愛在行動上，愛在言語中，做就對了！曾有人不解，為什麼在人間苦難的角落，總會發現到慈濟志工「甘願做，歡喜受」的慈悲身影？為什麼在每一雙悲情的眼眸中，總會映現出慈濟志工溫情撫慰的面容？
其實，要尋找答案並不難，因為在每一位志工的心中，都秉持著上人的勉勵：「愛在行動上，愛在言語中，做就對了！」所以他們堅持付出，心無所求，只要是需要愛的地方，就是他們勇往直前的方向。
這些志工菩薩的背景各不相同，除了來自社會上士、農、工、商各階層的愛心人士，還有慈濟四大志業的同仁，他們幾乎踏遍了每一處缺愛的所在，不論是窮鄉僻壤，甚至和海外慈濟人一起遍灑菩提、廣植福田。
證嚴上人說：「人的生命，要永遠保持像春天一樣，不斷湧出生命力，不斷發揮良能，才是真正活著的人生！」這一群發心行善的志工，為人間帶來了和煦春天，讓愁困的心靈得到了慰藉。他們把對人群的付出，視為開展生命價值和創造生命意義的機會，並且堅持永遠地做下去。志工們在付出之餘，自己也得到了心靈的啟發，有的因此改變原本暴躁的脾氣；也有環保志工在全心投入志業以後，發現頸部的腫瘤已在不知不覺中消失了，才知道原來發心行善的力量這麼大。
每天清晨，透過衛星連線，花蓮與大林慈院的醫護同仁，以及來自各地的志工們，都會與證嚴上人進行「志工早會」。藉由立即的連線、當下的交流，分享彼此照顧個案的心得；同時，也向上人報告處理的狀況。
「福從做中得歡喜，慧從善解得自在。」證嚴上人的這句話道盡志工菩薩的心情。在慈濟醫院裡，隨處可見到許多真情故事，這些故事藉由「志工早會」而傳頌，從中我們見到了人性真情的流露與感動。
志工的關懷，猶如一張編織細密的網，用愛將整個地球包圍，使慈悲大愛的滋潤能深入各個階層與心靈。志工們所提出的個案，呈現人世間的悲、喜、苦、樂，讓我們看見眾生相，更看見志工們在付出過程中慧命的自我成長。
本書內容選自英譯本《志工人生》的精華，現以中、英對照的形式，將人間菩提種子撒播至國際，期待此書能影響人與人之間的關係，激勵出惻隱之心，更重新認識生命、調整生活，讓心靈有所成長。
Preface
Extend love through actions and words. When you know what is right, just do it.
Why, in places of suffering around the world, can one always see Tzu Chi volunteers dedicating themselves so willingly and so happily to caring for people in their hardships? Why, at the side of people in suffering, is there always a Tzu Chi volunteer to give comfort and support?
In fact, the answer is not difficult to find. It is because every Tzu Chi volunteer keeps in mind these words of Master Cheng Yen: "Extend love through actions and words. When you know what is right, just do it." Bearing this message in mind, Tzu Chi volunteers persist in helping others, without asking for anything in return. Wherever there are people in need of loving care, our volunteers will resolutely tread ahead, without turning back.
Tzu Chi volunteers come from all walks of society and varied backgrounds. What they share in common is the Great Love in their heart. Together with the staff of Tzu Chi's Four Missions, they set foot in any place that is in need of loving care, be they backward, out-of-the-way places. They even go to foreign countries and work together with local Tzu Chi volunteers to spread the seeds of Great Love and cultivate fields of blessing in every corner of the world.
Master Cheng Yen says, "Our life should be like the springtime, which is full of potential and vitality. Only when we make the best of our life and of our abilities can we be considered to be truly living." This group of Tzu Chi volunteers, who dedicate themselves to doing good in the world, has indeed brought spring to this mundane world. To those in grief and hardship, they are a comfort and refuge, a shoulder to lean on in times of difficulty.
Tzu Chi volunteers consider the act of serving others an opportunity to live out the true value of life and to create a meaningful life for themselves. In fact, they vow to continue serving others until their very last days. As the volunteers dedicate themselves to others, they gain much spiritual inspiration. Some found that they were not so short-tempered anymore. One recycling volunteer, after participating wholeheartedly in recycling work for some time, discovered that a tumor in his neck had disappeared. Only then did he realize how powerful are good intentions and doing good deeds.
Every morning, a videoconference is held with Master Cheng Yen. In attendance are volunteers from around Taiwan from Tzu Chi's hospitals in Hualien and Dalin, as well as various medical personnel. They share their thoughts and experiences with each other and also update Master Cheng Yen on the conditions of the patients and Tzu Chi's care recipients.
"Blessing is about the joy from giving, and wisdom is about the inner peace gained from shifting one's perspective." These words by Master Cheng Yen fully encapsulate the experience of Tzu Chi volunteers. In Tzu Chi hospitals, touching events are happening every day. These stories are recounted by volunteers every morning in the volunteers' daily assembly. From these stories, we see instances of true human warmth and feeling, which profoundly touch the heart.
The care of the Tzu Chi volunteers is like a tightly woven web that embraces the entire globe, so that the spirit of Great Love can nurture and enter the hearts of people from all walks of life. The stories recounted by the volunteers open our eyes to the sorrows, joys, suffering, and happiness that life holds. By sharing these stories, people have an opportunity to hear the different life stories of others and also witness the development of the volunteers' wisdom as they serve others.
This book contains a selection of touching recounts from the English edition of Volunteer's Diary. So that people may be inspired by these stories of wisdom and pure love. It is our deepest hope that this book will have a positive impact on the relationships between people and awaken people's empathy for others. We hope it may lead people to look at their lives from a new perspective and with this new understanding of what life is about, to make changes in their life so that they are able to experience greater spiritual growth and fulfillment.
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