The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

24 Accumulating innumerable wisdom with limited lifetime In January 2018, Master Cheng Yen first mentioned the concept of the “Age Treasury” to encourage elderly volunteers not to be saddened with old age, but to bless themselves, make good use of the accumulated experiences, re-embark with renewed initial aspiration, and seize their lives for spiritual growth. By Shih De Zao Translated by Chang Yii Yong Photograph by Huang Xiao Zhe O n February 5, 2018, Master Cheng Yen finally got home from her 27-day visiting trip. Master appeared tired but was joyful. The following day, during the morning volunteer assembly, Master officially announced the renaming of “Age Bank” to “Age Treasury”, hoping that the elderly can deposit 50 years of their age in the Treasury, and continue the journey of giving with the spirit of the young. Why the rename? Master explained that the public’s impression of a bank is a financial depositing and lending institution, with countable and quantifiable withdrawals and depositions. On the other hand, there is no limit in a “treasury”. Moreover, it concerns wisdom-life. On September 23, 2017, while expounding a passage from the chapter on the “Tathagata’s Lifespan” of the Lotus Sutra : “This is the power of my wisdom, the light of my wisdom illuminates infinitely, my lifespan extends over countless kalpas , which was only attained through long practice,” Master mentioned that when our nature of True Suchness comes forth, our wisdom will shine like lamplight, illuminating even a room that has been dark for thousands of years. eature