| Mission
of Culture |
 |
| (Translated by Martina Lin) |
|
The Tzu Chi Mission of Culture plays an important
role in spreading Buddhist culture. Everything from radio, audiotapes,
publications and TV broadcasting to the Internet is fully utilized.
We hope that through these media, people can learn about Buddhism
and the Tzu Chi culture, and that we can help save all people
from the suffering of this world.
Tzu Chi officially published the first issue
of Tzu Chi Monthly magazine in July 1967. That was the
first step that Master Cheng Yen took to advocate Buddhism culture.
A medical scholarship was established in 1982 to encourage talented
young people to move into the medical field. A radio show, "The
Tzu Chi World," was first broadcast in January 1985. On August
1, 1986, the Tzu Chi Cultural Center was opened in Taipei. Six
days later, the Tzu Chi General Hospital in Hualien was opened,
and ground was broken for construction of the Still Thoughts Hall,
the "cultural castle of the Tzu Chi spirit." Another
biweekly magazine, the Tzu Chi Companion, was first published
in September 1986. To give readers convenient access to Tzu Chi
publications, the Tzu Chi Cultural Publishing company was established
in 1990. Buddhist and Tzu Chi cultural publications and books
were then delivered to bookstores and convenience stores, instead
of being passed out by volunteers.
Starting from January 1991, in conjunction
with the Taiwan Government Information Office and the Labor Bureau,
Tzu Chi hosted the "Happy Life" series of public lectures.
By January 1996, over a hundred lectures had been given. The "Tzu
Chi World," a TV program, was first broadcast on the Taiwan
Television cable network in February 1995. On January 1, 1996,
the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation went on the
Wide World Web (http://www.tzuchi.org.tw) to spread Tzu Chi's
love and culture to every corner of the world. The Tzu Chi Great
Love Television station began broadcasting on January 1, 1998.
On August 1 of the same year, Rhythms Magazine was first
officially published. As of now, we can say that the promotion
strategy of the Tzu Chi mission of culture is quite complete.
The first issue of the Tzu Chi World
monthly magazine was published in Los Angeles in 1991. The Vancouver
Chinese Voice radio station has broadcast eight minutes of Master
Cheng Yen's Still Thoughts every Friday since 1992. These
activities have helped to motivate Tzu Chi people abroad to promote
the Tzu Chi mission of culture overseas.
Click here
for further reading.
