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

TZU CHI 126 07 Tzu Chi’s Three Decades of Recycling be reused continuously to fulfil their purpose. For an average person, a piece of paper would perhaps be discarded after a single use. The Master, on the other hand, would write on that same piece of paper first with a pencil, then a blue pen, followed by a red pen, and lastly with a calligraphy brush. She always makes sure that papers are only sent to be recycled once new sets of writings are no longer possible to be written on the paper. She too reuses the remnants of Tzu Chi Foundation’s receipt papers by having them bound into tiny notebooks with which she can use to take notes. Likewise, she writes layers upon layers on them before sending them off for recycling. The Master harbours the same attitude towards water consumption, believing that “water gives life to all creatures on Earth and hence should be cherished”. She would keep the water she uses for washing-up in the morning, to be used later as her handwashing water for the rest of the day, while the water she uses for her evening shower would be kept for flushing the toilet the next day. “I can’t bear to use too much water. I also can’t bear to see rainwater flowing away just like that,” said the Master. It was due to this sentiment that the basement reservoir of the Tzu Cheng Building in the Abode was built as a rainwater catchment where water is then channelled for restroom and irrigation use. At night or before dawn when the Master needs to do some reading, she would only light up her desk lamp instead of the entire room. It is a habit she has maintained for over half a century. I was very shocked when I first heard the Master mentioning the concept of “(us) taking away the lives of things”. I did not know that being wasteful is akin to taking away “material lives”. “Why leave the lights on when you’re not using it?” This is what the Master would often say to us monastics when reminding us to be mindful and frugal. “Wasting electricity and water is a form of killing too. We’re simply diminishing resources (when we’re not mindful),” she would tell us. People these days are so caught up with chasing fads, ditching one cellphone for another and switching one material possession for another. This form of unsustainable over- consumption is zapping the Earth’s resources. “Imagine if cellphones are used to spread negativity instead of wholesome values. That is simply going to be disruptive to mankind, on top of stripping away our planet’s resources.” Do not spend unnecessarily Faithful to the values of self-discipline and frugality preached by the Master, the monastics in the Abode are extremely mindful with saving water. They would wring their handwashed clothes to near dry and save the water for restroom use. The wastewater from washing the vegetables is used to wash kitchen utensils and clean the floors or to water plants and crops. Water saved from rice-washing is especially favoured by the culinary team as it is naturally effective in eliminating grease from cooking utensils. Some of the monastics are efficient electricity savers. They could be quiet and timid most of the time, but are actually very observant and helpful in saving energy for the Abode, turning off the lights when others