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Tzu Chi Members
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| (Translated by Mike Lee, Northern
CA) |
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When one donates funds
to the Tzu Chi Foundation and leaves a personal record of one's
name, address, and national identification card number, one becomes
a Tzu Chi member.
Tzu Chi's fund-raising computer system sets
up an account number for each member. Each time money is donated,
the operator who accepts the funds will give the member a computer
receipt which clearly describes how much he/she contributed and
how the money will be spent. This is the reason that Tzu Chi has
been able to attain the trust of the general public.
In the early days of the foundation, members
seemed to participate less in Tzu Chi activities. However, in
recent years members have broken away from the limited notion
of "I only need to give money, and Tzu Chi will perform the
charity on my behalf." Apart from the thoroughly booked seating
on the "Tzu Chi Trains" [special trains for members
visiting Tzu Chi headquarters in Hualien], members from all over
can be seen earnestly participating in such activities as street-side
charity sales, goodwill performances, bone marrow donation drives,
environmental preservation, resource recycling, "Blessed
Life" lectures, etc.
The upward trend of the number of members
taking part in Tzu Chi activities during recent years is a commendable
achievement of the Tzu Chi commissioners, who, while accepting
charitable donations, have kept to heart Master Cheng Yen's reminder:
"Tzu Chi does not only solicit funds-we also solicit minds."
