Shih Cheng Yen's Blog

“After receiving a bone marrow transplant, every drop of blood and every blood cell in my body carries the love of Tzu Chi and the love of the bone marrow donor.”

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As they entered the sixth day of the handmade soap course on August 29th, the trainees’ journey into the art of handmade soap had reached a stable production stage. The diverse group of participants, each with their unique roles, worked tirelessly. Some diligently mixed the ingredients, others dissolved the soap base, and others focused on the careful packaging of the soap. It was a collective effort to refine their skills; with each passing day, the production of soap steadily increased.

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Typhoon Koinu wreaked havoc on Orchid Island, southwest of the main island of Taiwan. On October 6, Tzu Chi relief workers Yang Ting-yuan (楊廷元) and Chen Yi-Chien (陳誼謙) entered the island to conduct a disaster assessment and provide assistance. They discovered that, in addition to a shortage of oil and food, an urgent issue facing the local population was lack of clean drinking water.

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On October 5, Typhoon Koinu struck southern Taiwan, with winds reaching up to 17 levels on the Beaufort scale. Orchid Island (Lanyu) reported significant damage to houses and public infrastructure due to the storm. In response to a request from the Taitung County Social Affairs Department, Tzu Chi Hualien Headquarters swiftly started relief work. After confirming that the typhoon had moved away, it arranged for a cargo ship to transport essential supplies from Taitung to Orchid Island.

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On the third day of the course, August 27th, the students were divided into two groups. One group headed to the kitchen to learn how to make soap, while the other group remained in the lobby to grasp the art of packaging the soap created the previous day. Mr. and Mrs. Cakra's daughter, Yi-Xuan, joined in to lend her expertise.

On August 25, during the second day of the course, the students eagerly ventured into the kitchen of Tzu Chi Center, ready to immerse themselves in the art of soap-making. The task at hand, however, began with an unexpected lesson in personal hygiene and cleanliness, a prerequisite for crafting soap as pure as their intentions.

For the women, most of whom had never set foot in a factory environment, the day's journey began by donning masks and hoods and thoroughly washing their hands. The teacher's guidance was clear – the kitchen should remain relatively uncluttered, not only to cope with the soaring temperature but also to maintain the pristine nature of the soap-making process.

Mrs. Cakra, their instructor, started the lesson by demonstrating the precise blend of coconut oil with spice powder, followed by the careful melting of 100 grams of soap base using an induction oven. With practiced grace, the fragrant oil was then seamlessly incorporated into the melted soap base before being poured into a pristine white silicone mold, capable of yielding twelve bars of soap within an hour.

 

The green soap is made from the leaves of the neem tree, a much-needed local cleansing product due to the antimicrobial properties of the leaf extracts; they are often used to reduce dental plaque and treat lice. After the demonstration, the trainees were invited to make their own soap, starting from measuring the materials and making a dish of soap step by step. In the face of the fresh handmade soap, everyone was apprehensive but could not stop themselves from eagerly wanting to learn.

Among the trainees, Bindrawati, aged 38, stood out as a remarkable example of perseverance and determination. She had arrived at the Tzu Chi Center hours before her afternoon class, and joined the noon prayer session. Unfamiliar with the surroundings and unaccustomed to carrying a kettle, and unfamiliar with the environment, she waited patiently for the class to begin.

Over time, the volunteers grew increasingly concerned about Bindrawati's well-being, noting that she had not eaten nor drunk any water. When they asked, they confirmed her predicament. It was Mamta, a compassionate volunteer, who stepped forward, offering her own kettle and a simple meal of bread.

As they shared this humble meal, the volunteers learned more about Bindrawati's extraordinary journey. She was a mother of ten children, six of whom had tragically passed away at a young age. Uneducated and primarily a goat herder, she had overcome countless obstacles for the sake of her surviving children, using unparalleled courage and resilience.

In this heartwarming story, the lesson from a Jing Si Aphorism resonated deeply: “Nothing is impossible with confidence, perseverance, and courage.” Indeed, within the walls of the Tzu Chi Center, these women had discovered not only the art of soap-making but also the boundless potential with themselves to overcome adversity, united by the transformative power of hope, education, and compassion.

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Story by Yang Wen-Ting, Hsieh Chien-Yi, Wu Hsiu-Ling, Huang Hu-Wan, and Liao Yuet-Hung

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The simple and elegant dark green soaps are the result of the trainees’ hard work. What caught our eyes was the handmade soap with a woman’s image printed on it and the words “Handcrafted in Lumbini, Tzu Chi” -- it symbolizes the strength of these Lumbini women, who are gradually developing their confidence through love.

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In the village of Badripur in Rajgir, in Bihar, north-east India, a remarkable encounter unfolded by chance. It was a moment that would change young Sandeep Kumar’s life forever. Sandeep, a little boy with a belly as big as a drum, made an unexpected appearance in a video, drawing the attention of Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi. On witnessing Sandeep’s abnormality on the screen, Tzu Chi volunteer, Abhishek Kumar launched a mission to find the young boy.

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In the village of Badripur in Rajgir, in Bihar, north-east India, a remarkable encounter unfolded by chance. It was a moment that would change young Sandeep Kumar’s life forever. Sandeep, a little boy with a belly as big as a drum, made an unexpected appearance in a video, drawing the attention of Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi. On witnessing Sandeep’s abnormality on the screen, Tzu Chi volunteer, Abhishek Kumar launched a mission to find the young boy.

In November 2022, the Tzu Chi Foundation achieved a significant milestone by registering as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) in India. This accomplishment paved the way for the establishment on September 13, 2023 of a Tzu Chi Office in Bodhgaya, Bihar state in Eastern India, where Buddha attained enlightenment.  The inauguration of the office was a momentous occasion, graced by the presence of Foundation Vice President Ms. Jing Xian Lin (林靜憪).