Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

On September 13, Chen Yun-lin, chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, visited Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Hualien to thank her for the Tzu Chi’s charity in China for more than 20 years. She thanked for the government’s continued cherished for its work there.

Chen Yun-lin arrived in Taiwan with a delegation of more than 60 people for exchange in the arts and creative industries. He arrived in Hualien accompanied by the county magistrate Fu Kun-qi and Chiang Pin-kun, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation. In the Jing Si Hall, they visited an exhibition of the history of the four missions of Tzu Chi – charity, medicine, education and culture; she gave a detailed description of its work in each of these sectors.

Chen and his party listened attentively to the Master’s explanation and saw how Tzu Chi has left its footprints in charity operations all over the world. Chen and his colleagues were very moved and expressed their admiration for her in setting up Tzu Chi and leading her disciples to do charity work and bring blessings to mankind.

Chen and the Master first met in 2008, when he made a special visit to the Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation in Taipei to thank her for the Great Love and assistance of the Tzu Chi after the devastating Sichuan earthquake in May that year. He also thanked her for its help to the mainland since it began its work there in 1991 to help the victims of heavy flooding in east China in 1991; it was the start of long-term and selfless concern for people on the other side of the Taiwan Straits.

This time the two had a brief conversation in the Hall of Gratitude. Chen said: “I am very moved to see the Master. I want to thank Tzu Chi for all the charity work it has done in the mainland since 1991. This has left a deep impression on many compatriots there. This Great Love has moved many of them to show their own loving hearts. I want to express my heart-felt thanks.” In response, Master Cheng Yen said: “For more than 20 years, we greatly thank many mainland leaders for how they have cherished Tzu Chi and allowed us to work there. I hope that, in future, they will continue this support. A grateful heart is something that words cannot express.”

Dharma Master Cheng Yen gave visitors the red envelope of wisdom and blessing. She wishes to form good affinities and bless them all. They made a brief stop in the Sutra Lecture Hall’ and took a commemorative photograph before they left.