October
13, 2003
Chinese
Version
The artistic hands of Yue-shen
Jiang turned papaya, watermelon, dragon fruit, guava, and
other fruits into 10 colorful combination fruit platters.
With pleasure and gratitude, she presented her fruit platters
to the construction workers at the Tzu Chi Kuantu complex.
This was a five-star feast for them.
Use Your Heart
Master Cheng Yen said, "Be mindful
even if you're just cutting a vegetable." This opened
Jiang's heart to commit her loving kindness and wisdom to
fruit preparation. For her, stuffing a big piece of cut fruit
inside your mouth is not a graceful act and could not reflect
the beauty of Tzu Chi. So, she cut her fruits into bite-size
pieces.
A guava can be cut into eight pieces in
the shape of a bodhi leaf. This is a reflection of the Tzu
Chi Eight Footprints: charity, medicine, education, culture,
international relief, bone marrow donation, community volunteers
and environmental protection. This is a reminder for us to
follow the practice of the bodhisattvas. Papaya, watermelon
and dragon fruit can be cut into the shape of a lotus, which
represents a pure heart. This is the spirit of Tzu Chi members:
to give without asking for anything in return.
Sweetening Your Heart
Jiang,
53, became a Tzu Chi member in 1996 and a commissioner in
2002. According to her, gentleness and patience are always
inside your heart. "Just try your best and put your heart
in whatever you're doing.You can then do it right." Jiang
does not just say that, but proves it by her own personal
example as well.
Choosing fruit is not an easy task. On a
hot day, Jiang prefers to prepare juicy fruits because they're
watery enough to quench the thirst. A beautifully presented
fruit platter increases the appetite and stimulates a feeling
of joy. She would rather worry about whether there is enough
fruit than think that people are eating too much.
Jiang never learned sculpture. She
became a professional fruit carver by using her heart and
being mindful. Tzu Chi members always look beautiful and simple
in such a way. This is just like fruit: it sweetens other
people's hearts.
