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After a Quarter Century

Following My Teacher

couple days ago, a wealthy businessman Buddhism and for all living beings” also made a
asked me about my background. He had deep, lasting impression, impacting everything
A heard that I used to run my own business she has done since.
but had given everything up for a teacher and What moves me most deeply about Master
an organization. He was very curious: why had Cheng Yen is that she truly does what she says
I done this? and says what she does. For an illustrative

I told him that I joined Tzu Chi and have example, she follows three lists of ‘threes’. First,
remained active for these twenty-five years there is her new year tradition. At the beginning
without faltering all because of one person: of each new year she asks not for good health,
Master Cheng Yen, my mentor and the person but for wisdom and acuity. She asks not for a
I will follow my whole life. Why has she had lighter burden, but for greater strength. She
such a powerful influence on me? How was it I asks not for everything to go as she wishes,
became so drawn in when I first met her that I but for perseverance and courage to deal with
quickly took refuge and made a vow to serve as whatever happens. Second, there are the ‘three
her “feet” by traveling the world on her behalf? non-contentions’: “If we do not contend with
When I think back about the me of twenty-five affairs, then affairs will remain undisturbed. If
years ago, I find that I didn’t even understand we do not contend with people, then people
it at the time. Only now do I see that all along will be friendly. If we do not contend with the
there was an even more important person world, then the world will be peaceful.” Third,
behind her pulling me in as well—the Buddha. she shares with us her mindset: “There is no one

It’s always been interesting to me that even in this world that I do not love, no one I do not
though the Buddha was born in India, very trust, and no one I cannot forgive.”
few people there are Buddhists. They say that Twenty-five years ago, I never would have
he is neither God nor a god, neither a deity believed that anyone could actually accomplish
nor a creator… so why follow a simple man? these. But over the years, I have seen Master do
It is precisely because he was just a man that exactly that. She does not ask for good health or
I follow him. If the Buddha were a god, could for things to go as she wishes, and especially not
I then become a god just from studying him? for less responsibility. Instead, she constantly
Of course not. But since he was a man, if I learn takes on greater responsibility. Otherwise, we
from him, I too can become enlightened just would not have the Tzu Chi of today. The ‘threes’
as he did. This is the important message that motivate her every action every day, and to this
he shared. This is why my dear teacher Dharma day I have never met another person like her.
Master Cheng Yen changed her entire life. She Part of the great responsibility that Master
too was willing to follow because he was an undertakes is the dedication to a life of self-
ordinary human being. Of course, her mentor sufficiency embodied in the Jing Si Abode
Dharma Master Yin Shun’s guidance to work “for philosophy of “no work, no meal.” I deeply

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Tzu Chi uSA WiNTER 2014