| Candles
without Tears |
 |
| (Translated by Douglas Shaw) |
|
Tzu Chi people refer to the candles made by
the resident nuns of the Abode of Still Thoughts as "candles
without tears."
Master Cheng Yen first thought of this kind
of candle when she first began her spiritual cultivation. When
she saw traditional candles running and dripping wax on the table,
she felt that it was wasteful and messy. So she tried to think
of a way to make the wax burn up completely. In 1981, she got
a clever idea: she used a small plastic fruit juice container
as a mold and incense for the wick, which she fastened with a
little washer cut from corrugated sheet metal. When the wax had
cooled and set, she removed the plastic mold and wrapped the candle
with a piece of clear plastic. This was the first "candle
without tears." The nuns in the early days at the Abode of
Still Thoughts made these candles as gifts for visitors.
In 1982, the Abode acquired an automatic molding
machine for large-scale production, and the candles became one
of the main sources of income for the resident nuns.
Master Cheng Yen encourages Tzu Chi people
to follow the spirit of the "candle without tears" by
facing life courageously. The love in people's hearts should also
be like the candlewick, which must be lit in order to fulfill
its function.
