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25 Years and

Just Getting Started

ooking back over the first quarter century like every day we see news about shootings,
of Tzu Chi’s journey in the United States, I violence, riots, disaster. Clearly there is a long
Lam especially grateful to all the volunteers way to go before we can reach Master Cheng
who worked so hard to develop Tzu Chi in the Yen’s three wishes: for hearts to be purified,
early days, as well as all the kindhearted donors society to be harmonious, and the world to be
who generously supported them. Many of these free from disaster. We care for our community,
volunteers are still contributing to Tzu Chi today our country, and our Earth, but still we see ever
in cities all around the country. Starting from more violence and ever more disasters. Why?
nothing, they overcame countless obstacles. Master Cheng Yen often talks about
With determination and perseverance, they the “mind effect.” What this means is that
carried the spirit of compassion and giving our thoughts and attitudes influence our
throughout the country. They built the solid surroundings, giving rise to the reality we see
foundation on which we now serve in the Four around us, good or bad. For instance, we create
Missions of Charity, Medicine, Education, and waste through our daily habits by greedily
Humanistic Culture, both here in the United seeking what we want instead of simply fulfilling
States and throughout the Americas. what we need. This waste we create then
Volunteers back then built the foundation, pollutes the environment, changing the climate
but there is still much more work for us to do. and increasing the frequency and intensity of
A quarter of a century is a great achievement, natural disasters that impact countless people.
but it is not the end of the road, just a landmark If we change our mindset and modify our habits,
along our path. It is an opportunity to reflect on and then make a positive impression on others
the past and make sure that we remain headed so that they may do the same, we can actively
in the right direction. It is a time to look back begin to make a major difference in improving
and ask ourselves: Have we grown, or are we the world on a large scale.
still the same people we were when we first We should do what we can to mitigate
encountered Tzu Chi? Have we eliminated our disasters, but when disasters do strike, it’s
bad habits and reduced our waste? Have we important to remember that they impact all
improved our attitude toward those around people. Disasters make no distinction of skin
us? If we encounter a minor inconvenience— color, nationality, language, social standing, or
another driver cutting us off on the freeway, any other characteristic; they affect all of us the
perhaps—do we become angry and vengeful, same.
or do we calmly let it go?
This is where we still have a lot of work to
We should also look around and ask the do. We need to expand the Tzu Chi family so
same questions of our communities. It seems that we can reach all victims of disaster. Even

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