Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

Question: You carry such a heavy burden on your back. Do you ever feel tired?

Dharma Master Cheng Yen replied:
There is only one kind of person who does not feel tired: those that enjoy the work they do. Tzu Chi's missions are what I enjoy the most so I don't get tired from them. However, this isn’t to say that I don't get tired physically. My body can get tired, but the joy from doing the work evaporates all tiredness.

I come to this world to serve others and not myself. Because I live to serve others, my work does not feel like a burden, and it is not tiring to me.

I also do not have the burden of suffering from gains and losses like many people. This allows me to feel at ease and commit more readily to any tasks.

Source: Master Cheng Yen’s Daily Journal – 1991 Volume
Translated by Andy Liaw, Edited by Jenner Yeh, Meiping Yang