A Letter from Master Cheng Yen to Hurricane
Katrina Victims
Our Dear American
Friends,
On behalf of the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi
Foundation and our volunteers around the world, I wish to
convey our deepest condolences. Even though we are in Taiwan,
seemingly far away, we deeply empathize with you. Having suffered
our share of disasters also, we know how heartrending it is
to lose everything. What you have been through and are going
through now breaks our hearts. We share your pain and sorrow.
At this critical time, Tzu Chi volunteers
all over the world wish to offer our help. Even as you read
this, our volunteers in cities from Atlantic City to Paris
to Buenos Aires to Jakarta, Indonesia are fundraising - standing
on street corners and outside stores, and going door to door
to solicit donations.
Besides helping you to meet needs, we hope
the aid that we give can also be a source of comfort and support
to you-knowing that it contains the love and good wishes of
people around the world. These supplies will one day be used
up, but we hope the love they hold in them will always stay
with you.
Today, our volunteers are there in person
to represent the love and well-wishes from people around the
globe. Living on this planet, we are all connected to one
another. So, let us always be a support to one another, and
be a source of love and peace through our thoughts, our words,
and our actions. And not only to one another, but to our scarred
planet as well---this planet that gives us life.
We sincerely pray that your hearts may
soon find peace and comfort, and that you will overcome this
disaster and rebuild your lives. Know that we will remain
by your side for as long as it takes.
May your future days be filled with peace.
Sincerely,
Shih Cheng Yen
Founder
Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
