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Tzu Chi — From a Single Thought of Kindness to a Global Journey of Compassion and Love 

Tzu Chi is a life story that began in Hualien, built little by little through countless acts of kindness. In 1966, Dharma Master Cheng Yen and her disciples and followers began helping the poor and those in need through the spirit of the “Bamboo Bank Era”—making an extra pair of baby shoes each day and setting aside fifty cents a day.

Over the decades, Tzu Chi gradually developed its missions in charity, medicine, education, and humanistic culture, extending its care and humanitarian work internationally. 

What Tzu Chi conveys is more than material assistance. It represents a philosophy of life centered on doing good, caring for others, and contributing to the world—a belief that even the smallest act of kindness, when sustained with sincerity, can gradually become a force of compassion that reaches far beyond ourselves.

✦ Fo Guang University — A Humanistic University Between Mountains and Sea, Bringing Education Back to the Human Being 

Fo Guang University, located on Linmei Mountain in Jiaoxi, Yilan, is a university that places humanistic values and the spirit of the residential college at the heart of its educational philosophy. Planning for the university began in 1993, and it opened its doors in 2000 as Fo Guang Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences before officially becoming Fo Guang University in 2006. Nestled between the mountains and the Lanyang Plain, the university has forged its own distinctive path in education.

Its focus extends beyond professional knowledge to encompass character, critical thinking, compassion, and meaningful action. In this way, the university strives to make higher education not only a place where students acquire knowledge, but also a place where they learn how to become thoughtful, well-rounded human beings.

✦ Bodhidharma — After Crossing the Yangtze on a Single Reed, What He Left Behind Was a Heart Turned Inward in Self-Awareness

Bodhidharma, known as the First Patriarch of Chinese Chan Buddhism, is one of the most legendary figures in the history of Chinese Zen tradition. According to tradition, he traveled from India to China and introduced teachings that emphasized directly perceiving the mind and realizing one’s true nature. Later generations further shaped his image through stories such as “Crossing the Yangtze River on a Single Reed” and “Facing a Wall in Meditation for Nine Years.”

As history and legend became intertwined, Bodhidharma gradually came to symbolize the spiritual essence of Chan Buddhism. His significance lies not merely in the image of a mysterious martial arts patriarch, but in a deeper wisdom of practice: turning inward, breaking free from attachment, and personally experiencing the nature of life. His story reminds us that true awakening is not simply something to be explained through words, but something that must ultimately be discovered within ourselves.

✦ Master Xuanzang — A Journey Across Thousands of Miles in Search of the Dharma

In the history of Chinese Buddhism, Master Xuanzang is one of the most revered eminent monks. In search of more complete and accurate Buddhist scriptures, he embarked on a long journey to India, crossing deserts, mountains, and foreign lands while enduring countless hardships along the way. 

After returning to China, he devoted tremendous effort to translating Buddhist scriptures and organizing Buddhist teachings, allowing many precious texts to be preserved and widely transmitted. His translations became an important part of the development of Chinese Buddhism.

His life was more than a historical journey in search of the Dharma. It was also a remarkable story of faith, wisdom, scholarship, and perseverance—a journey across thousands of miles in pursuit of knowledge and truth.

✦ Buddhist Dharma — In a Single Moment of Awareness, Seeing Ourselves and Seeing the World

Buddhist Dharma is not merely the sound of temple bells and the chanting of scriptures, nor is it simply something people turn to for comfort when they encounter difficulties. Rather, it is like a path that leads us back to our inner selves—a path that teaches us to observe our thoughts, understand impermanence, face suffering, learn to let go of attachment, and treat ourselves and others with compassion.

When we are willing to slow down and recognize ourselves in every arising thought and moment of awareness, we may gradually come to understand that true peace does not necessarily come from changing the world, but from learning how to find stillness within ourselves.

✦ Faith — Keeping a Light Burning Within Through the Storms of Life

Faith is not necessarily a grand or dramatic ideal. It can simply be the belief that a person refuses to give up on throughout the long years of life. When life is going smoothly, faith may remain so quiet that we hardly notice it. Yet when we find ourselves facing uncertainty, setbacks, and the unknown, it can become like a light in the darkness—reminding us why we first set out and telling us that, even when the road ahead is long, it is still worth taking one step at a time. 

📜 History — The Traces Left by Time, and the Road Humanity Has Traveled

History has never been merely a collection of dates, figures, and wars found in textbooks. It is also a mirror reflecting the development of human civilization. From ancient tribes to modern cities, from the rise and fall of dynasties to technological revolutions, every era has left behind its own choices and stories.

Understanding history is not simply about remembering what happened in the past. It is also about learning to understand why people made the choices they did, and how the events that once unfolded gradually shaped the world we live in today.

🪷 The Buddha — From Prince Siddhartha to the Enlightened One: A Life Journey That Changed the World 

The Buddha was not someone who was destined to be regarded as a Buddha from the very beginning. He was once a person who lived in the world, reflecting deeply on the meaning of life. From Prince Siddhartha in the royal palace, to a seeker who renounced worldly luxury in pursuit of truth, and finally to the Buddha who attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, his life was not merely an important chapter in religious history. It was also a profound exploration of birth, aging, illness, and death; suffering, compassion, wisdom, and liberation.

🪷 Buddhist Philosophy — Learning to See Ourselves and the World in a Single Moment of Awareness

Buddhist philosophy is not merely about scriptures found in temples, nor is it simply a belief in the afterlife and karma. Rather, it can be seen as a path leading inward—a journey that begins with suffering, impermanence, attachment, and compassion, allowing us to better understand ourselves and see life from a different perspective.

When we learn to observe our thoughts, accept change, and gradually let go of unnecessary attachments, we may discover a sense of inner peace that does not depend entirely on external circumstances.

✦ Heaven and Hell — Seeking Answers to Good and Evil at the Edge of Human Imagination

From religious beliefs and mythology to philosophical reflection, heaven and hell have always been among humanity’s deepest imaginings when confronting life and death. One represents hope, redemption, and eternity, while the other embodies judgment, punishment, and fear. Perhaps what we truly seek to understand has never been simply where we will go after death, but rather how we should choose to live within the limited span of a human life.

Behind the Noise of the Screen — The Silence and Scars of Cyberbullying

Once a message has been sent, we can never truly know how long it will remain in another person’s heart. The internet has brought people closer together, yet it has also made harm faster, more pervasive, and often invisible. Comments that seem like harmless jokes, malicious mockery, and deliberately spread rumors can all become memories that someone may struggle to forget for a very long time.

In the face of cyberbullying, what we need is not only the courage to stop it, but also understanding, empathy, and the kindness to pause for just one more second and think about how our words might affect someone else before we choose to speak.

🎤 Qiyuan Karaoke
One song, one connection; one night, a memory filled with happiness.

When you come to “Qiyuan,” you don’t need to be a professional singer, nor do you have to worry about being off-key. If you simply love singing, enjoy a lively atmosphere, and like making new friends, you can find a stage that belongs to you. Qiyuan Karaoke is all about relaxed, carefree singing and warmly welcomes guests from different places and all walks of life. Whether you’re a regular, a new friend, or visiting for the very first time, you can feel completely at ease singing, chatting, enjoying tea, and sharing stories from everyday life. The friendly and approachable owner is also the warmest presence in the venue, making every guest feel comfortable, welcome, and right at home.

IKU Workshop — Teacher Yigu specializes in yarn knitting, crochet, and a wide variety of handmade crafts. We are now launching a brand-new collection of knitting projects and hands-on craft courses, and registration is officially open!

If you love yarn knitting, handmade creations, or simply want to create a one-of-a-kind piece with your own hands, you are warmly invited to join Yigu IKU Workshop.

Follow Teacher Yigu and start learning from the basics. Enjoy the peaceful rhythm of crafting, take your time with every stitch, and experience the simple joy of watching a unique creation gradually come to life, one step at a time.....