By Wu Jin & Zhang Rui
China.org.cn staff reporter in Wuxi
Nervous and weary, large numbers of people may find themselves mired in suffering caused by the ongoing economic downturn that is pushing numerous companies to the brink of collapse and leaving thousands, or more likely millions, jobless.
Fearing the loss of their jobs, people are in a jittery mood, sensitive to any changes in offices and refraining from any complaints about a growing workload. The worriers who toss and turn in their beds and wake up weary may need time to recover their equilibrium, and here come the words of Master Hsing Yun, a renowned Chinese Buddhist monk, who encourages people to seek harmony in the deep inner emotions of love, reverence, compassion and courage.
This seeming cliché, which might sounds trite to those troubled lives in which debtors keep on begging patience from creditors and employees have to implore the mercy of bosses, is explained as follows:
"From my perspective the economic recession has many causes. But so far as I am concerned, it should be partly attributed to an overabundance of inexperienced masters and doctors who take up too many management-level posts in small factories…" Clad in a khaki gown, Hsing Yun was speaking to media representatives on March 27, a day before the opening ceremony of the Second World Buddhist Forum in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.
"They should be less demanding when seeking new jobs (after being laid-off). Greatness lies in the moments when people provide service to others, so whatever the job is, it should be treated as a sacred office." According to him, nuggets are hidden everywhere in the world, even vendors and shop assistants have the opportunity to garner them.
Born in 1927, the prominent monk and founder of the Buddha's Light International Association grew up in a poverty-stricken family in Jiangsu Province. He was tonsured at the age of 12 and moved to Taiwan on reaching 23. Having experienced ups and downs in a turbulent past, the master's strenuous efforts paid off in Taiwan, where Buddhist beliefs are popular among locals.
