Growing up in an era of war and poverty, Chuang Shen-szu lived a turbulent childhood, with air-raid sirens frequently interrupting daily activities. Dire circumstances were nevertheless followed by good fortune, and Chuang managed to establish a prosperous business before reaching the age of 40. Despite his success, Chuang maintained a thrifty lifestyle, channeling what he saved for charitable purposes.

On June 1, Chuang Shen-szu's funeral took place at his home, the only immovable property that he had left. Although his family chose not to publish any obituaries, Tzu Chi volunteers in Tainan, where Chuang lived, went to his home to lend their hands and hearts during the ceremonial seven-day watch over Chuang's remains. This ritual is traditionally open only to the closest of relatives.

Dharma Master Cheng Yen expressed much sorrow when the news of Chuang's passing reached her on the evening of May 25. He had contributed much to the Tzu Chi missions, and his devout, benevolent spirit was an example for everyone to follow.

The start of a good relationship

Chuang first learned of Tzu Chi when he decided to donate 4,298 square meters [46,258 sq ft] of land conveniently situated in an area zoned for cultural and educational use in Jenteh, Tainan, southern Taiwan. The land was home to the Tzu Yu Kindergarten, which had a floor space of 1,653 square meters [17,792 sq ft]. Founded and operated by Chuang and his family, the kindergarten had been in business for eight years. With a student body of 500 to 600 members, the kindergarten enjoyed much success and recognition from the local community. Despite this, Chuang had no intention of keeping the kindergarten.

Chuang suffered several heart attacks between 1990 and 1991. He realized that he might not have many days left, so he decided to retire. As he was winding up his business and thinking about what to do with his estate, a newspaper account of the passing of a renowned entrepreneur caught his attention. Apparently, the entrepreneur's family members were battling each other over his property while his remains lay in the morgue. The burial date had been postponed indefinitely [some--by no means all--Chinese believe that affairs must be settled before the deceased can be buried]. Dismayed, Chuang remarked, "If that is the case, then peoples' efforts to benefit their children not only fail, but even create conflict and trouble for those they work all their lives for." To avoid any future conflicts among his own children, he decided to donate the land where the Tzu Yu Kindergarten was located to charity. Before implementing his decision, Chuang consulted his family and sought their approval. "We all agreed that he should go ahead and do it," recalled Huang Shih-che, Chuang's brother-in-law and a staff member of the Tzu Yu Kindergarten.

The family did a lot of research, inquiring into the reputation and work of any number of charity groups, and eventually arrived at their choice. Huang recounted, "It was not hard to make the choice. Tzu Chi has always actively sought out and assisted those in need. Its finances are always open to the public, and the nuns have always worked to support themselves. We know that under Tzu Chi, my brother-in-law's land will be kept for everyone to use and will never fall under private ownership."

Tzu Chi Commissioner Tsai Po-chou, who had known Chuang's family for many years, arranged for Chuang and his wife to meet with Master Cheng Yen on December 1992 at the Tzu Chi Pingtung branch office. Chuang and his wife, Chiu-hsiang, said to the Master, "Although we have never met you before, we know well what Tzu Chi has done and accomplished. We would like to donate a parcel of land to Tzu Chi."

"Do you have any requests?" asked the Master.

"The Master's acceptance is all I wish for," Chuang responded.

"Your sincerity exceeds the value of this land," said the Master.

"The value of land rests in its usefulness. Tzu Chi will make the best use of the land." When the Master agreed to accept their donation, Chuang and his wife prostrated themselves before the Master and broke into tears of gratitude.

Tsai recalled that Chuang lost days of sleep before the meeting, having heard that the Master did not easily accept donations. He was extremely worried and kept a copy of the land deed in front of a statue of the Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, praying day and night that the Master would not turn him down.

An act of kindness led Chuang to come to know Tzu Chi, marking the start of a new relationship between Chuang and the Tzu Chi community. The Master's acceptance of the land realized Chuang's dream, yet the Master also had a wish herself--she hoped that Chuang would witness the construction and inauguration of the Tzu Chi Tainan branch office.

A home in Tainan

"Without Chuang, Tzu Chi volunteers in Tainan wouldn't have a home!" the Master once said. Chuang's contributions marked a page in Tzu Chi history. The former Tzu Yu Kindergarten provided a base of operations for Tzu Chi volunteers to organize bigger events and meetings and draw in new participants and volunteers.

Huang Sheng-pi, who led the activities division, fondly recalled that before Chuang donated the land to Tzu Chi, Tzu Chi commissioners in Tainan were divided into four teams and meetings were held at team leaders' homes. At Chinese New Year, they always traveled to the Tzu Chi headquarters in Hualien to attend the year-end blessing ceremonies. Later, for about five or six years, the gatherings were held at the Pingtung branch office [about a one-hour trip]. As soon as they had the land, they immediately organized their first certification ceremony, which was held on January 20, 1994, for new Tzu Chi commissioners, honorary board members, and Tzu Cheng Faith Corps members who lived in the southern part of Taiwan.

"We constructed a three-story-high outdoor shelter that accommodated more than 600 people! Chuang asked us to prepare snacks and meals, reminding us that a huge crowd meant good fortune!" Huang Sheng-pi remarked that Chuang was not only a successful businessman--he had the heart of a bodhisattva.

The Tzu Chi Tainan liaison office was formally established in November 1994. After that, Chuang took care of all the expenses for the activities held there. At the same time his wife, who was a fantastic cook, found many people to assist in the food preparation tasks. The rest of the Chuang family, who had formerly worked at the kindergarten, also volunteered their time during weekends and holidays.

Although everyone praised Chuang and his wife and called them "bodhisattvas," they remained modest and sincere. Chuang's wife, Chiu-hsiang, always steered away from attention, keeping herself busy in the kitchen. She said, "As long as people find use in the resources given, it's not necessary for them to know who gave those resources." When Tzu Chi volunteers asked Chuang to head the liaison office, he turned down the offer, saying, "Everyone's been a Tzu Chi volunteer longer than I have and they know more than I do. Just let me help out." And that was all he ever asked for: to assist in every way possible.

The new Still Thoughts Hall

When the Tzu Yu Kindergarten was torn down in 1999 for the construction of a Still Thoughts Hall, Huang Sheng-pi captured the historic moment with his camera. At the time, he thought, "This place has been used by Tzu Chi for several years, and I can still remember each New Year celebration we held. And that time when we celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival, we had tons of fun competing in our inland boat racing." Although the Tzu Yu Kindergarten had stepped into history, it marked the beginning of a new Tzu Chi.

Upon the completion of the Still Thoughts Hall in 2002, Tzu Chi set up the Great Love Kindergarten. The kindergarten also promotes adult education programs, thus continuing and paying tribute to Chuang's devotion to education. Li Hui-li, the kindergarten principal, always invited Chuang to take part in the activities conducted by the kindergarten. He would say, "I am extremely at ease with all of you running the kindergarten and I know you will do a great job."

The children and the teachers held a memorial for Chuang on May 29. Reflecting upon his life, the children wrote on cards, "Grandfather Chuang is like an apple tree, and we are the apples that hang from its branches." An apple symbolizes an honorary recognition for good deeds and achievements, so the children used this symbol to praise Chuang.

"One can count the seeds in an apple, yet we never know how many apples will grow from a seed," says Principal Li. Chuang's contributions gave birth to the Great Love Kindergarten. Nobody knows how many good people it will help educate. "Chuang once said that the greatest meaning in life was being useful, and those words have deeply influenced me. I wish to pass on this lesson to the children and teach them to be useful people."

"We thank Grandfather Chuang, for it was he who made the Great Love Kindergarten possible. We'll learn from him and become people who help others and contribute to society," said one child. The older ones who had known Chuang better were sad. "He won't be at our graduation ceremony this year."

Remembering Chuang

Chuang found joy and satisfaction in giving. Many remember the man for his good deeds and meaningful words. "Tzu Chi is a good path," Chuang once said. "Walk steadfastly on the path and follow Master Cheng Yen. Don't just put on an act. Do your best to carry out good deeds, and then your life will be meaningful."

Although Chuang gave generously to others, he himself maintained a thrifty lifestyle. Huang Shih-che, his brother-in-law, said, "When I was young, I lived with my brother-in-law. The first day I moved into his house, I got scolded for leaving the lights on!" Anywhere Chuang passed, he would check whether the lights were off. Whereas most people might leave a light on in the entrance hall, Chuang would keep it off. "The house my brother-in-law lived in used to be in poor condition. The paint was peeling and the furniture was badly infested with termites. It took us some effort to persuade him to renovate the house."

"He never wore name-brand clothes," said Chuang's sister-in-law, Huang Chiu-hua. "When he ran a company that produced school uniforms, he took the extra shirts home, washed and ironed them, and wore them to work." The company provided a driver for him, but when the driver was busy elsewhere, Chuang would ride his scooter or take the bus. "Even when it was raining, he would just grab an umbrella and head to the bus stop. He wouldn't take a taxi!"

Chiu Chun-yueh, a Tzu Chi commissioner, also shared her memories of the kind-hearted man. "Once Master Cheng Yen gave Chuang a box of pears, and he immediately gave them to us. We chopped the pears into small pieces so that everyone could share them." When the construction of the Still Thoughts Hall began in 1991, Chuang saw that there was no place near the building site where the workers could cook and eat a hot lunch. So he offered a piece of land that he owned near the site, telling the workers, "You can use this area as long as you want."

Chuang always treated and cared for those around him like his own family. Tzu Cheng Faith Corps member Chang Wen-lang said that two or three years ago he participated in several international relief missions, and Chuang always said to him when he saw him, "Do whatever you can to help others, but don't forget to take care of your health, work, and family."

On the other hand, Chuang always took care not to bother others. "Once when Chuang was hospitalized, his wife told us that they weren't home because the whole family went to Taitung to spend the holidays," said neighbor Kuo Shu-ching. When Chuang passed away at midnight, his wife similarly asked Kuo not to alarm anyone and to wait until the next morning.

Farewell

Chuang's funeral was simple. His remains were cremated and the ashes were put in an urn and then placed in a temple. "The most important thing is how we walk our path and what we do when we are alive," said Chuang's wife. "We have come to realize the true meaning of religion, and we know that appearances are not important. The funeral need not be elaborate."

At the funeral, Master Ta Yuan, who conducted the ceremony, told the gathering, "To attain peace and contentment in life, we only need to do meaningful things with the time we have. Chuang surely made the best of his life by working hard and did his utmost to give to others." His altruistic spirit has provided us with a good example to follow.

"We can take nothing with us after we die, so in this life all we need is a place that can shelter us," Chuang once said. These words embodied the life of a great man who embraced modesty, sincerity, simplicity, and virtuous generosity.