On March 20th, the Tzu Chi Studies Lecture Series at Jing Si Abode in Hualien, Taiwan explored the topic of "Jing Si Sangha and Tzu Chi Spirit," and the spiritual foundation of the Tzu Chi community. Β Master De Yu and Master De Li shared the spiritual essence and practice methods of the Jing Si Sangha. Assistant Professor Pei-Ying Lin (ζ佩η©) from the Graduate Institute of Religious Studies at National Chengchi University and Director Chien-Te Lin (ζε»ΊεΎ·) from the Institute of Religion and Humanities at Tzu Chi University joined as discussants. The lecture hall was completely full; the audiences and Masters of the Abode embarked on a journey of the soul, united in shared experiences and spiritual exploration.
The Deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Foundation, Rey-Sheng Her (δ½ζ₯η), started the session with a call for religions to engage in dialogue with the secular world. He emphasized the purpose of the Tzu Chi Studies Lecture Series -- it aims to share Tzu Chi's accumulated experiences and expand its positive influence through dialogue with different sectors.
The Spirit of Great Love
Master De Yu explained the historical context of the "Great Love" spirit proposed by Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi. She traced the evolution of this concept through various stages of Tzu Chi's history. She emphasized its three key points -- the great vow to benefit sentient beings, the great compassion that regards sentient beings' suffering as one's own, and the great wisdom of respect and equality without seeking anything in return. She illustrated how this spirit evolved over time and became central to Tzu Chi's philosophy.
The monastic lifestyle of Jing Si Sangha integrates spiritual practice with active engagement in society, to create a new paradigm of engaged monasticism. Master De Li shared insights from interviews with monastic practitioners, highlighting how they navigate challenges with compassion and wisdom. Stories from monastic practitioners depicted how they applied teachings in their daily lives, such as observing Master Cheng Yen's mindset in handling situations and being inspired by Tzu Chi volunteers' selfless dedication.
Action, Practice, Learning, and Enlightenment
Master De Li summarized the Jing Si Sangha's approach as embodying compassion through action, transcending obstacles through Buddhist teachings, and guiding oneself and others towards enlightenment through compassionate aspirations. The Sangha emphasizes integrating practice into daily work and learning, fostering a culture of "learn by doing, awaken by learning, and enlightenment through awakening."
Innovative Transformation of Jing Si Sanghaβs Economy
After Master De Yu and Master De Li shared their insights, Director Lin Chien-Te responded. Both Master De Yu and Master De Li obtained their master's degrees from the Institute of Religion and Humanities at Tzu Chi University, which in recent years has distinguished itself by its commitment to promoting research on Tzu Chi.
Master De Yu systematically organized Master Cheng Yen's spiritual practice, unwavering determination, and the origins of Tzu Chi. While the Jing Si Sangha does not accept external offerings, they frequently engage in acts of giving. Aside from daily contributions to bamboo banks, they cook and serve meals to the public as part of their daily practice. Though they abstain from receiving offerings, they joyfully offer to others, reflecting the sangha's longstanding principle of strict self-discipline and generous treatment toward others.
Transforming the traditional concept of giving offerings to monastics into a form of charitable assistance for the needy is known as sowing "fields of compassion." This reflects the Jing Si Sangha's unique approach to temple economy -- another form of Economy of Goodness. By not accepting offerings, they redefine the meaning of giving, demonstrating an innovative and compassionate form of temple economics.
Assistant Professor Pei-Ying Lin emphasized the significance of understanding Tzu Chi's spirit and lifestyle, expressing the international academic community's curiosity and the importance of sharing firsthand experiences to clarify misconceptions.
She said: "Nowadays, a crucial task is to use your writing to unveil the daily lives of Tzu Chi monastics, revealing many unknown aspects." She explained how the practice of gentleness and forbearance was deeply moving to see. To be gentle is very challenging; it is a habitual tendency that needs practice. Furthermore, the concept of βGreat Loveβ as described in Tzu Chi is more than the Western concept of love. From her perspective, love cannot exist without forbearance. When anger arises, a compassionate heart can quell our temper. Hence, anger and compassion cannot coexist.
In conclusion, both Master Yu De and Master De Li exemplify Master Cheng Yen's vision of bringing Buddhaβs teachings into the world and using worldly challenges to attain purity. They emphasized that challenges serve as nourishment for spiritual growth, ultimately leading to tranquility in the middle of worldly turmoil.
Report by Xiang-Hui Huang from Hualien Β
Edited by Ya-Ying Yang
