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

2020 • 09 06 eature Frugality – the way of the Jing Si Abode “I should be thankful to this piece of paper that I’m using, and likewise to that drop of water. If we’re always grateful when using the resources bestowed to us, we’ll most definitely take good care of them, cherish them, and not waste any bit of them.” —Master ChengYen to her monastic disciples. S ince the early days of the Jing Si Abode, Master Cheng Yen and her monastic disciples have lived by the strict rule of “no work, no meal” instead of accepting offerings from the public. They sustained their livelihood by making various handicrafts and doing farm works. This tradition of self-reliant has lived on and become a heritage at the Abode. The Master herself is a firm believer in “one should live by what one preaches”. Knowing full well that personal execution is key, she holds the same principle with what she preaches on material consumption, believing that cherishing and taking great care of all things and resources are fundamental for each human being. It is this exact spirit that she and her disciples in Jing Si Abode have lived by for over 20,000 days since Tzu Chi was founded. Everything has purpose “I couldn’t bear to throw away any piece of paper after using it once.” The Master used to say in her sermon, believing that papers should In the early days when Master Cheng Yen needed to draft her talking points before her morning sermons, she would first write on the paper with a pencil and then a blue and a red pen. Finally, she would write on it using a calligraphy brush. [Photograph courtesy of Jing Si Abode] By Shih De Zao (Jing Si Abode monastic) Translated by Nai Sheah Qin Photographs by Huang Xiao-zhe