Rodrigo Perez Lozada is a Tzu Chi staff member in Mexico. He is a devout Catholic who silently prays and confesses to the image of Jesus every day. He embraces the Tzu Chi spirit and principles of compassion and kindness in his learning and contributions.
Young Man Joins the Path of Buddhism
Rodrigo is passionate about photography; driven by this interest, he previously pursued international studies. In 2017, upon returning to Mexico, he found himself among the aftermath of a devastating earthquake measuring 8.1 in the southern part of the country; this was followed by numerous aftershocks that caused severe casualties and buildings to collapse. Faced with such devastation, Rodrigo dedicated four hours each day to help clean up the affected areas.
Witnessing the hardships of many disaster survivors, the young Rodrigo felt helpless. He made a two-hour round trip to the disaster zone every day. One day he noticed a group in uniforms recruiting volunteers. He wondered: “Where are these people from? What are they doing here?” Intrigued, he approached them and expressed his desire to join the volunteer team.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Rodrigo donned a Tzu Chi vest and assisted Tzu Chi volunteers in documenting the disaster area, conducting visits, and distributing relief supplies for a full three months. In his mind, a puzzling question emerged: "Why would a foreign group, unable to communicate in the local language, be willing to help so extensively, and without expecting anything in return?" Deeply moved by the dedication and meticulousness of the Tzu Chi volunteers, he gradually understood their spirit and decided to join.
Rodrigo, a good listener, resigned from multiple jobs and wholeheartedly joined Tzu Chi's disaster relief efforts. Through attending tea gatherings and undergoing training, he became a Tzu Chi administrative staff member in Mexico in 2019. Recognizing the limitations of an individual's power, he believes that, as part of a group, a person can unleash more of his potential. As his understanding of Tzu Chi continued to grow, he wanted to become a certified Tzu Chi volunteer.
In 2023, during his third visit to Taiwan, he delved deeper into understanding Tzu Chi and Dharma Master Cheng Yen. He came to understand Tzu Chi's missions in environmental protection and medicine. He admired the humility of Dharma Master Cheng Yen and her unwavering commitment to righteous causes. Tzu Chi's determination to spread love globally truly impressed him.
Becoming a Tzu Chi Seed in Mexico
On December 2nd, accompanied by Tzu Chi volunteer Liang-Dai Hong (洪良岱) in Argentina, Rodrigo was personally certified as a Tzu Chi Faith Corp Member by Master Cheng Yen. He said that his encounter with Tzu Chi during the earthquake had profoundly changed his life. Upon returning to Taiwan, and inspired by the Tzu Chi volunteer spirit, Rodrigo was determined to become a certified volunteer himself.
"As you (Master) have heard, the more I think, the more doubts arise in my mind. Why did I take refuge at the last moment?" Rodrigo said, "Because I saw hope, I saw Master's compassionate heart." With unwavering faith, Rodrigo felt the need to return to his homeland, Mexico, and do his utmost to inspire more Mexicans to join Tzu Chi and help their fellow countrymen.
Over the past three years, Mexico has faced many challenges, including distributing PPEs to hospitals and disaster-stricken areas during the peak of the pandemic. In 2021, there were floods, and in 2022, an earthquake, with assistance provided to nearly two thousand households. Throughout the six years, Tzu Chi volunteers carried out charitable and medical projects, all aimed at educating their brothers and sisters to trust, collaborate, and support each other. "I want to say that none of this was easy," Rodrigo emphasized.
In late October 2023, Mexico was hit by Category 5 Hurricane Otis. Rodrigo participated in disaster assessment and witnessed the suffering of thousands of families. After returning to Taiwan, he was moved when he heard Master Cheng Yen say, "Our help should be immediate; we need to hurry and assist the survivors."
Rodrigo deeply felt the ongoing global disasters and urged everyone to be aware and responsible. He vowed to bring Tzu Chi's love and beliefs back to Mexico, and inspire more people to follow Tzu Chi's footsteps. This is Rodrigo's expectation after becoming a Tzu Chi volunteer -- he hopes to be one of the first batch of Tzu Chi seeds in Mexico and fulfill Master Cheng Yen's vision.
Story by Shuhuai Lin
