Having been a part of Tzu Chi for more than ten years, I can
finally say that I’ve begun to touch the surface of what it really means to be
a Tzu Chi member. Although I went to ceremonies, disaster relief, and nursing
home visits with the Dayton chapter throughout the majority of my life, I
realized that I knew very little about this organization. I feel immensely
grateful for the opportunity to attend this year’s Tzu Ching Midwest Retreat
because this camp felt to me like the start of filling my paucity of knowledge.
The phenomenal speakers showed me the multiple dimensions of Tzu Chi, from
bettering society through teaching Jing Si to prisoners to recruiting
journalism volunteers to spread awareness of Tzu Chi’s activities. The stories
and wisdom of these role models reminded me to maintain a heart of gratitude
and to treat everyone as Bodhisattvas. However, I believe the most important
message, the lesson that brought to me a sort of epiphany, was that all Tzu Chi
members, through the charity work we do, are following the Bodhisattva Path. We
practice compassion and grow in wisdom as we participate in disaster reliefs
and talk Dharma, striving to eliminate afflictions within ourselves as well as
within the fellow beings around us. To me, this purpose is the meaning of being
a part of Tzu Chi. I learned a great many things at this retreat, from the Ten
Precepts to how to reduce and reuse, and perhaps even caught a glimpse of my
goal in this world. I thank everyone who made this experience possible, and I
look forward to what the future holds as a uniform Tzu Ching member!
