Master Cheng Yen

Category: Living Masters

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Chinese :  证严上人

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.

Teachings

• The Mission

Master Cheng Yen, a Buddhist nun from Taiwan, established the Tzu Chi Foundation in 1966. With its four major missions of Charity, Medicine, Education, and Culture, this organization has built hospitals, schools, and helped millions of people in need throughout the world. The Master's compassion for human suffering has moved millions of volunteers to serve selflessly throughout the world. She was awarded the Eisenhower Medallion for her contribution to world peace, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Master Cheng Yen understands that misery in this world is not solely due to poverty, but, also, to a lack of meaningful purpose in life. She believes that the most meaningful life is one of service to those in need. It is with this understanding that the Master serves as both the head of the Tzu Chi Foundation and as its Buddhist spiritual leader.

• The Master's Three Vows

In her early twenties, Master Cheng Yen's vision was forged by a series of events that were to shape her life. First, her father died suddenly of a stroke, seriously distressing her when her lack of knowledge made her unable to properly care for him. Then the Master was appalled that the poor of Taiwan could not get medical care. This, compounded with her own fragile health, moved her to give up her comfortable life to become a Buddhist nun. For her, Buddhism had to be actively involved in helping people. The Master's active implementation of Buddhism was the seed that later sprouted to become Tzu Chi, and allowed her to work unceasingly toward her three vows:

     Purify minds
     Harmonize society
     Free the world from disasters

• Helping the Poor while Educating those More Prosperous

Starting with five nuns, and fifty cents of daily savings from thirty households, Master Cheng Yen pursued her mission of helping the poor and educating those more prosperous. Under the Master's guidance, Tzu Chi works with and represents people from all walks of life. In the spirit of "There is no one I do not love, trust, or forgive," she seeks to help make this world one of kindness, compassion, joy, and equality by relieving the material and physical suffering of the needy, and guiding the Tzu Chi volunteers toward personal and spiritual growth.

• Changing Society Starting from the Individual

Improvements in society do not come from society itself but from its members. It is through personal growth that profound changes can be possible on the greater level of society. The Master sees the individual as the crucial agent for change. This awakening in a person comes from the nurturing of compassion.

When the Master first started Tzu Chi, she requested the original thirty households to drop 50 cents (US$0.02) a day in a tiny bamboo box kept in their kitchens, rather than a once a month contribution of NT$15. Although the fifty cents may not have been of great value, it served to develop and nurture the spirit of helping and caring every day. From the Master's perspective, thirty acts of giving were more significant than a single one. The Master saw the value of developing the spirit of giving in these members as equal in importance to achieving the task at hand.

• Bringing Together Many Kind Hearts

Once, when the Master was pressed for funds during the hospital construction, a philanthropist came to offer the Master a generous contribution that exceeded the amount needed to complete the hospital. Though it seemed like a godsend, she politely turned down the offer. The Master did not wish for the hospital to be only a building that saves lives, but an opportunity for countless people to give. Out of the same principle, the Master also held the conviction that each project, whether it was the establishment of hospitals, colleges, and research center, be completed through the joint efforts of many, rather than by a few generous benefactors.

• Building on Faith

Building the hospital was one of the most difficult trials for the Master. How was she able to turn down such a generous offer at a time when she needed it most? Perhaps one should go back further and ask, how could the Master decide to build a hospital of millions, when she had nothing? Faith, the Master said. "Faith in myself, that my intentions were pure. And faith in others, that within the heart of every person lies love that is only waiting to be awakened." Her certainty that those who share the same vision would join their efforts to hers has allowed the Master to take on and succeed at many difficult projects.

• The Road Ahead

Since Master Cheng Yen founded the Tzu Chi Foundation, her beliefs and missions have been carried out around the world. Although Tzu Chi has become an international organization with over 4 million members, the Master doesn't look back on Tzu Chi's accomplishments, but continuously looks ahead. To her, there is still much to be done. In her words,

"Nothing is more valuable than life. The most important thing is to respect life and help people. The greatest tragedy in life is suffering. If there were no suffering, society would be perfect. When everyone is happy, only then am I happy. When everyone is healthy, only then am I healthy. When human suffering ends, my suffering ends."

Biblographies

• Father's Death

Wang Chin-yun, now known as Master Cheng Yen, was born May 14, 1937 in a small town in central Taiwan. Ever since she was young, the Master liked to engage in deep contemplation about the meaning of life.

In June 1960, Master Cheng Yen's father suddenly had a stroke. After receiving a doctor's treatment, the Master had her father taken home. He passed away the next day, because the doctor had forgotten to tell her not to move her father. Her father's unexpected death shocked the Master and made her realize the transience of life.

• Master Hsiu Tao

After her father's death, the Master often went to a nearby temple to explore Buddhist teachings. Master Hsiu Tao (right), the abbess of the temple, helped answer Master Cheng Yen's questions and guided her into Buddhism.

In 1961, Master Cheng Yen resolved to devote herself to all humanity by becoming a Buddhist nun. She thus ran away from her family and left behind her luxurious, comfortable life. Bringing nothing with her, she left her hometown with Master Hsiu Tao and wandered through Eastern Taiwan in search of a place to carry out her spiritual practices. They finally settled down in the small village of Luyeh, living under conditions of scarcity and poverty. That same winter, they went to Hualien and met old Hsu Tsung-Ming, a devout Buddhist who was knowledgeable about Buddhist teachings. In the winter of 1962, the Master asked Mr. Hsu to be her teacher and shaved her own head (a very untraditional act) to become a novice nun. Master Hsiu Tao, however, returned to her hometown due to poor health.

• Mr. and Mrs. Hsu's Care

The Hsus often looked after the Master. In the winter of 1961, when the Master had just arrived in Hualien, she received much assistance from them. In the first picture the Master stands beside Mrs. Hsu, the wife of Hsu Tsung-ming.

In 1962, Mr. Hsu built a small wooden hut for Master Cheng Yen behind Pu Ming Temple. The second picture is a front view of the temple. On the left is the Master's mother, Mrs. Wang Yue-Kuei, and on the right is Master Ta Hung, who was in charge of the Tzu Chi Taichung Branch during the early days of the Tzu Chi Foundation.

• Master Yin Shun

In February 1963, Master Cheng Yen went to Taipei to register for a 32-day "novitiate" to formally become a Buddhist nun. However, since she had shaved her head herself, she was rejected. Before returning to Hualien, she went to a lecture hall to purchase Buddhist texts, and met the Venerable Master Yin Shun, one of the most respected dharma masters in Taiwan. Venerable Master Yin Shun kindly consented to be her teacher and gave her a dharma name: Cheng Yen. Thus, Master Cheng Yen was formally ordained and became a Buddhist nun.

He instructed her to "work for Buddhism and for all living beings," an objective that the Master carries with her even today. This photo was taken in 1969, when Venerable Master Yin Shun visited Hualien.

• Visiting Mrs. Chuang

In 1963, the Master lectured on the Earth Treasury Sutra at the Tzu Shan Temple. So many people attended her lectures that no seats were left vacant. Masters Te Tzu, Te Jung and Te En, who became the Master's disciples later, became acquainted with the Master during these lectures. In 1964 the Master left Hualien and spent the summer studying at Hai Hui Temple.

Mrs. Shih Chuang, a wealthy lady, became acquainted with the Master at the Tzu Shan Temple. Several months later, she followed the Master to Pu Ming Temple and assisted her in any way she could. When Tzu Chi was established, she was the first to encourage others to follow the Master. Mrs. Chuang passed away at the age of 87 in 1982. This photo was taken when the Master led Masters Te Tsau, Te Jung and Te En to visit Mrs. Chuang at her home before they left Hualien.

• Glove Factory

In the hut behind Pu Ming Temple, the Master and her followers lived in hardship. They studied together, and did not hold religious services nor give sermons. With barely enough shelter and hardly enough to eat, the Master still held firm to her decision not to accept offerings from others. Their rule was, "A day without working is a day without eating."

They relied on their own efforts: they knitted sweaters, stitched bags to hold animal feed, sewed baby shoes and planted vegetables. Through hard work, they met the basic necessities of life.

After the establishment of the Tzu Chi Foundation, they also wove cotton gloves to raise funds for the foundation. The simple hut in the picture is the glove factory.

• Excursion

Although life at the hut behind Pu Ming Temple was very hard, everyone embraced the conviction to "work willingly and accept the results happily." They were busy, but their lives were fulfilling. Starting 1964, Master Cheng Yen lectured in the evenings on the Four Books,the Lotus Sutra and the Lament by a Liang Dynasty Emperor. She taught a text one day and expected the nuns to recite the same text from memory the next day.

After the lectures, everyone strolled under the dim streetlights, murmuring the texts. They worked in the fields during the day and studied at night. Sometimes their studies were interrupted during busy farming seasons.

When Tzu Chi was established in 1966, the studies had to be stopped altogether because of the busy schedule. This photo was taken when Master Cheng Yen's mother came to visit from Taichung during the off-season, and the whole group went for an excursion to Tienhsiang and Taroko Gorge.

From left: Ching Chih's mother, Master Te En, Ching Tzu, Mrs. Chuang, Master Te Jung, Mrs. Wang (the Master's mother), Chen-Jung, Master Cheng Yen and Master Te Tzu.

• The Three Catholic Nuns

One day in 1966, the Master went to visit a follower at the hospital, and saw a pool of blood on the ground left by a woman who couldnot afford treatment for a miscarriage. The pain caused by seeing the blood was the catalyst for the Master to establish the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation.

A short while later, three Catholic nuns visited the Master. They talked about life and their religious beliefs. The nuns acknowledged that Buddhism promoted love for all beings and that its teachings were profound. However, Catholics had built hospitals, schools and churches in remote areas to assist the poor. "What has Buddhism done?" they asked, and the Master could not respond.

This conversation strengthened her determination to help the poor and the needy. The three nuns can no longer be found, but this photo shows Hai Hsing High School, where the nuns served.

• First Anniversary

Tzu Chi's first members were 30 housewives who donated a part of their grocery money to the foundation. Before going to the markets everyday, these housewives each put NT$0.50 (US$0.02) into a bamboo "piggy bank." They brought Tzu Chi's spirit to the markets, and the news that "fifty cents can also help people" spread throughout Hualien. On March 24, 1966, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation was formally established.

Tzu Chi's first anniversary was on May 3, 1967. It had 10 commissioners and more than 300 members. In its first year, the foundation collected US$719, and 15 families received assistance. The photo shows the Master and her disciples in front of Pu Ming Temple in commemoration of Tzu Chi's first anniversary.

• The Master's Mother

Two women who assisted Master Cheng Yen in it's early days were her mother, Mrs. Wang Yue-Kuei (left) and Commissioner Shih Chuang (right).

In 1969, the Pu Ming Temple could no longer accommodate the growing Tzu Chi membership. the Master's mother, helped finance the construction of the Still Thoughts Abode. To pay back the mortgage, the nuns of the Abode engaged in many different kinds of work, most notably making candles and bean powder. Not a single penny of public donations are used at the Abode.

• Tzu Chi's Mission

With the development of the Tzu Chi missions, more people can understand the true essence of Buddhism. Many members have decided to live at the Abode and carry out the Path of the bodhisattvas. The number of those preparing to be nuns is also on the rise. This photograph of Venerable Master Yin Shun and 15 newly ordained nuns was taken November 11, 1995, when Venerable Master Yin Shun came to stay for a short while.

Reference

• Tzu Chi Foundation