2006/03/11
Years of Effort Bearing Fruit: Tzu Chi Mid-Atlantic Region Celebrates 11th Anniversary and the Grand Opening of the Jing Si Hall and the Academy Facility
Written by: Marc Young
Photos by: Media Volunteers
Translated & Edited by: Leshay Joy, Angela Chu, Cindy Jwo
Tzu Chi Mid-Atlantic Region Office in Cedar Grove celebrated its 11th anniversary and the grand opening of the Jing Si Hall and the Tzu Chi Academy facility on March 11, 2006.
The ceremony started at 1PM with a traditional lion dance performed by students of the Academy. The guests of honor for the opening ceremony were Ambassador Andrew Hsia, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, Dr. Jian, Vice Superintendent of Tzu Chi Hospital at Da Lin, Taiwan, and Mr. Stephen Hwang, General Supervisor of Tzu Chi Global Volunteers.
On the anniversary day, the weather was 70 degrees. The warm weather was an unexpected but pleasant surprise, considering that over the last few months since Christmas, New Jersey has had many severe storms and is just recovering from a once-in-ten year Nor・easter. The unexpected spring like weather was like a gift from the mighty heaven.
Mr. Hsia, in a brief speech, mentioned that when he came to the U. S. five years ago to start his job, the first Chinese overseas event he attended was sponsored by New Jersey Tzu Chi. Therefore, he brought his whole family to attend this event. He expressed his appreciation and pride for the growth and contribution New Jersey Tzu Chi has made in the past five years. Not so long ago, he and members of other goodwill organizations had attended an exhibition of Tzu Chi・s accomplishments in New York. Everyone in the group applauded and showed great admiration for Tzu Chi・s spirit and mission.
After blessings from Vice Superintendent Jian and Brother Stephen, the front door to Tzu Chi・s Jing Si Hall was opened slowly by Tzu Cheng members. Tzu Chi volunteers and guests then entered the Jing Si Hall with a sense of reverence and joy.
The Academy is located on the first floor of the newly renovated Jing Si Hall. The school altogether has 18 classrooms, a dance studio, a storage room, a teacher・s lounge, and restrooms. There is also a kitchen and a cafeteria. The second floor consists of the offices of the Tzu Chi Foundation, the Lecture Hall and the Buddhist Chapels. The newly opened Jing Si Books and Cafe is located in the north wing of the second floor. It is spacious, bright, and quiet.
After the opening ceremony, the anniversary celebration was held in the Lecture Hall at 2PM. On behalf of Tzu Chi Mid-Atlantic Region, Executive Director Debbie Chen thanked all the volunteers and the guests for their continued support. Sister Debbie was recently named by Han Xin Magazine as one of the ten most influential Chinese in New Jersey. Such an honor is really a tribute to all the people who contributed to this organization.
Vice Superintendent Jian described the fundamental values of Tzu Chi・s medical mission in his speech entitled, ：The Cornerstone of Guarding Life.； Medical treatment requires not only skill and medication but also ：great love； at its core. Vice Superintendent Jian・s speech was followed by a sign language performance called ：The Praise of the White Robed.； The theme was to show the goals of Tzu Chi・s medical team. That performance was followed by ：Kneeing Lamb,； which was about filial piety. Together, they reaffirm the two aspects of life that cannot be delayed: filial piety and doing good deeds.
Throughout New Jersey Tzu Chi・s decade-long existence, Brother Stephen Hwang has always been there to help. In fact, since its inception, it was Brother Stephen Hwang who played an active role in helping New Jersey Tzu Chi get started as an organization. Brother Stephen talked about Tzu Chi・s reconstruction projects in Indonesia and pointed out three major accomplishments in Indonesia that were achieved by Tzu Chi・s great love.
Indonesia is the fourth largest populated nation in the world. It is also the world・s largest Muslim country. It suffered greatly from devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami, which killed 250,000 of its citizens in the costal areas. Millions of people became homeless. Recently the President of Indonesia visited the Great Love Communities built by Tzu Chi. There were about 3,700 homes in the ：Great Love； communities. After the visit, the president said in public that he saw Tzu Chi volunteers help victims in the disaster areas the day after the tsunami. He said that he felt compelled to come and see the result of Tzu Chi・s work, after realizing that Tzu Chi volunteers and Indonesian Chinese had worked together in the past five years to help rebuild Indonesia.
In his visit, he found there were no religious conflicts in these communities. There were schools, parks, and cultural centers. As a result, he had great respect for the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and Dharma Master Cheng Yen. To earn this kind of praise about Buddhism in Indonesia, which has a long history of anti-Chinese movements, is quite an accomplishment. This is the first accomplishment.
In Indonesia, a leader of a radical religious group also expressed that in the future the Muslim disaster relief activities should learn from Master Cheng Yen・s philosophy of providing temporary then permanent housing, followed by providing job programs. This is the second accomplishment.
The disaster area covers the areas where the government・s military reside and where the old rebel forces used to reside (now they have peacefully resolved the conflicts). Master Cheng Yen insists that all living beings are equal. The relief work should not favor one half over the other. This insistence has touched government officials as well as the ex-rebel leaders. They ordered their soldiers to assist Tzu Chi volunteers in their relief efforts. This is the third accomplishment.
Brother Stephen said that in order for Tzu Chi volunteers to be able to carry on their work with perseverance and joy, they must posses a pure and innocent heart and go forward bravely like a lion. We also need to have patience and endurance like that of a camel crossing the desert with only a set reserve of water. While Tzu Chi people are cultivating on the Bodhisattva・s Path, we must transform ourselves while transforming others through the many hardships in life. We have to remain calm and we should let go of afflictions arising from interpersonal conflicts. We must learn earnestly from our Master・s teaching and then put it into action.
At 4 PM, the first part of the anniversary celebration came to an end with the song ：A Symphony of Humanistic Culture,； performed by the Tzu Chi Chorus.
Afterward, the audience was divided into five groups to visit the exhibition of Tzu Chi four missions: Charity, Medicine, Education, and Culture. There was also continuous tea ceremony presented by Tzu Chi volunteers from Columbus, Ohio. Their refreshing program of ：From the Ways of the Tea Ceremony to the Ways of Tzu Chi； was very much enjoyed by the guests.
Opening ceremony
Guests enter the Jing Si Hall at the Tzu Chi Mid-Atlantic Region Office.
The sign language song features performance by Tzu Chi volunteer doctors and nurses.
The Education Mission exhibition station features presentations by students from the two Tzu Chi Academies in New Jersey. The students demonstrate the results of their learning to the guests.
From the ways of the tea ceremony to the ways of Tzu Chi: brothers and sisters from Columbus, Ohio, travel to New Jersey to perform tea ceremony to the guests.
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