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In late winter Toronto, the snow still lingered, but a warm, humanistic spirit flowed through the school campus. On March 15, 2026, the Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto held its annual spiritual education event: the Jing Si Aphorisms Storytelling and Speech Contest and the Jing Si Aphorisms Recitation Contest. This event was not only an assessment of language skills but also a testament to the growth of students from all classes who have internalized and applied Jing Si Aphorisms in their daily lives.
The event took place in the school office. Considering the venue and schedule, volunteers organized the contest into four carefully planned sessions. At the beginning of the event, Shu-Chen Huang, the principal of the Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto, gave a detailed explanation of the rules and scoring criteria to all teachers, students, and volunteers.
Rigorous Rules and Teacher Guidance Cultivate Confidence and Composure
In her opening remarks, Principal Huang first introduced the special guests: Deputy Director Tsai-Feng Hsu of the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, and the three distinguished judges for the contest: Mei-Chun Liu, former principal of the Tzu Chi Academy, Toronto; Shan-Mei Shih, President of the Eastern Canada Chinese Schools Association; and Su-Wen Chang, former principal of the Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto.
Principal Huang expressed her gratitude to the judges for taking time out of their busy schedules to guide the children’s growth with their extensive educational experience. She then introduced Hsiu-Ping Lin, the Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, as the timekeeper for the day and reminded the contestants to speak directly into the microphone to ensure their voices were clear.
She warmly encouraged the children, explaining that the most important skill is to “settle the mind” and express the Jing Si Aphorism stories and insights they have learned. Principal Huang also clearly stated that time limits were part of the scoring: the speech contest was limited to two minutes and thirty seconds per person, and the timekeeper would hold up a sign to signal the end when the time was reached.
The recitation contest for the preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade groups was set at one to two minutes. Contestants had to conclude after two minutes, whether they had finished or not, to ensure the competition’s fairness and smooth flow. Principal Huang emphasized that the most beautiful part of education is seeing children bravely overcome their fears, transforming from their initial awkwardness and nervousness into confident speakers on stage, and she hoped that the seeds of wisdom would take root in their hearts.
Creative Interpretations Showcase Wisdom Gained from Life
As the competition began, students took the stage one by one, interpreting Master Cheng Yen’s wise teachings—Jing Si Aphorisms—in diverse and creative ways. Yu-Shan Luo from the ninth-grade Sincerity Class broke the mold of a traditional speech. She started by singing the pop song “Love You,” cleverly referencing the lyric “Don’t wait if you like it” to vividly explain the Jing Si Aphorism about “seizing the present moment” to give love and kindness in a timely manner.
She shared that love and good deeds, like the spirit of the song, should not be met with hesitation but expressed and practiced with courage.
Cheng-Chih Li from the eighth-grade Sincerity Class displayed a maturity beyond his years, sincerely sharing his journey from “striving for perfection” to “having the courage to admit mistakes.” He confessed that he used to feel anxious on stage due to his perfectionism. However, after observing classmates who often made excuses and were unwilling to reflect on their errors, he deeply understood the power of the Jing Si Aphorism, “One should not fear making mistakes, but fear not correcting them. Correcting mistakes is not difficult.” He believes that true progress and self-improvement come only from facing one’s mistakes and working hard to correct them.
The fragrance of wisdom continued to spread across campus as students connected these teachings to real-life experiences. Chung-En Chiu from the seventh-grade Sincerity Class shared, “When doing good, do not leave me out; when doing wrong, do not include me.” He said that everyone’s actions can influence others, giving examples like actively helping an elderly person with mobility issues or picking up trash on the street instead of waiting for someone else to act.
He also reminded everyone that if each person thinks, “One more person doing wrong doesn’t matter,” the world will descend into chaos. Jui Wang from the sixth-grade Sincerity Class shared the Jing Si Aphorism, “A person’s happiness comes not from how much they have, but from how little they fret over.” He told a story about a classmate who didn’t complain about his family’s simple electric car because it was filled with his parents’ love. He also reflected on a time he scored 94 on a test and was initially happy, but his joy vanished when he saw his deskmate scored 99, leading to comparison and discontent. This helped him realize the happiness that comes from contentment and not comparing.
Fifth-grade Sincerity Class student Li-ya Chao also approached the topic with wisdom, telling a story about “getting angry is punishing yourself with others’ mistakes.” She described a young man who put a stone in a bag every time he got angry. As the stones increased—three on the first day, five on the second, ten on the third—the soreness in his shoulder made him understand the weight of resentment. He came to realize that only by letting go could life become lighter.
Following her, Ling-Hsuan Chao from the fourth-grade Sincerity Class shared his experience with “One should not fear making mistakes, but fear not correcting them. Correcting mistakes is not difficult.” He honestly recounted how, while walking his dog, he accidentally let his beloved pet ruin the flowers his mother had just planted. Although he was afraid of being scolded, he ultimately chose to bravely confess and apologize. This honesty and determination to correct his mistake earned him warm applause.
The transmission of wisdom also extended to encouraging life and spreading love. Yueh-Peng Chao from the third-grade Sincerity Class vividly told the story of a little sparrow who once felt inferior because of its small size. However, in the process of rescuing an injured companion during a storm, the sparrow deeply understood that “one should not underestimate oneself, for everyone has unlimited potential.”
Bradly Chen from the third-grade Justice Class used a beautiful metaphor to describe “speaking kind words and doing good deeds.” He believes that kind words are like the winter sun, and good deeds are like seeds of hope. Through his actions at school—encouraging classmates with “You’re amazing” or comforting them with “I’m here with you”—he demonstrated that these are the most beautiful ways to spread love.
Pure Hearts Spread Kindness; Humanistic Roots Seen in Recitation
Bo-Jui Lin from the second-grade Sincerity Class shared a reflection on happiness. Through the story of a person who was always troubled by comparing his new boat, new car, and new house with others, he vividly illustrated that happiness comes not from having more but from wanting less.
Dan-Tong Lee from the second-grade Justice Class focused on “filial piety,” emphasizing that it is the foremost of all virtues. She specified that being filial means bringing joy and peace of mind to parents, which includes heeding their guidance, proactively helping with household chores, taking responsibility for schoolwork, and speaking to parents with a gentle and pleasant attitude.
In the recitation contest, younger students also performed wonderfully. Yu-Ning Luo of the first-grade Sincerity Class recited with genuine emotion, “The more you do, the more you gain; the less you do, the more you lose,” and “Speaking softly and gently is a form of beauty.” She also emphasized, “There are two things in the world that cannot wait: one is filial piety, and the other is doing good deeds.”
The preschool group was a highlight of the event. Ting-Yu Lin from the kindergarten Sincerity Class recited in a tender voice, “Talk less, do more,” “Speak with an open heart,” “Eat until 80% full, and use the other 20% to help others,” along with wisdom about environmental protection. Cheng-An Lee from the preschool Sincerity Class, using lively gestures, recited “The sun is great, and so is parental love,” “Love mountains and rivers; cherish the Earth’s resources,” and “Speak kind words, have good intentions, do good deeds, and walk the right path.” Their pure spirits brought smiles of gratification to all teachers and volunteers present.
Judges’ Feedback Offers Deep Insight, Witnessing Growth and Sowing Seeds of Goodness
In addition to the students’ wonderful performances, the advice from the judges elevated the event’s significance. In her remarks, Tsai-Feng Hsu, Deputy Director of the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, highly praised the performance of the teachers and students. She noted that learning Chinese through diverse and interesting methods like singing and storytelling enables students to practice and use the language in their daily lives. She also advised the children to speak louder and express themselves calmly during their speeches.
Shan-Mei Shih, President of the Eastern Canada Chinese Schools Association, praised the children in her commentary, saying they were “truly amazing,” and offered many practical advice from a professional standpoint. President Shih pointed out that successful speaking requires attention to “volume and pacing” —voices should be clear and strong, and students should practice controlling their pace to avoid rushing due to nervousness.
She also highlighted “intonation and rhythm.” She described public speaking as being like “acting,” requiring emotional fluctuations to make the performance engaging. She particularly stressed the importance of “appearance and respect,” noting that some children had even dressed up for the occasion. This neat and clean attire not only displays confidence but also shows respect for the judges, the principal, the school, and the audience.
She also reminded the children to thank their teachers after finishing, practicing politeness, and encouraged them to share these teachings with family members at home.
Mei-Chun Liu, former principal of the Tzu Chi Academy of Toronto, encouraged the children to view competitions as challenges, noting that practice leads to improvement. She especially commended Yu-Shan Luo for her composed singing performance and reminded students that the greatest reward belongs to themselves—encouraging them to affirm, “I am the best.”
Former principal Su-Wen Chang shared three speaking tips: “smile” to ease nervousness, “go slower” to articulate clearly, and “practice in front of a mirror” to improve posture. She profoundly reminded everyone that Jing Si Aphorisms are not just for recitation, but more importantly, for “practice.” Your own story is the best story to tell.
At the end of each session, Principal Huang announced the winners. To commemorate this precious moment of growth, all winning students took a group photo with the three judges, Principal Huang, Deputy Director of Academic Affairs Hsiu-Ping Lin, and their teachers. The Tzu Chi Academy, North Toronto will continue to cultivate education, allowing the seeds of Jing Si Aphorisms to take root in the hearts of overseas students, blossoming into the most splendid flowers of humanistic culture.