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Saving Water

the Tzu Chi Way

Tzu Chi volunteers spread conservation and awareness worldwide.
Compiled by Chifen Lin
Translated by Colin Legerton

In November 2005, a Tzu Chi
volunteer inspects one of the cisterns
that Tzu Chi built for locals in the
deserts of Gansu, China.
Photo: Linzhao Yan

ater is the source of life. Master Cheng Yen calls simpler lifestyle of the past.
When the land has no on Tzu Chi volunteers In 2005, Tzu Chi
Wwater, it is impossible volunteer Xuefang You
to grow the five grains. When to serve as examples heard Master Cheng Yen’s
people have no water, they with their own actions. call to save water, which led
cannot survive.” Dharma Master her to greater awareness of
Cheng Yen often reminds us that her own daily use of water. "I heard Master
water is humanity’s most valuable resource. Cheng Yen say that she only uses one basin
Water feeds people and the land, so we must of water each day." Following this example,
all wisely cherish water in order to protect our Xuefang now collects and reuses both rainwater
planet. and runoff from washing vegetables and
Master Cheng Yen calls on Tzu Chi showering, reducing her water bill to less than
volunteers to serve as examples by their own half of what it was before.
actions. From the Jing Si Abode to Tzu Chi Xuefang has placed nearly a dozen plastic
hospitals, from the Jing Si tea plantation to the water basins of various sizes throughout her
ever-popular recycling stations, volunteers save kitchen and bathroom. In her bathtub sits a
and treasure each drop of water, overcoming bucket half-full of water with bits of sediment
the greed for comfort in order to return to the settled at the bottom. She said that the water

2 2 TZU CHI USA SUMMER 2015