At Tzu Chi humanities schools, children are becoming more and more mature and are cared for by many loving people. Gradually, their parents realize what Master Cheng Yen once said: "If you love other people's children, yours will be loved by others as well."

"Of course," replied his father.

"Really? Can you remember it?" Little Wei was concerned that his father would forget that line.

The following week, Little Wei put his hands behind his back and asked his father, "Dad, do you still remember the phrase from Still Thoughts our teacher taught last week?" His father said he did and Wei wanted his father to repeat it.

His father then said, "Getting angry is actually..." Before he finished the phrase, Little Wei gave him a report card: an "F" in Chinese!

Little Wei's father would have become angry with the grade, but because of his son's creativity, he laughed instead.

Still Thoughts, a collection of aphorisms from the teachings of Master Cheng Yen, is the center of education for overseas Tzu Chi humanities schools. The so-called "Still Thoughts Teaching" incorporates Master Cheng Yen's simple words of reflection into the teaching materials. Still Thoughts contains moving stories and philosophy, and it is very easy to get the children motivated enough to learn it. If the children understand it, they can easily practice it in their daily lives.

One surprising good word

Still Thoughts is very easy to understand and every phrase is a reflection of life. Overseas Chinese children may not speak perfect Chinese, but it doesn't affect their ability to memorize the phrases and to use the phrases to inspire themselves.

Nine-year-old Yu-ling wanted to stop learning water ballet because it was very difficult. But she learned a phrase in the humanities school--"Every second of hard work leads to your success"--and she suddenly understood what it meant. She even won first place in a competition.

Ah-pao, a fourth grade student, considered himself too fat and didn't sign up for a running race. Due to the lack of participants, however, he later joined the race. When he was just about to give up the race, a phrase from Still Thoughts suddenly appeared in his head: "Do not underestimate yourself, because human beings have unlimited potential." He continued the race and finished twelfth out of a total of fifty-two racers.

Due to differences in culture, educational systems and social mores between Taiwan and other countries, overseas Tzu Chi humanities schools do not only teach the Chinese language. They also want the children to absorb Chinese culture and morality through their reflections and actions based on the contents of Still Thoughts.

In reality, Still Thoughts not only teaches the children, but influences their parents as well.

Ho Wen-ching, one of the "Loving Parents" at the Tzu Chi humanities school in Long Island, New York, said that when she was angry with her children, they would tell her that lotus flowers would not bloom in her mouth. She was puzzled when she heard this, but then she recalled the line from Master Cheng Yen's Still Thoughts: "Good words are like lotus flowers blooming out from your mouth."

Loving parents are different

"Loving Parents," the Tzu Chi schools' adult volunteers, are another special feature at the schools. At the Tzu Chi school in Los Angeles, which was set up seven years ago, Deputy Principal Mu Chia-hui said that the "Loving Parents" always come to the school early to help distribute teaching materials, manage traffic around the campus, or do administrative work. Then within fifteen minutes, they have to help children out of cars, carry umbrellas to shield them from sun or rain, and gather five-hundred-odd students at the playground...

Chang-yu, a student at the Tzu Chi Academy USA Cupertino School, once shared with everyone else in his class about his carelessness and mistakes: "I always mess up my room, so my mom nags me all the time." His mother, sitting at the back of the classroom, smiled when she heard his words. She felt that after Chang-yu had started coming to school, his behavior towards other people had changed dramatically for the better.

It says in Still Thoughts that parents have to love other children with motherly love. Most parents become Tzu Chi volunteers after they send their children to Tzu Chi schools. When they have time, parents in southern California also go to the Tzu Chi Southern California branch office to help fold newspapers, send out monthly magazines, or attend Tzu Chi activities.

Hsieh Ming-ling, former principal of a school in northern California, said that she was touched by the professionalism of the Loving Parents. One student was sick and stayed home, but his father, a volunteer, still came to the school instead of staying with his son because he had to ring the school bell. What persistence!

Chang Hsiao-chen, who serves at the Tzu Chi school in Washington, D.C, said that she first became a volunteer to accompany her four-year-old daughter to school. She later became a teacher at the same school.

Chang further said that besides the teaching of Still Thoughts, another feature that attracted many parents was to have caring Loving Parents who were concerned about the relationships between parents and children. One mother said that whenever she saw the Loving Parents patiently and happily greeting her children, she felt more relaxed about leaving her children there...

Liu Hui-ping, teacher at a Tzu Chi school in northern California, mentioned that the school encouraged parents to become volunteers and to participate in extra-curricular lessons.

She is an example herself. When she is not teaching at the school, she joins other Tzu Chi volunteers in various community projects.

Cheng Pao-chen has been a Loving Parent for six years at the Tzu Chi Academy USA Hawaii. She often encourages other Loving Parents to teach Still Thoughts to their children.

For instance, she often embraces children and praises them by saying, "You are so good! Lotus flowers just came out from your mouth!" Or she tries to calm down a child by saying, "Don't get angry! 'A common man's anger is strong, and a gentleman's forbearance is also strong.'" Thus, many parents come to her if they have any problem with their children.

Cheng mentioned that a woman who was receiving regular assistance from Tzu Chi became a Loving Parent because she was touched by the sincere care of the volunteers. According to the woman, she and her husband had only focused on making money in the past. After her husband died, she instead got a big, warm family like Tzu Chi.

This woman also donates US$5 every month despite her poor financial condition. Having learned how to give, she feels she is richer than before.

Cheng also said that a Caucasian couple in Hawaii adopted two girls from China, and the girls were also attending the Tzu Chi School of Humanities. Seeing their daughters so happy there, the couple decided to become Loving Parents as well. But since they could not speak Chinese, the couple decided to take language courses at night so they could be good Loving Parents.

Cheng's husband died very young, and she doesn't have any children of her own, so she treats every student at the school like her own. She once told parents, "Parents are role models for their children," so it was imperative to be attentive to teaching one's own children.

The spring on his face

Since 1996, the Tzu Chi school in Los Angeles has been bringing students to institutions for the mentally challenged and holding parties with the residents and their parents. The school hopes to bring happiness to the residents and to teach the students about giving and caring.

The mother of a mentally-challenged child had difficulty accepting her child's condition. She once heard that Tzu Chi was holding an activity, so she took her child along. In the midst of laughter, her son suddenly stood up from his wheelchair with a smile on his face. The mother tried to hold back her excitement while she looked on from one side. She was afraid that if she stepped forward to support him, the smile would disappear from his face...

A father also plucked up his courage and brought his mentally-challenged child to the activity. He became a Loving Parent the following week, and he has never missed a day in the last five years.

Mu Chia-hui said that the school also took students to visit nursing homes. To the lonely old people, these children were like angels. Her own child once said to her, "Mom, don't worry; I'll never put you in a nursing home." Her son's words warmed her heart.

After the September 21, 1999, earthquake in Taiwan, the teachers and students at the school wrote letters to children in the disaster areas to show their care. When Tzu Chi volunteers went to hold free clinics in Mexico, teachers also went along so they could obtain good teaching materials for their students.

In short, the teaching of Still Thoughts, Loving Parents, visits to nursing homes, street fundraising, environmental protection, and other extracurricular activities build a special educational environment for the Tzu Chi humanities schools.

Currently, Tzu Chi has eighteen humanities schools in the United States. Mu Chia-hui said that Tzu Chi education is carried out in the hope that teachers, students and parents will interact together through Still Thoughts, and that the Tzu Chi school won't be just a "day-care center" for teaching students Chinese on weekends. The main focus of the school is on teaching children about good morals and life, not just Chinese.

Tzu Chi also has schools in Canada, Australia, Malaysia, and other countries. When parents notice that their children become more mature after attending the schools and are very well cared for by so many Loving Parents, they begin to understand what the Master once said: "If you love other people's children, yours will be loved by others as well."