The world of Tzu Chi September 2020 (Vol.126)

TZU CHI 126 09 the sources of income for the Abode. So, what do we do with the rice and plastic sacks after they are emptied? Besides reusing them, the monastics would cut and sew them into pouches of different sizes and write Jing Si aphorisms on them. The practice turned out to be very popular among the local Tzu Chi members. Tzu Chi volunteers in Africa later copied the method and transformed sacks that were used to carry rice donated from Taiwan into highly sought after handcrafted pouches made at their vocational centres. The used plastic sacks that have been converted into aprons to keep those on dishwashing duties in the Abode dry, have been highly praised by the volunteers as not only innovative but also environmentally friendly. One of the monastics commented, “One plastic apron usually costs NT$10, but we did not spend a cent simply because we reused waste plastic.” Besides reusing the plastic sacks, the Abode community also engages in recycling the plastic packaging left behind by the culinary team who churns out breakfast and lunch daily for the hundreds of people living in as well as those visiting the Abode. The mastermind behind this effort is none other than Master De Huan, whose ideal resonates deeply with Master Cheng Yen’s ideal of cutting back waste at the source. “Our community volunteers are doing a good job of ensuring the recyclables are clean before they are sent to recycling. The Abode is the pillar of Tzu Chi, so there’s no excuse for us here to slack off on this,” shared Master De Huan, who would tirelessly clean and dry the plastic packaging until 8 or 9 p.m. at times. The work is extremely tedious. The packaging is either wet or greasy, making cleaning and drying a time-consuming process. Master De Huan has been sustaining the effort for about three years and admitted that she did not think she could maintain it for that long, but her conviction to Master Cheng Yen’s wishes had kept her going. The work is now being passed on to another monastic member. Master De Xi, who still helps with cleaning the packaging said she just could not afford time to mind much about the greasiness and hassle. “We just do what is right.” The team’s effort had definitely paid off as the volunteers who are in charge of transporting recyclables complimented that the plastic packaging processed in the Abode are always so clean and well-sorted that they could directly be delivered to the recycling factory for processing. Thrift and diligence – the core obligations of spiritual practitioners Dehydrated vegetables are a staple ingredient in the Jing Si Abode considering that it often receives flocks of visiting Tzu Chi volunteers where meals are also needed to be churned out regularly. Given the common practice in the Abode, the plastic bags used to store the dehydrated cabbage and broccoli are without doubt reused. Around February and March this year when Covid-19 hit the world, export of farm produce in Taiwan halted, the Abode bought truckloads of broccoli, cabbage, Mexican turnips and other vegetables to make Tzu Chi’s Three Decades of Recycling