Page 26 - Tzu Chi Q&A_First Edition

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Who is Dharma Master Cheng Yen?

Coming from a well-to-do family, at the age of 25,
Dharma Master Cheng Yen renounced the lay life in
pursuit of life’s meaning and purpose after her fa-
ther’s sudden death. In 1963, she took refuge in Ven.
Yin Shun, a prominent monk and scholar in contem-
porary Chinese Buddhism. Throughout her monastic
life, Master Cheng Yen has been living out her mas-
ter’s words, “Work for Buddhism and for all living
beings,” by spreading the Buddha’s teachings and
carrying out Tzu Chi’s missions to benefit humanity
and the world.

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What is the main focus of Tzu Chi’s work?

Tzu Chi has Four Missions: charity, medicine, ed-
ucation, and culture, which have later extended to
include international relief, bone marrow donation,
community volunteerism, and environmental pro-
tection. These eight endeavors are the major areas of
work of Tzu Chi Foundation.
Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Founder of Tzu Chi Foundation

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