Tzu Chi Foundation (慈济基金会)

Tzu Chi Foundation (慈济基金会) is one of the three largest Buddhist organizations in Taiwan. On April 14, 1966 in Huanlien, Taiwan, under the guidance of Master Cheng Yen, a nun, a group of homemakers frugally trimmed 50 cent a day from their daily expenses and saved them in a bamboo saving box. This is thus the beginning of Tzu Chi Mission and it has grown to have approximately 10 million members worldwide today.
Whereas many Buddhist societies focus on personal enlightenment and meditation but Tzu Chi focuses on community service and outreach (especially medical, educational, and disaster relief).
Tzu Chi maintains a small number of nuns, and conducts its mission via an international network of volunteers. The volunteers are easily recognized by their uniforms (navy blue shirt with a ship imposed on a lotus flower as a logo on the left breast; white pants, shoes and socks; and a black belt with the same lotus ship logo as a clasp). Tzu Chi relief workers have been known therefore as "blue angels" for their distinctive uniform.
Tzu Chi has many sub-organizations, of which the Tzu Chi Collegiate Association (慈济大专青年联谊会) being one of the most prominent. With chapters at universities worldwide, Tzu Chi Youth allows the university student to be involved with Tzu Chi's work on both local and international levels.



On January 10, 2009, I have been attended an Annual Blessing Ceremony at Sea View Restaurant Batu Pahat. This is the first time I joining Tzu Chi (慈济) activity. I felt the discipline and cordial of Tzu Chi member that kept singing to welcome us before we entering the hall. Before entering hall, we use our invited "card"



to change a recycle bag.

Inside of the bag got a few things such as:
Bamboo saving box

2 pack of biscuits made from Taiwan

and a lotus flower glass with candle.

Around few hundred people attend to the Annual Blessing Ceremony. After 3 nuns entered the hall, the ceremony starts by showing some pass year activities which done by co-operate of a few country Tzu Chi to save humans which in suffering like earthquake happening in China. Next, the Annual Blessing Ceremony start and we all pass the light to light up the candle from everybody hand and received a blessing card.

I think Tzu Chi done a lot of great jobs in the world!!! Hoping everyone in this world has this kind of spirit to helping people and doesn’t hoping any repay……