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Sharing the Dharma &

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Taking It to Heart

he causes and conditions that spread to receive care immediately. But when Hurricane
the Tzu Chi spirit from Taiwan to the Katrina breached the levees and flooded New
TUnited States arose from a tiny seed. At Orleans, so many lives were lost and homes
the very beginning, it was the couple Mr. Siyuan destroyed overnight. The deeper impermanence
Huang and Mrs. Jingnian Li, as well as “Silicon and fragility of human life was exposed. With a
Valley Granny” Shiu Chin Wang Lin, who spirit of “taking on all the world’s problems and
devoted themselves to recruiting and cultivating serving all the world’s people,” Tzu Chi volunteers
bodhisattvas in Northern California. In Southern began to distribute cash cards to address survivors’
California, Shiu Yun Tsai and Stephen Huang urgent needs. For evacuees scattered to other
were also mindfully spreading seeds of love. Just states, Tzu Chi volunteers in each area continued
as drops of water steadily wear away stone, their the chain of love.
perseverance spread Tzu Chi’s love throughout
After Hurricane Sandy struck, Greater New
the country. Even though the seeds are tiny, under
York was left paralyzed, without power or running
the right conditions they become great trees that
water and facing a shortage of gasoline. The
produce fruit and more seeds that will fall to the
disequilibrium of the Four Elements, the frailty
earth, take root, and grow. ‘One’ can give rise to
of the land, and the impermanence of human
‘infinity’ and make a profound and far-reaching
life were seen in the blink of an eye. Tzu Chi
impact.
volunteers nationwide rushed to the scene to
Though Tzu Chi’s Four Missions developed provide comfort and care. With hearts full of
together in the U.S., Charity still led the way. gratitude for American assistance in the past that
Through emergency assistance, care for the has allowed Taiwan to flourish, we sent Jing Si
homeless, Happy Campus, regular visits to senior Instant Rice, blankets, and other relief materials.
homes, and more, Tzu Chi volunteers’ love reached I am grateful to EVA Air and China Airlines
every corner. During the 1992 Los Angeles for shipping these materials free of charge. Tzu
riots, as many shops owned by Caucasians and Chi volunteers throughout Greater New York
Asians were targeted by attacks, a rioter helped a activated the Bamboo Bank Spirit, helping people
Tzu Chi donating member from Taiwan escape realize their spiritual riches and understand that
danger because he was grateful for Tzu Chi’s they too have the strength to help others.
contributions to the poor and marginalized.
Aiming to safeguard life, health, and love,
During the September 11 attacks, we watched U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers expanded their services
on our television screens as the hundred-story into the medical field. Fearlessly overcoming
Twin Towers of the World Trade Center toppled, difficulties, they established free clinics and
and I felt deeply that hatred leads only to conflict community clinics to serve ill and suffering
and misfortune. Only love can bring an end to people unable to afford care. They purchased
disaster. In response, Tzu Chi initiated the “One Great Love mobile medical vans and provide
Person, One Good Deed” campaign to settle traditional Chinese medicine, vision, dental, and
minds and mitigate disasters, and volunteers general medical services to impoverished farm
established three service centers to provide hot workers, community members, and schools. They
meals, interpretation, and emergency cash for also supplement emergency disaster relief with
victims’ families. medical services. It is especially gratifying to see
so many compassionate doctors, nurses, and lab
As the world’s wealthiest and most powerful
technicians who have been inspired to join and
country, we expect the United States to recover
serve society with their loving hearts.
quickly from a disaster and for disaster victims
8 Tzu Chi uSA WiNTER 2014