Mother Teresa of the East
I’ve always admired Master Cheng Yen for her true Buddhist spirit that translates into action. She is like the “Mother Teresa of the East” and her work has always inspired me… especially her work that shows Dharma in action.
Masters like her do not only teach Buddhism but they also put it into practice and this is really admirable. She did not come from wealth, she has no title, was not born a Tulku or a Geshe but one thing she sure had was the tenacity and passion to spread kindness, to spread Dharma.
We just have to… CARE for others! Focus out… that is real Dharma. Below is a short article on her by TIME100 Poll this year and I’ve also included a biography of her that is inspiring. She was an adopted child and today she is a teacher to hundreds of thousands all around the world.
Beautiful Bodhisattvas like this are living among us…all we have to do is to get to know them better, be inspired and do the same…
I humbly offer my prayers for Master Cheng Yen to continue her dharma work for 10,000 years.
May Master Cheng Yen live long, be healthy and continuously turn the wheel of Dharma.
Om Mani Peme Hung…
Tsem Rinpoche
The 2011 TIME 100 Poll
Age: 73
Occupation: Buddhist nun and philanthropist
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
Cheng Yen is known as the Chinese world’s Mother Teresa. She runs the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, one of Asia’s largest charities. Earthquakes, floods, typhoons, famine, tsunamis, you name it — Tzu Chi people are there dispensing food, blankets and warm clothing (as they have done recently in Japan), and also committing long-term by rebuilding villages, establishing clinics and schools and providing scholarships to needy students. The foundation is based in Hualien on Taiwan’s east coast, but has chapters worldwide. Cheng Yen’s reputation is such that the group is allowed everywhere, even into hermetic North Korea and conflict zones like Afghanistan. Tzu Chi is well funded by millions of donors, including a few tycoons who want her blessing, but there has never been any hint of impropriety.
Source: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2058044_2060338_2059983,00.html?xid=fbshare
Biography of Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Dharma Master Cheng Yen was born in 1937 in Qingshui, a small town in Taichung County, Taiwan. As her father’s brother was childless, at a young age, she was adopted by him and his wife to raise as their own, a common practice in that era. Her new family later moved to Fengyuan City, Taichung County. When Dharma Master Cheng Yen was seven, the Second World War brought air raids upon Japanese-occupied Taiwan. What she witnessed deeply imprinted upon her young mind the cruelty of war. Throughout her growing years, she had many questions about life and its meaning.
In her town, the young Dharma Master Cheng Yen was known as a very filial daughter to her parents. When her mother needed surgery for acute gastric perforation, a very risky procedure in those times, the 15-year-old Dharma Master Cheng Yen prayed earnestly to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), offering to give up 12 years of her life in exchange for her mother’s health. To express her piety, she undertook a vegetarian fast. When her mother later recovered without need for surgery, the young Dharma Master Cheng Yen, out of gratitude, chose to become a life-long vegetarian.
The Spiritual Calling
When Dharma Master Cheng Yen was 23, an event happened that would change her life. One day, her father suddenly took ill. Within 24 hours, he passed away. His death was a great shock to Dharma Master Cheng Yen and propelled her to seek many answers about life and death. That life could be taken away so precipitously made her reflect, “Why is life so transient? Where then lies its true meaning?”
At this time, Dharma Master Cheng Yen came into contact with Buddhism. Learning of the teachings, she gradually came to feel that one should expand the love for one’s own family to the entire society and all humanity. She aspired to take care of the great family of humanity, instead of one small family.
In 1961, Dharma Master Cheng Yen left her family home to embark on the spiritual path, giving up a relatively comfortable life. Within a few days, however, her mother found her and begged her to return home. She acquiesced, but with her spiritual convictions, she could not truly be content living her old life; several months later, she again left her family to pursue spiritual cultivation. That year, she was 24. From western Taiwan, she traveled to eastern Taiwan and eventually settled down in Hualien, a small town in Taiwan’s relatively undeveloped east coast. Though life was very hard, it did not diminish her commitment to spiritual cultivation.
In late 1962, at the age of 25, Dharma Master Cheng Yen shaved her own head to formally renounce the lay life and start life as a Buddhist monastic. She was unaware that Buddhist rules required one to do so under a Buddhist master (a monastic teacher). Because of this, she could not qualify when she sought to receive full monastic ordination at Taipei’s Lin Chi Temple several months later. These circumstances brought her into a chance encounter with Venerable Master Yin Shun at a Buddhist lecture hall in Taipei. Having great respect for him, she asked if he would accept her as his disciple. He accepted, but as registration for ordination at the Lin Chi Temple would soon come to a close, there was little time for more than a simple instruction to the young novice, “Now that you are a Buddhist monastic, remember always to work for Buddhism and for all living beings.” He gave her the Dharma name, Cheng Yen.
The Founding of Tzu Chi
In 1966, at the age of 29, Dharma Master Cheng Yen founded Tzu Chi. At the time, the east coast of Taiwan, where Dharma Master Cheng Yen first settled, was undeveloped and impoverished. Dharma Master Cheng Yen and her monastic disciples supported themselves by sewing baby shoes, making concrete sacks into smaller animal feed bags, knitting sweaters, and raising their own vegetables.
One day in 1966, while Dharma Master Cheng Yen was visiting a patient at a small local clinic, she saw a pool of blood on the floor. Dharma Master Cheng Yen was told that the blood was from an indigenous woman suffering from labor complications. Her family had carried her from their mountain village. They had been walking for eight hours, but when they arrived at the hospital, they did not have the NT$8,000 (then US$200) required fee. They could only carry her back untreated. Hearing this, Dharma Master Cheng Yen was overwhelmed with sorrow. She thought to herself: as an impoverished monastic barely supporting herself, what could she do to help these poor people?
A short time later, three Catholic nuns visited Dharma Master Cheng Yen, and they had a discussion on the teachings of their respective religions. When Dharma Master Cheng Yen explained that Buddhism teaches love and compassion for all living beings, the nuns commented: Why have we not seen Buddhists doing good works for the society, such as setting up nursing homes, orphanages, and hospitals?
The nuns’ message struck a deep chord with Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Buddhism, she responded, teaches people to do good deeds without seeking recognition. However, she knew in her heart that without organization, what could be accomplished was very limited. Dharma Master Cheng Yen considered: What if her disciples sold one extra pair of baby shoes per day? What if the thirty housewives that listened to her teachings could donate NT 50 cents (approximately US 1 cent) per day? In one year’s time, she calculated, they would have enough money to have saved that indigenous woman. A small concerted effort, she realized, over time could make an enormous difference!
Thus, Dharma Master Cheng Yen founded Tzu Chi. Fashioning coin banks out of bamboo, she asked her lay followers to drop a NT 50 cent coin into the bamboo bank every day before going to the market. “Why not simply donate NT$15 each month?” one follower asked. The amount was the same in dollars, Dharma Master Cheng Yen replied, but very different in spirit. Dharma Master Cheng Yen wanted each person to think of helping others every day, not just one day each month.
As word spread and more people participated, there came to be Tzu Chi commissioners who were responsible for collecting donations. Commissioners traveled to villages to collect the savings in each of the bamboo banks. On one occasion, a commissioner complained that a particular donor lived so far away that the cost of the trip was more than the amount donated. Dharma Master Cheng Yen, however, replied that giving people an opportunity to participate was as important as the donation itself. By collecting donations from people, the commissioners were in fact nurturing seeds of kindness in each donor. This kindness, not the donation, was Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s true mission.
Dharma Master Cheng Yen deeply believes that all people are capable of the same great compassion as the Buddha. True compassion, however, is not just having sympathy for another’s suffering—it is to reach out to relieve that suffering with concrete actions. In founding Tzu Chi, Dharma Master Cheng Yen wished to give ordinary citizens the chance to actualize this compassion, which will bring inner peace and happiness to the individual, and pave the way for world peace and harmony.
Source: http://tw.tzuchi.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159&Itemid=198&lang=en
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Master Cheng Yen is a remarkable person. Personally, I think both her and Mother Teresa are the most powerful females in the world. They are capable of raising billions of dollars and the money doesn’t go to them but to people who need help. Both of them knew what they want to do at a very young age.
Master Cheng Yen must have a very strong Dharma imprint. Even though in the beginning she did not have a teacher, she knew she wanted to be nun, she wanted to renounce and use her life to serve others. It was not easy to embark on the spiritual journey but it did not scare Master Cheng Yen. She found ways to spread Dharma and she has been very successful.
Today, Tzu Chu foundation has its presence all around the world. Whenever there is a disaster, they will be the first to offer their help. Their selfless compassion is highly respected and acknowledged by many. This is how much impact one person can make if we walk the talk and show people by example. The most important thing is not to give up and be very determined in serving others.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article about Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi. Master Cheng Yen is indeed a Bodhisattva. She shows the lay people what is compassion through her actions. Master Cheng Yen is trully inspiring to many furture monks and nuns. I wish Master Chen Yen with good health and long live and to continue to spread compassion.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Master Cheng Yenalso known as Mother Teresa of the East shows us that compassion and loving kindness to all beings. Through benefiting them and bringing the Dharma teachings to everyone worldwide.She has put all Dharma teachings in action. She is one such inspiring lady who goes all the way up to help,benefit others more than herself.
Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s true mission is to give everyone the chance to actualize true compassion, which will bring pave the way for world peace and harmony.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the interesting and inspiring biography of Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article on Master Cheng Yen.
She is truly a Bodhisattva, from all her works we can see how much compassion and loves she gives to everyone. Her mission is always to benefit others. Not only she teaches dharma but also cultivate and nurture the kindness of people towards others.
Her strong will and perseverance is very inspiring. Hence we should not give up easily although we face obstacles and challenges along our dharma practice.
Dear Rinpoche ,
Thank you for sharing this article on Dharma Master Cheng Yen. I had always been curious of this master that had such great accomplishment.
She is truly living the dharma. From her biography, it is clear that she do everything with a dharmic motivation and benefiting others. She is an epitome of living bodhisattva to me.
There are alot of people that has great knowledge of dharma. They could even tell you which teaching is from which scriptures and which book. However, they do not practice dharma in their daily activities. This is equal to not having dharma at all. The Lamrim prayer by Lama Tsongkhapa had stated, by just realising and understanding dharma, we can not attain enlightenment. We have to practice earnestly day and night and truly live the dharma.
Amount was the same in dollars, but very different in spirit.
Dharma Master Cheng Yen wanted each person to think of helping others every day, not just one day each month
This is true. Skill comes from practice perserve, all things replies in our life are lesson even we don’t undertand.
“Bodhisattvas are not idols made of wood; real Bodhisattvas are people who eat, talk, work, and relieve suffering in times of need.” Jing-Si Aphorism
Master Cheng Yen is a real Bodhisattva who has a generous heart filled with compassion for all beings. She is an inspiration and what is amazing is that she started Tzu Chi at an early age of 29 and through perseverance Tzu Chi has grown to this level now.
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story of Master Cheng Yen. What is amazing is her perseverance “Though life was very hard, it did not diminish her commitment to spiritual cultivation.” which is similar to Tsem Rinpoche’s perseverance in the face of great hardship. Master Cheng Yen also started spreading dharma to a place where dharma was not pervasive and as such was a pioneer, like how Tsem Rinpoche is spreading dharma here in Malaysia.
People might think that with so many chinese in Malaysia, dharma would be widespread but it is not. Most Malaysian buddhists are only buddhist in name and have no idea what dharma is. I know this from the Malaysian buddhists i personally know!
I very much like Master Cheng Yen’s focus on compassion for others and kindness. This also is something that Tsem Rinpoche constantly asks us to focus on. Even choice of food is an example of loving kindness http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/vegetarianism-a-diet-of-loving-kindness.html
We are very fortunate to have Tsem Rinpoche here in Malaysia to teach us what is real Dharma and how to practice it. Tzu Chi started with 30 housewives and has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. I believe Kechara can do the same.
People like Master Cheng Yen is one in a billion, very few people can achieve the level of compassion that seems to reside so natural inside her heart.
I feel that people like Master Cheng Yen already has the seed of compassion inside her, and in this life, this seed ripens and blossoms to become a beautiful tree.
Reading Master Cheng Yen’s life story is inspiring. I am amazed that she started Tzu Chi at a rather tender age of 29.
May more people be inspired and take real actions to extend their hands out to help people. There are so many more unfortunate beings in this world who need cares and aids from us.
Venerable Master Cheng Yen practises Humanistic Buddhism, taught to her by her teacher Master Yin Shun. Their motto is “Devotion to Buddhism, devotion to all beings”. Her extraordinary vision can be seen in her famous words: “To save the world, we must begin by transforming human hearts”. This has been her mission throughout her life. She is one of my heroes.
She is truly amazing she took the cue from the catholic nuns and built Tzu Chi to the level to it is now. She is one of my heroes she is one of the people who inspired me to know more about Buddhism and what compassion is really about.
Master Chen Yen went ahead to take charge of the responsibility to help others through her learning of Buddhism. This is exactly how HE Tsem Rinpoche showed the volunteers and full time staff in Kechara how to do it … nurturing seeds of giving time, effort, donation, participation.
In order to practice dharma, it can be actualized into actions that can benefit the young, old, sick, aged, victimized, abused, depressed, hurt and so on.
Her comment “giving people an OPPORTUNITY to PARTICIPATE was as important as the donation itself. By collecting donations from people, the commissioners were in fact NURTURING seeds of KINDNESS in each donor. This kindness, not the donation, was Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s TRUE MISSION.” is a reflection of the kindness of our guru, HE Tsem Rinpoche also.
truly inspiring….
What an inspiring story. Kechara allows us to do the same – it gives us opportunities spread kindness around. May Kechara grow large like Tzu Chi & touch the lives of many through the guidance of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
She is such an inspiration. I can’t wait for my ordination day!