行,我們在點滴的反思和行動中實現了善良的昇華,也將在善行中真正做到有效關愛他人,推動社會的進步。

Spiritual Practice is the Continuous Cultivation and Deepening of Goodness

Daohe · Oct 28, 2024

Spiritual practice is often seen as a path to inner peace, wisdom, and enlightenment, with goodness as a core principle. But goodness is often misinterpreted—it isn’t merely a single gesture, but a profound inner belief grounded in unconditional love for others and for the world. This love helps us expand and get deeper into goodness, […]

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