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Carrying the Grocery Basket of
the World
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| (Translated by Mike Lee, Northern
CA) |
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Before she became a
nun, Master Cheng Yen heard the head dharma master at a certain
monastery say, "The woman who is able to carry a grocery
basket is the most blessed!" [Translator's note: this is
a metaphor for accepting the role of housewife.] Reflecting on
this topic, Master Cheng Yen re-evaluated the course of her own
life, as well as the question of how to gain blessings in life.
Finally, she worked out the notion of "carrying the grocery
basket of the world." The Master said, "A woman should
not only be capable of making contributions to one single family
and carrying her family's grocery basket. A woman should also
be able to take up social responsibilities like a man, to extend
her love for her family to all society, and to universally love
all living beings in the world. 'Carrying the grocery basket of
the world' should be considered a unique blessing."
"Carrying the grocery basket of the world"
is indeed a phrase that the Master uses to encourage everyone
to forsake petty personal love, to exercise universal Great Love,
and to take on social responsibilities.
