慈濟慈善基金會

"For Buddha’s teachings, for all sentient beings" – these words, given by her teacher Master Yin Shun, became the lifelong mission of Master Cheng Yen and what eventually led to the founding of Tzu Chi in 1966. 🏠 While cultivating in a small wooden hut in Hualien, Master Cheng Yen contemplated on how to bring the Buddha’s teachings into the world to alleviate suffering. A turning point came when she witnessed a pool of blood left by an Indigenous woman who was turned away from a clinic due to lack of funds. This incident awakened a determination to address the suffering of the poor. 🌏 Around the same time, a conversation with Catholic nuns prompted another realization. They questioned why Buddhism, despite its profound teachings on compassion, lacked charitable organizations like those established by Christian groups. Their words solidified her resolve to create a Buddhist relief organization. Master Cheng Yen and her five disciples began by each sewing an extra pair of baby shoes every day to raise 24 TWD (~ 60 cents USD). 👶 She also proposed a simple yet powerful idea to 30 housewives: to save 50 cents TWD (~ 2 cents USD) a day from their grocery money into a bamboo bank to help those in need. 🪙 In taking this small step forward, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Association was officially established on May 14, 1966, with the motto: "With compassion in our hearts, saving the world is our aspiration." This humble beginning laid the foundation for a global humanitarian movement, proving that small, consistent acts of kindness can create ripples of change. 🌈💞 ✨ As we celebrate Chinese New Year, join us in looking back on Tzu Chi’s humble beginnings and the impactful milestones that shaped its global mission. #TzuChiHistory #BambooBankEra #JourneyOfCompassion

In 1966, Master Cheng Yen, saddened by the struggles of an indigenous woman and inspired by a conversation with Catholic nuns, decided it was time to act. ✨ She shared her vision with five disciples and two devoted supporters, determined to bring hope to those in need. 🎍 A humble bamboo coin bank and a commitment to save 50 cents a day marked the beginning of this journey. From this simple act of kindness, Tzu Chi was born, planting seeds of compassion that continue to bloom worldwide. 🌱🌏 Curious about how Tzu Chi grew from this small start to a global foundation? Check out our post to learn more about its journey and history! 📖✨ As Chinese New Year approaches, may we all cultivate blessings and wisdom, grow in compassion, and pray for a peaceful and harmonious world. 🌟🙏 #TzuChiHistory #BambooBank #TzuChiFoundation

In 1966, during a discussion with three Catholic nuns, Master Cheng Yen was asked a profound question: What have Buddhists done for society? This question led her to deeply contemplate how to bring the Buddha’s teachings into the world to alleviate suffering. Amid Taiwan's challenges, she made the pivotal decision to stay in Hualien and founded Tzu Chi, transforming compassion into action and inspiring a global humanitarian mission that continues to uplift countless lives. 💕 ✨ Stay tuned! During the Chinese New Year, we will share a special series on Tzu Chi’s inspiring history and its humble beginnings. #MasterChengYen #TzuChi #BuddhistCompassion #GlobalHumanitarian #TzuChiHistory

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, may we practice mindfulness in learning and strive toward awakening. Together, let us walk the Bodhisattva Path with diligence, spreading kindness and compassion in all that we do. Wishing you and your loved ones a year filled with peace, wisdom, and boundless blessings. 🧧🐍 #TzuChi #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheSnake

🧧 Each "Red Envelope of Blessings and Wisdom" is a gift of gratitude and love, made possible through Master Cheng Yen’s books' annual royalties. They are filled with blessings born from wisdom and sincere dedication. Since 1992, each red envelope design has carried a profound message from Master Cheng Yen, expressed through meaningful symbols like: 🪷 The lotus, rising unstained from the mud, symbolizing detachment and purity. 🎋 Bamboo, representing steadfastness and diligence. 🍂 The bodhi leaf, signifying awakening and wisdom. While not everyone may receive a red envelope, its true meaning goes beyond the physical gift. It symbolizes gratitude and Master Cheng Yen’s wish for everyone to embrace the spirit of Great Love in the new year. May these red envelopes inspire us to cultivate blessings, nurture wisdom, and carry forward the seeds of compassion and wisdom for generations to come. 💞 As Chinese New Year approaches, may we all cultivate blessings and wisdom, grow in compassion, and pray for a peaceful and harmonious world. 🌟🙏 #ChineseNewYear #TzuChi

At Jing Si Abode, cooking is more than just preparing food—it’s an act of care and connection. ✨ Since joining the Abode in 1976, Master De He embraced the responsibility of the kitchen, transforming it into a place of dedication, creativity, and mindfulness. 👩🍳 In the early days, resources were scarce. Meals depended on what the garden produced, often the same vegetables prepared in different ways throughout the day. 🥕 “Blanched in the morning, stir-fried in the afternoon, made into soup by evening—we worked with what we had,” Master De He shared. Despite the simplicity of ingredients, every effort was made to create nourishing and satisfying meals. 🍚 🍽️ As the number of residents and visitors grew, so did the challenges. Dining tables increased from just a few to over a hundred at their peak. “The greatest joy is seeing others eat with a happy heart,” Master De He reflects, often giving up her own meal to ensure everyone else is fed. 💕 During major events like Lunar New Year, the kitchen team prepares meals for hundreds of tables, ensuring no one is left hungry. Whether serving pickled radish or a full meal, their goal is to make every guest feel cared for and at home. 🏠 For over two decades, Master De He demonstrated that cooking with mindfulness and love can turn even the humblest meals into an expression of connection and joy. ☀️ #MindfulCooking #TzuChi #JingSiAbode

After a magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck southern Taiwan early on January 21, Tzu Chi volunteers immediately mobilized to support affected families in Chiayi and nearby areas. 📦 Relief supplies, foldable beds, and blankets were delivered to displaced families. 🍱 Thousands of hot meals and brown sugar ginger tea were prepared and served, with even children joining volunteers to help assemble and deliver meals. 🧥 Winter coats were collected to shield residents from the cold. Volunteers also visited households to listen to and document their needs. A focus was placed on providing emotional reassurance alongside practical aid. As the Lunar New Year approaches, Tzu Chi is working to distribute emergency funds to help families rebuild. In this time of recovery, the spirit of compassion continues to light the way. 🙏 💛

“I see them as my family, and it pains me to see them harming themselves with poor eating habits. I feel a responsibility to help them.” – Ricardo Tejada, Tzu Chi Volunteer and Course Instructor 👨🍳 In East Palo Alto, where families face high rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, Tzu Chi’s Sabores del Corazon (Flavors of the Heart) program is creating change. 🍳 These bilingual (English & Spanish) cooking classes, led by Ricardo Tejada and Michelle Wong, empower families to cook plant-based meals that improve health, foster family bonds, and strengthen their sense of community. 🥕 “I love the sense of unity in this class. Gathering together motivates me to eat healthier and lose weight,” shared Teresa Castro, a mother of four. 💞 Blanca, another participant and a single mother of four, added: “I love that I can eat healthy with very little cost and make delicious meals with simple cooking methods.” 🍛 For Blanca, preparing meals on a tight budget and schedule has always been a challenge, but the class has provided her with practical solutions. 👩🍳 For Ricardo, these classes go beyond food. They’re about fostering connections, promoting well-being, and giving back. ✨ Flavors of the Heart is helping families not only improve their health but also come together as a community, creating a brighter future one meal at a time. 🥦 #HealthyEating #PlantBasedFood #TzuChiUSA

🍌“I will continue to plant bananas for them to finish school,” shared Armando Dusonan Jr., a father in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. Like many parents in the Ata Manobo tribe, his greatest dream is for his children to receive an education and lead better lives. ✨ In 2022, Armando and 40 other families from the Ata Manobo tribe began participating in Tzu Chi’s banana planting livelihood project in Talaingod. Before this, they relied on planting corn and abaca, which brought irregular income. 🌽 With earnings as low as 3,000 pesos (US$52) per month, these families often endured eating only once a day. The project has been a game-changer. By the summer of 2023, banana trees planted 19 months earlier started yielding consistent harvests every two weeks. “Compared with eating only once a day before, we can now enjoy three meals a day with rice and viand,” said Eric. 🍛 The additional income has allowed families to afford school allowances for their children and transportation to the market. “Seeing my children happy with their small allowance makes me happy too,” Armando said, his pride evident. 💞 A motorcycle purchased through their earnings has also reduced their six-hour walk to the market to just 30 minutes. 🌱 Through Tzu Chi’s sustainable banana planting project, the Ata Manobo families are cultivating not only crops but also a brighter future. With every harvest, they’re realizing their dreams of giving their children better opportunities in life. 🌈 #TzuChiPhilippines #EmpoweringCommunities #EducationForAll #SustainableFarming

On January 7, devastating wildfires swept through Southern California, leaving countless families with nothing but ashes and uncertainty. ✨ Master Cheng Yen reminds us: "Many disaster survivors once lived comfortable lives, but in an instant, their homes and belongings were reduced to ashes. At this time, we must unite our sincere love and take immediate action. In the face of nature's overwhelming forces, only through genuine compassion can we provide meaningful help to those in need and inspire prayers that reach the heavens above." 💗 Answering this call, Tzu Chi USA mobilized quickly. By January 8, an emergency Tzu Chi Care Center was established in El Monte, providing shelter equipped with privacy partitions and Jing Si multipurpose beds. Volunteers also visited shelters and affected neighborhoods, delivering meals, water, and care packages prepared with love by Dharma masters from the Jing Si Abode in Hualien, Taiwan. At Pasadena shelters, teams with Tzu Ching youths supported elders with mobility challenges while working with the American Red Cross to assess needs. On January 15, Tzu Chi volunteers expanded efforts at Disaster Recovery Centers in Los Angeles, guiding residents through relief applications with care and compassion. Cash card distributions are being prepared to help families rebuild their lives. 💞 With compassionate care, Tzu Chi will continue supporting those in need. Join us in bringing hope and healing to the #LAWildfires community 🫶 ➡️ https://lnkd.in/efCVRBHG #TzuChiUSA #HelpLosAngelesHeal #LAWildfires