Buddhists cross Strait
By Benjamin Kang Lim |
01:14 UTC+8 August 21, 2010
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A TAIWAN Buddhist charity set up shop in Chinese mainland yesterday.
The Tzu Chi Foundation opened its mainland chapter in the form of a bookshop-cum-teahouse in the historic eastern city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, a popular investment choice for Taiwan companies that have pumped billions into the mainland.
Officials say Tzu Chi is the first overseas non-governmental organization to receive the Ministry of Civil Affairs' blessing to operate in the mainland. Normally they have to register with the Ministry of Commerce as businesses.
But it is barred from preaching and cannot raise funds from ordinary Chinese without government approval on an ad hoc basis.
"We will not make it a point to preach when we do charity work on the mainland, but if people ask me my religion, I will say I'm Buddhist," said spokesman Rey-sheng Her.
"We will use compassion to care for every suffering person and enlighten them to use love to help others," Her said. The opening of Tzu Chi's mainland chapter, housed in a traditional courtyard, was attended by Chen Yunlin, the mainland's top negotiator with Taiwan.
"The two sides of the (Taiwan) Strait need this spiritual bridge ... so that they can live in harmony," Chen said.
Tzu Chi has played an active role in bringing relief to some of the world's biggest disasters, including the devastating Sichuan earthquake in 2008, where more than 80,000 people died.
Tzu Chi was founded in 1966 by Buddhist nun Cheng Yen, known as Taiwan's Mother Teresa.
The Tzu Chi Foundation opened its mainland chapter in the form of a bookshop-cum-teahouse in the historic eastern city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, a popular investment choice for Taiwan companies that have pumped billions into the mainland.
Officials say Tzu Chi is the first overseas non-governmental organization to receive the Ministry of Civil Affairs' blessing to operate in the mainland. Normally they have to register with the Ministry of Commerce as businesses.
But it is barred from preaching and cannot raise funds from ordinary Chinese without government approval on an ad hoc basis.
"We will not make it a point to preach when we do charity work on the mainland, but if people ask me my religion, I will say I'm Buddhist," said spokesman Rey-sheng Her.
"We will use compassion to care for every suffering person and enlighten them to use love to help others," Her said. The opening of Tzu Chi's mainland chapter, housed in a traditional courtyard, was attended by Chen Yunlin, the mainland's top negotiator with Taiwan.
"The two sides of the (Taiwan) Strait need this spiritual bridge ... so that they can live in harmony," Chen said.
Tzu Chi has played an active role in bringing relief to some of the world's biggest disasters, including the devastating Sichuan earthquake in 2008, where more than 80,000 people died.
Tzu Chi was founded in 1966 by Buddhist nun Cheng Yen, known as Taiwan's Mother Teresa.
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