A face adorned with a smile is the most beautiful. Children made smiling faces. (Photo by Wen-hui Yang; Silaunja, Bodhgaya, India ;2023/3/14) 

In the realm of Earth and Heaven, the most beautiful sight is the joyful smiles of children immersed in learning. A student from the Silaunja tutoring program said: "A face adorned with a smile is the most beautiful."

Empowering Education in Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya, India is the sacred place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. "Bodhi" signifies awakening, and "gaya" represents wisdom. However, in this region, due to the centuries-old caste system, families engaged in begging for generation to generation. As a result, after school, children accompanied their parents to beg for a living.

Master Ruxin, from Ladakh, India, felt compassion and firmly believed in the transformative power of education. In 2015, she began caring for underprivileged children. In 2022, she established an after-school tutoring program in the village of Silaunja, Bodhgaya, to provide an opportunity for local children to dedicate their time after school to furthering their education.

Master Ruxin hopes that the children can attend the government schools for education and come to the tutoring program from 3 pm to 6 pm. She aims to prevent them from becoming child beggars. (Photo by Yi-xuan Deng; Silaunja, Bodhgaya, India; March 14, 2023) 

The Tree School tutoring program in Silaunja has approximately 280 to 300 students. It has been operating for one year. Children belonging to the lower caste Silaunja community attend government schools during the summer but resort to begging during the winter. Master Ruxin hopes that they can attend the government schools for education and come to the tutoring program from 3 pm to 6 pm. She aims to prevent them from becoming child beggars.

Jing Si Aphorism Teaching

In March, Tzu Chi volunteers brought Jing Si Aphorisms to share with the children. They learn together under the shade of a big tree, wishing for awakening and the growth of wisdom.

Tzu Chi volunteers visited The Tree School tutoring program in Silaunja to demonstrate and promote the teaching of Jing Si Aphorisms. Master Ruxin (in brown) served as the translator, explaining the meaning of Jing Si Aphorisms to the children. (Photo by Yi-xuan Deng; Silaunja, Bodhgaya, India; March 14, 2023) 

Founder of the Silaunja tutoring program, Master Ruxin, expressed: "Today, the children were very happy attending your class, and every sentence, every word of the Jing Si Aphorisms had profound meaning. I believe that continuously imparting these teachings to the children will bring great rewards in the future."

Radiant Smiles: Spreading Love and Education in Silaunja

Children have grown up in families that begged for generations and lived in low huts made of hay and mud walls. They can only dream of escaping poverty.

Tzu Chi volunteer from Malaysia, Teo Swee See (張瑞詩), said: "They had no choice in where they were born, but I believe we can give them a little more love. At the same time, I hope they can face each day and every person with a smile."

Tzu Chi volunteers visited The Tree School tutoring program in Silaunja to demonstrate and promote the teaching of Jing Si Aphorisms. Education volunteers Teo Swee See (2nd from right) along with Beauty Shah (sister of volunteer Vivek Kumar, left) worked together to facilitate the teaching. (Photo by Yi-xuan Deng; Silaunja, Bodhgaya, India; March 14, 2023) 

In the realm of Earth and Heaven, the most beautiful sight is the joyful smiles of children immersed in learning. A student from the Silaunja tutoring program said: "A face adorned with a smile is the most beautiful."

Aspirations of Great Compassion

The number of underprivileged children Master Ruxin has cared for has grown from one in 2015 to a remarkable 2,050 by the end of 2022.

Founder of the tutoring program, Master Ruxin said: "I hope these children never have to resort to begging. I want them to study diligently because education has the power to change their destinies."

Tzu Chi volunteer teams from Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia visited to observe the school established by Master Ruxin in Bodhgaya County for children living as beggars. The makeshift classrooms were situated under the shade of trees or in open-air spaces (above). Mats laid on the ground served as desks and chairs during class (below). (Photo by Cheah Chen Yee; Silaunja, Bodhgaya, India; February 13, 2023) 

The Master firmly believes that consistent and widespread education is the key to transforming lives.

Jing Si Aphorisms, published for nearly 34 years, have arrived in Bodhgaya, fostering hope to develop wisdom and awakening among countless individuals.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: “May our aspirations be great, our determination unwavering, our speech gentle in tone, and our actions meticulous in thought.”

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Story by Chun-zao Chen, Wen-hui Yang from India