The world of Tzu Chi March 2021 (Vol.132)

2021 • 03 20 eature Humanistic culture education benefits teachers and students TCISKL strives to empower students to emerge and thrive in a world characterized as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) through its humanistic culture education focused on inculcating virtues and values. H umanistic culture education is what defines Tzu Chi schools. Tzu Chi humanistic culture education philosophy mirrors Master Cheng Yen’s vision to purify minds, bring harmony to society and rid the world of disasters. It is centred on helping students to internalize values of sincerity, integrity, faith and steadfastness, to have the strength to reach out and practise loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. Students are made conscious of their behaviour in daily life by paying attention to personal image and self- cultivation to develop self-worth, self- love and self-respect; cultivating good interpersonal relationships in upholding filial piety, and treat one another with gratitude, respect and love; developing human-nature relationships by observing vegetarianism to protect lives and Mother Earth. By putting these values into actions, we can create the ideal society filled with love and kindness. Tzu Chi’s holistic education programme is delivered through five pillars of learning, namely living skills, life education, service learning, living with nature, and humanistic culture. Students are guided on etiquette in every aspect of life from dressing, dining, Photographs by Kevin Tan Kok Sieong