Skip to content Work for Buddha’s Teachings and for All Living Beings
Master Cheng Yen was given this simple instruction by her Master: “Always work for Buddha’s teachings and for all living beings.” Our Master has faithfully dedicated her life to that vocation. She started Tzu Chi from humble beginnings on the 14th May, 1966 in Hualien, Taiwan.
With the conviction that the Dharma is found in daily life, the Master nurtures in people sincerity, integrity, faith, and steadfastness, and the Buddhist values of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and giving. Under her compassionate guidance, Tzu Chi has grown to include countless volunteers worldwide actively working to serve the needy, turning the power of compassion into practical action.
From the Lotus Sutra we understand that there is much suffering in the Saha World (the transient world in which we live). People’s suffering can be physical, mental/emotional, or a combination of both. The Sutra also speaks of the Buddha ceaselessly working to purify living beings’ minds, which are the source of all afflictions and suffering. Hence, the Master believes that the only way to eliminate the suffering of the world is to guide people to direct their minds towards goodness and purity.
In the early days of Tzu Chi, the Master and her Monastic disciples lived an austere lifestyle, faithfully practising the traditional values of self-discipline, frugality, diligence, and perseverance. Despite living in hardship, they were determined to raise funds for their charity work.
Thus each nun made an extra pair of baby shoes daily, and the Master led 30 housewives (her lay disciples) to save 50 NT cents into their bamboo coin banks each day, to kick-start their work of relieving poverty. Today, the “Bamboo Bank Era” is regarded internationally as the origin of the organisation’s humanitarian spirit.
From its humble beginnings in the rural east coast of Taiwan, Tzu Chi’s footprints of Great Love have spread to 128 nations worldwide, and it is now an international NGO with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). The organisation focuses its efforts on its Four Missions of Charity, Medicine, Education, and Humanistic Culture, which have further extended to include Bone Marrow Donation, International Relief, Environmental Protection, and Community Volunteerism.
Volunteer-based and funded by public donations, Tzu Chi is committed to the betterment of humanity in the spirit of Great Love. Its global network of volunteers work directly with people in need, providing care and aid with a selfless love that transcends race, nationality, language, and religion. This has brought about a positive cycle of love and goodness around the world.
In the current era of climate change, with increased frequency of natural disasters, Master Cheng Yen believes that the cause of disasters is rooted in people’s hearts and minds. Hence, she hopes that many more people in the world can uncover and tap into the wellspring of purity within their own hearts. As more wellsprings are tapped into, more water will flow forth. With an abundance of water flowing forth, it would be possible to cleanse the hearts of all around the world.
Tzu Chi transcends the bounds of race, nationality, language, and religion to serve the world through giving and social service. We believe that “when others are hurting, we feel their pain; when others suffer, we feel their sorrow.”
Our “Four Great Missions” are Charity, Medical, Education, and Humanistic Culture. Tzu Chi is also devoted to international disaster relief, bone marrow donation, environmental protection, and community volunteering. Together, these are called the “Eight Global Footprints”.
We believe in educating children to be moral and upright.
We belive in “Passing down examples of goodness and integrity for future generations”.
“We care for people who are suffering in the global village.”
Tzu Chi offers the ability to “Donate your marrow to save a life without harming yourself”.
What better way is there to ease human suffering, than saving a life? Donating bone marrow can do that, with no harm to you. Tzu Chi facilitates the process of finding a genetic match for those who require marrow, by managing a Bone Marrow Donor Registry and encouraging people to join. We also have an umbilical cord blood repository, and support ongoing stem cell research and gene therapy.
We encourage “Practicising environmental protection to live in harmony with Mother Earth”.
Tzu Chi acts on the premise that everyone can protect the environment by the choices we make and our behavior as individuals. We actively promote waste reduction and recycling. We also discourage meat consumption and advocate a healthy diet consisting of more fruits and vegetables. Living a simpler lifestyle and reducing our carbon footprint is crucial towards living in harmony with Mother Earth.
Tzu Chi believes that “By supporting and caring for each other, we make a beautiful community”.
Putting compassion into action is at the heart of Tzu Chi’s mission. We have a global community of volunteers selflessly sharing their time, applying their energy, and offering their individual capacity for the benefit of others. With their sincerity and love, volunteers make all our charity, medical, educational, international relief, and environmental protection programs possible.
How did Tzu Chi start from a charity group of 30 housewives and develop into a global NGO that has brought aid to over 130 countries and regions around the world?
Watch this video to learn more about Tzu Chi’s history, work, value and vision. Get inspired!
Joining Tzu Chi is simple in action and wonderfully satisfying in results. Anyone with a willing heart can volunteer.
You can make a real diffenece in the lives of the needy by giving of your time and/or your donations.
Experience the joy of contributing to a better world.
