From Blog to Open Book: A Journey

Tzu Chi, having its origins in Taiwan and having spread mainly through Taiwanese- or Chinese-speaking social networks and immigrant communities, has had very poor materials, publications, and documents in English. This gap has persisted for many years, particularly in the US where I am most familiar.

It was and still is in the context of this gaping hole in English communications for Tzu Chi that I began writing through the Tzu Chi USA journal in 2002. That year, I had just returned from Taiwan after living in Hualien (where I volunteered for Tzu Chi for year and which served as the basis of a rough manuscript of my experiences) to start my freshman year in college in Boston. That year, Tzu Chi USA journal, led by my mother, was transformed from more of a newspaper to more of a magazine. (The journal was only put onto the web later years, following incredible changes from the internet in how we read.)

Now, approaching 30 years of age, because of this blog, I am looking back to some of these pieces in Tzu Chi USA journal -- and also the 100-or-so page manuscript that I wrote while I was in living in my one year in Hualien, Taiwan.

Returning to some of the pieces I wrote (some more than 11 years old), though, I am frankly a bit embarrassed by some of my own essays. The language, the style -- it all seems a bit juvenile -- which I guess was expected, as I was still, at that time, a "teenager", at 19 years old.

In 2011, I shared one of these pieces from my 100-page reflections with one of my academic colleagues in economics and public health, and much to my surprise, he was so moved by the piece that he cried (see here). The piece was on comparative experiences in Taiwan and Thailand in hospice care, which I had worked on in a writing class in college and somehow -- accidentally really -- published in a medical journal.

Though my colleague encouraged me to finish my book (Thanks, Professor Jamison!) and though I have been meaning to do so, I have never had time to finish that manuscript that I had started in 2001-2002 (first college and then graduate school got in the way, you could say!). Now, I've got a bit more time (I am totally finished with school and I have a real job now), and so, it is with this live blog that I hope to eventually turn my writings, both past and new, into an "open book" on Tzu Chi. I am taking a page from my colleague at my day job, David Roodman, who wrote an "open book" on microfinance through blogging. (One of his posts on an NGO working on microfinance even today gets about 1000 hits a month.)

If I may entice you, here are some of the topics for forthcoming posts. Whenever I see the activities of Tzu Chi volunteers and all that has happened from its beginnings in 1966, I feel that I have unlimited content to work with. So this list is not comprehensive, and I very much welcome your suggestions on what topics I should prioritize and write/edit first!

• My essays from Tzu Chi USA journal
• New Beginnings
• Bridging Gaps
• The Innovative Origins of Tzu Chi
• I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation in Tzu Chi
• A Word on Tzu Chi’s Uniforms
• Chapters from my manuscript
• mental preparations    4
• 1 to follow in their footsteps    5
• 2 go away, worries! just do it!    8
• 3 the meaning of spiritual practice    10
• the education of being human    14
• 4 great love has no strangers    15
• 5 busy body, not busy mind    22
• 6 the peace project camp    26
• 7 teaching english at the outreach school    29
• 8 high school angst, relived    32
• the thousand arms of avalokiteshvara    33
• 9 typhoon toraji: relief and rebuilding    34
• 10 dear thailand tzu chi: chronicles of love    37
• 11 between living and dying: the world of hospice    63
• 12 body donation, silent teachers    78 
• 13 happy volunteer in indonesia    80
• the culture of great love    87
• 14 making xiang shi bao   88
• 15 the abode of still thoughts    89
• 16 disaster after disaster – the awakenings     95
• 17 the movement to spread the seeds of love    100
• 18 the simplicity and joy of monastic life    105
• 19 leaving hualien    108
• My other essays with different outlets
• Why am I here? (speech)
• To enter someone's mind

Quick backgrounder on Tzu Chi

Tzu Chi means 'Compassion Relief' in Chinese. The core belief is that through great compassion for those who are suffering, we can relieve suffering, be it our own or that of others.

Tzu Chi Foundation was established in 1966 by a Buddhist nun, Venerable Master Cheng Yen, in the rural, poor eastern coast of Taiwan initially offering food and medical relief for the poor. As she herself lived a simple, austere life, she encouraged her supporters to save equivalent US$0.02 a day in the belief that even if we are poor, we can help others. Eventually, she and her supporters saved enough to offer food relief to the local poor. Thus, through the gradual and daily accumulation of efforts and through the collective love of many, Tzu Chi emphasizes that together we can help others. Thus, from the loving heart of one springs infinite hearts of love.

A daily donation is our daily prayer to help others. By saving each day we remind ourselves each day of our resolution to help those in need. We put our love into practice each day, not just once a year or once a month.

We should not think that we need money to help others, nor should we ever discount what appears to be a small gesture. Even children and college students, the elderly, or even those who are physically disabled, can help others. Giving is not the privilege of the rich; it is the privilege of the sincere. The truly rich are those who are rich in love.

Master Cheng Yen believes that each person has a pure heart of love, and that by inspiring such love, we can alleviate the suffering and turmoil in our society and eliminate disasters.