About Us

Master Cheng Yen

Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi Foundation presides over a small Buddhist temple in Hualien, Taiwan and Tzu Chi's worldwide charity program.

Master Cheng Yen's life experiences inspired her to search for a form of Buddhism that would reflect unconditional love through action. Many past incidents shaped her vision and she felt a higher calling. When her father had died of a heart attack, she felt guilty. In his passing, she felt that she had erred in caring for him. Later, at a hospital, she witnessed a penniless, aborigine woman be denied medical attention while bleeding on the floor. Another time, a Catholic missionary said to her, "You Buddhists are a passive group and ignore the needs of others." Master Cheng Yen was determined to serve all humanity. She envisioned a world of kindness, compassion, joy and equality.

With the support of only thirty housewives who set aside NT fifty cents (US$0.013) of their grocery money each day, Master Cheng Yen embarked on her mission of helping the poor and educating the more prosperous. She and the newly formed Tzu Chi Merits Society established a charity fund to provide relief and assistance for the poor.

Today, Master Cheng Yen's influence in the world is
revealed through the inspiring stories of her disciples
and the acclaimed international work of Tzu Chi Foundation.

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