Dharma Master Cheng Yen often says, "Every child in the world can be taught. What they need are mindful parents and mindful teachers to guide and teach them." A child's heart and mind are like a field; the teachers are like farmers. When a farmer mindfully cultivates a field, weeds will not grow in the field. Likewise, when a teacher teaches students mindfully, the students' hearts and minds will not go astray.
The Tzu Chi Teachers Association consists of a group of caring and benevolent teachers as well as professionals from social and academic research institutions. The association was formally established during a two-day gathering from July 23-24, 1992 at the Hualien Jing Si Hall. Its mission is to explore the humanistic values of Tzu Chi and integrate them into teaching practices, purify campuses, and bring harmony to society. Their aim was to sow seeds of goodness using the wisdom of a bodhisattva and the love of a mother.
Mercy, Compassion, Joy, and Giving with Pure Love
On the base of teaching selves first and then teaching others, teachers in Tzu Chi keep learning good ways and modern concepts in education to communicate with students with love and nurture children’s integrity with gratitude. They take great responsibility in the education undertaking.
Furthermore, they meticulously designed courses to teach Jing Si Aphorisms, through storytelling and role-playing, or using pictures to enhance learning. These lessons help students to build character and educate their virtues, and can even become a source of positive influence to their parents.
Although teachers in Tzu Chi Teachers Association come from different places and backgrounds, they share common values and goals – they see all children in the world as their own, and teach the children with their hearts. They strive to bring Tzu Chi's spirit into schools to inspire the students toward goodness and create peace in society.
Our Mission
To improve the quality of education, a variety of activities are held by the Tzu Chi Teachers Association. Educators are invited to experience the spirit of Tzu Chi. The activities include tea gatherings, training programs for teaching Jing Si Aphorism, visiting care facilities, volunteering at hospitals, hosting Jing Si Aphorism achievement exhibitions, publishing materials, traveling overseas for cultural exchanges, providing community education, and holding conferences.
The association actively promotes bettering parent-child communication, holds teacher-parent conferences, and encourages campus volunteering. All this is in the hopes of guiding parents to respect and communicate with their children and bring up children who are cordial, attentive, thoughtful, and loving.
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