A true story when Tzu Chi group is still small and only consist of few members: There is a thief among the group. He was caught several times from stealing but he never stop his bad habit for stealing. All of the other members are angry and pleaded the leader of the group, Master Cheng Yen, to kick him out. "If I have to kick someone out, I won't kick the thief out, but then I have to kick you" Master Cheng Yen replied to the other member. All of the members were puzzled and asked Master Cheng Yen why. "If you are out from this group, you still can survive. But If the thief is out from this group, the community would reject him as a thief, and he won't survive. Therefore we cant kick him out, we cant let him die." Master answered. The thief was so touched and he vowed himself not to steal again.

Prologue

....I just know Tzu Chi myself short time ago, but this foundation really amazed me. I have seen some of Tzu Chi activities in my local area and truly admired it.

The purpose of this site is just to introduce Tzu Chi to people and to let them know the exist of the foundation.

please take your time to read these very shortened information, thank you ^_^

Introduction to Tzu Chi

...At the age of 63, Master Cheng Yen has been cultivating herself for over 30 years in Taiwan.

She weighs barely 90 pounds and due to her heart condition, she can't risk to travel by plane or boat, and thus has never left taiwan.

But her eyes are as clear as the cloudless sky.

Tzu Chi Foundation, which began with only 30 members and has grown to over 4 millions today, has been helping the poor and teaching the rich since 1966.

Tzu Chi members observe the Master's teachings, follow her steps, and diligently carry out the four Tzu Chi missions - charity, medicine, education and culture.

The activities of Tzu Chi members have spread far beyond Taiwan, Asia, Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa.

How has Master Cheng Yen herself lead the Tzu Chi Foundation and 4 million members throughout the world this far?

The History Line

Wang Chin Yun, now known as Master Cheng Yen was born on May 14 1937 in Taiwan. Her father died when she was about 23 years old. In her depression, Master then devoted to be a nun.

Master then wandered and settled in a tiny-brokendown temple with another nun, master Hsiu Tao.

Their life is very poor and primitive. They passed their days in hardship, with barely enough shelter to hide from wind and rain and barely enough to eat to fill their stomachs.

However, she held firm her decision not to accept donation from local people. Their rule was, "If you don't work, you don't eat."

They farmed vegetables, knitted sweaters, sewed concrete sacks into small bags to hold animal feed, and sewed baby shoes.

One day in 1966, Master saw a pool of blood on the floor in a hospital. Surprised, she asked what happened.

Someone told her that a woman living on a mountain had a miscarriage. Her family carried her to hospital for help but they don't have enough money, so the family had to take her back home.

Master was very upset and she firmly decided to establish a charity foundation to help the poor and educate the rich.

Master began her very first work by asking each of her 30 followers, mainly housewives to collect 50 cents each day (US$0.02) and to donate them to the poor.

The motto of '50 cents also can save people' word quickly get around every market in the area.

More and more people participated and the program gathered strength.

On March 1966, Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation was formally established.

Tzu Chi now numbers 4 millions. Rich and poor volunteers donate their energy, money, and heart to help others.

There is one saying in Tzu Chi: 'It doesn't matter how much you are distributing, 1 dollar or 1 thousand dollars, but the most important is you are willing to help others.'

In the past 3 decades, Tzu Chi has helped more than one million people around the world and has distributed over US$68 millions.

Tzu Chi Activities

As far as I know, some of Tzu Chi Activities throughout the world are listed below:

• Building hospitals and medical centres for free
• Building education and cultural centre
• Collecting money for poor people
• Visiting sick or elderly people in nursing homes
• Cleaning environment, beaches, lakes, etc
• Visiting disaster area and comforting suffering people
• Helping other people whenever and whereever they can

Achievement

Everytime there is a disaster, Tzu Chi is always one of the very first charity organisation that come to the disaster area.

Some of the recent activities are listed below: