| Relief
Distributions |
 |
| (Translated by Douglas Shaw) |
|
The Abode of Still Thoughts holds a relief
distribution for the poor on the twenty-fourth of each month on
the lunar calendar. For many years, Master Cheng Yen has led her
disciples and lay followers in expanding their mission of compassionately
saving the world in order to provide the best care for the poor,
sick, elderly, widowed and orphaned.
On the day of the distribution, volunteers
from all over Taiwan come to serve the elderly and the needy by
cutting, washing and perming their hair and trimming their nails.
Physicians and nurses from the family medicine department of the
Tzu Chi General Hospital come to give examinations, take blood
pressure, and distribute medicine. In the morning, the nuns of
the Abode lead people under Tzu Chi's care in devoutly reciting
the Medicine Buddha Sutra, dedicating the merits thus earned to
all living beings. After that, they invite everyone to lunch.
After lunch, relief supplies are distributed in the great hall.
After chanting the name of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, commissioners
call the names of those to receive relief supplies or financial
subsidies. If a person is unable to receive the distribution on
that day, he or she can pick it up from social workers another
day, or else commissioners will deliver it during a home visit.
All Tzu Chi offices in Taiwan and abroad also
hold distribution activities. In many places, commissioners personally
deliver relief goods to the homes of the needy.
Each year before Chinese New Year, Tzu
Chi also holds a "winter distribution." The first winter
distribution took place on February 9, 1969. Money, comforters,
clothes and rice, as well as a vegetarian banquet, were provided
for long-term care recipients. On January 30, 1970, the first
distribution was held at the newly completed Abode of Still Thoughts.
After that, the winter distribution held in the twelfth month
of every year on the lunar calendar became a day when Tzu Chi
people and recipients of the foundation's care could gather together
at the banquet tables. Master Cheng Yen instructed volunteers
to carefully wrap up the goods to be distributed. Clothes and
daily necessities were to be piled neatly, and all the air was
to be squeezed out of each bag so that the bag would not break
easily. As for the banquet, the Master personally saw to it that
there was plenty of delicious food. This was all done in order
to concretely show sincere respect for the recipients of Tzu Chi's
care.
