Setting out

After everyone was seated, the bus set off. A little desk was folded down in front of Master Cheng Yen's seat, right behind the driver, so she could do some work on the road. What a busy life she must lead!

I wanted to capture some shots which would convey the Master's spirit of helping the needy in the world.

I clicked away. Of all the pictures I took, this is the one I am most pleased with. The rays of the morning sun slant into the minibus. Holding her chanting beads, the Master keeps her hands over her chest. Her every thought is on the suffering in the world. Her reflection in the window amplifies her boundless compassion.



Super strong!
Shihkang Elementary School


I have always thought that I was in pretty good shape, but I was exhausted after following the Master around eleven schools from sunrise to sunset.

The day was hot. With not a single cloud in the sky to soften its glare, the blazing sun was hot enough to burn our heads. We squinted in the glare. When we finally ducked into the air-conditioned minibus, the cool air soon took most of us to dreamland, but the Master remained spirited as usual, without the slightest sign of fatigue.

Teams of Tzu Chi TV volunteers, who were there to record the trip, milled around the construction sites, trying to get good shots. While inspecting the progress of the construction, Master Cheng Yen kept an eye on the volunteers, especially when they approached the yellow ribbons marking open ditches. "Be careful, watch where you step," the Master reminded them from time to time.

After getting out of the minibus, the Master promptly headed to a corner of the construction site to scrutinize rows of steel reinforcing bars. Staring at them, she held one of the rods and exclaimed with relieved delight, "They are super strong!" When the Master said she would build schools that would last a thousand years, most people were skeptical. But after looking at those strong steel rods, people began to take the Master's words seriously. Even the workers said assuringly, "No earthquakes will bring these schools down!"



A higher goal
Hsinshe Elementary School


The construction of Hsinshe Elementary School began just half a year ago. It was designed and built by Ruentex Construction & Engineering Company at a cost of NT$110 million (US$3.5 million). The money was actually donated by Samuel Yin, president of Ruentex and a Tzu Chi Honorary Board member. This was my second visit to this school. I was surprised to see that the construction was nearly completed. Workers were painting the walls and working on small details of the terrazzo floor. Lights were already installed in one classroom. All that was needed was a blackboard, desks and chairs, and then it would be ready for use. For over a year, many people tirelessly raised funds for Project Hope to build schools for children living in areas devastated by the earthquake. Seeing such a wonderful school standing before them, everyone felt happy and grateful.

Undoubtedly, this will be the first Project Hope school to be opened. Its construction was quick and of high quality. I looked at the floor, which had been polished as smooth as a mirror, and could not see even a ripple in the concrete. The lines on the wall, beams and posts were meticulously straight as well. How I wished I were a student here. Looking around, I saw that everyone's expression showed they were as touched as me, and some even had tears in their eyes.

All were fully intoxicated with joy-all but Master Cheng Yen. I noticed that as she nodded approvingly, she still carefully examined every detail. Rubbing her hand back and forth on the pebble-dashed walls, she remarked that the pebbles were too rough and set too far apart. I knew she was not being picky, but merely setting a stricter standard and higher goal each time.

A few weeks later, the principal of Hsinshe Elementary School told us that after hearing Master Cheng Yen's comments, Ruentex had knocked down all the pebble-dashed walls and had done them all over again. Such is the scrupulous attitude of Tzu Chi people!



The guardian of hope
Juicheng Elementary School


The construction of the school, which began last September, was still in the early stages. Not many materials had been put on the ground, so the site still looked tidy. The Master had scheduled a short visit here. As she was about to leave a group of students came to see her, which prolonged her stay.

Whenever the Master sees children coming to welcome her, she always asks, "Aren't you supposed to be in school?" To this question, this group of fifth-grade students answered in unison, "We're having an extracurricular activity."

I've noticed that the Master tends to loosen up and her face softens when she is around little kids. She patted the head of each student and then turned to board the minibus to carry on with her inspections. Suddenly the children started to sing. The Master paused on the steps of the bus, turned around and looked at them affectionately. Seemingly reluctant to part with them, she waited for the students to finish their song. Taken by the singing, she clapped her hands to the rhythm. Seeing this, the children sang louder and smiled brighter, and their little hands clapped enthusiastically along with the Master's.

This touching scene happened right before my eyes-how could a professional photographer like me afford to let it slip away? I immediately knelt down to take the picture from the perspective of these little children. From this angle, I could see Taiwan's future generation looking so happy and full of hope. And isn't Master Cheng Yen the guardian of their hope?



Great Love passes on
Tunglin Elementary School


Steel reinforcing bars were out of stock and construction here had been temporarily halted, making the site a safer place for visitors. The Master and other Tzu Chi people seemed more relaxed as they strolled among the frames of classrooms. The unfinished classrooms looked like a painting with only the outlines drawn, waiting for imaginative people to color it in. On the first day of school last September, I came here and followed the twelve first-graders as they experienced this big day in their lives.

What happened that day was forever etched in my mind. Three days before school began, Principal Liang Kui-ping phoned the parents of the first-graders and asked them to come with their children on the first day of school. The parents came and sat in the last row in the classroom and had classes with their children.

Tunglin is a tiny elementary school in the countryside. There is only one class in each grade, and each class has roughly ten students. The entire student body numbers 104. At the opening ceremony students from grades two to six put on performances such as singing songs, reciting poems or playing violin and flute to welcome the newcomers. It was a heartwarming and educational arrangement.

After the morning class, Principal Liang gave a touching talk to the parents. She earnestly urged them to watch less TV and to spend more time helping their children with their homework, so that their children would grow up with parents, not with a TV set.

The school had not been notified of the Master's visit, so no one came to greet us. Faintly, the voices of children reciting their lessons in prefabricated classrooms near the construction site reached us. As we headed back to the minibus, the Master again and again turned her head to where the voices were coming from.

Through the lens, the bamboo hat the Master was wearing corresponded geometrically with the steel beams of the circular roof. It was amusing yet inspiring, telling me that Tzu Chi's Great Love will accompany teachers and students in the earthquake-stricken areas for generations to come.



Work willingly, receive cheerfully
Hsukuang Middle School


At Hsukuang Middle School, the last stop on the trip, the setting sun was blinding. Reynold Hsieh, a volunteer of the Tzu Chi Construction Department, was wearing a pair of sunglasses, and the reflection of the sun on the lenses looked like piercing eyeballs.

After the earthquake of September 21, 1999, Hsieh immediately closed his general contracting business in the United States and returned to Taiwan to plunge into Tzu Chi's disaster relief projects. He currently supervises the reconstruction of thirteen schools in the Puli region.

His capability left a deep impression on me. I had the chance to be with him the whole day. Watching him scurry between eight different construction sites and carefully talking with architects and workers about all matters pertaining to the construction, I was confident of the high quality of Project Hope.

Although Master Cheng Yen did not stay long at each construction site, she could accurately grasp the situation at each site. In this picture, Hsieh gives a concise progress report to the Master, while Tzu Chi Vice-President Lin Pi-yu shakes hands with construction director Lai Po-chiang.

The picture shows the remarkable spirit of Tzu Chi people. With the greatest devotion and commitment, everyone works willingly and accepts the results cheerfully.



Ms. Lin's smile
In the minibus


The minibus was heading back to the Taichung office. I was going to take a short nap, but I was captured by the scene before me-Vice-President Lin was sitting on the floor and talking to the Master. Although I couldn't hear their conversation or see the Master's face, I gathered from Ms. Lin's bright smile that their chat must be encouraging.

This trip gave me a deeper understanding of Ms. Lin. I noticed that upon reaching a site, she would immediately put on a hard hat and rush onto the site-inside the foundation, on a scaffold, or beside piles of materials, seizing every second to talk and solve problems with construction foremen.

I chatted briefly with her in the minibus and shared my impressions of Tunglin Elementary School with her. She told me that this school has a good tradition: all graduating students stay overnight in the school with the principal and teachers before they leave for the last time. "I'm sure the children never forget that night, the school, and their hometown. What a special graduation gift it is!"

I'd thought I had a fairly good understanding of each of the schools of Project Hope, yet I knew nothing about that wonderful tradition of Tunglin Elementary School. Ms. Lin is actually the one who really understands and cares for all the schools.



Tzu Chi
The Taiwanese miracle


Upon reaching the Tzu Chi Taichung branch office, many people went to get some rest, but not the Master. She was having a discussion with architect Huang Chien-hsing. Huang, a frequent award winner, behaved like a shy boy in front of the Master.

"How come I didn't see you on the construction sites?" asked the Master.

"The train was late to Taichung. I jumped into my car and chased after you, but people at each school told me you had just left. I just couldn't catch up with you, Master."

Among the fifty-five schools in Project Hope, Huang designed six. Like all architects participating in this project, he regarded this chance as a blessing and a new milestone in his career.

In the picture, Master Cheng Yen carefully examines a sample of pebble-dashed wall that Huang brought along. Her decision will decide the appearances of the six schools. It hit me that any of the Master's decisions, big or little, have unimaginable influence.

I have been taking photographs of Project Hope schools since the big earthquake struck. During this time, the number of schools that Tzu Chi is sponsoring has increased from twenty-three to fifty-five. I feel there will always be more schools for me to visit and more photographs to take.

Tzu Chi, a charity organization with over four million members worldwide, has done much for the world. It was founded by this seemingly ordinary nun who has led her disciples and numerous kind-hearted volunteers to help the needy for over three decades. If Tzu Chi is a Taiwanese miracle, then Master Cheng Yen is the miracle maker.