My heart was filled with gratitude and joy as I witnessed the inauguration ceremony officiated by Master Cheng Yen, founder of Tzu Chi. Sharing my happiness were over 8,000 Tzu Chi members representing Taiwan and over 20 other countries. During the ceremony, Master Cheng Yen promised that the hospital staff would treat their patients as if they were their own relatives. This remark immediately won a burst of applause from all the participants.

Located in Taipei County, the state-of-the-art, 600-bed medical center is composed of over 30 departments, including internal medicine, surgery, and traditional Chinese medicine. It will serve over two million citizens living in the area with the motto of "Guarding health, life, and love." Incredibly, over 2,000 outpatients flooded into the hospital on the first day after its grand opening. This enthusiastic response demonstrated that people have a high opinion of the quality services that Tzu Chi hospitals have provided throughout Taiwan. The facility in Xindian is the fifth Tzu Chi hospital to open its doors, joining hospitals in Hualien, Guanshan, Yuli, and Dalin.

When I first laid eyes on the hospital and its beautiful surroundings, I almost mistook it for a neat five-star hotel surrounded by beautiful gardens. Covering an area of 47,000 square meters, the main building has three levels below ground and fifteen stories above ground. The hospital and related structures occupy one-fourth of the campus and are surrounded with lush greenery and well tended gardens. Each room has its own private balcony where patients can stretch their arms and legs. Six roof gardens are designed especially for patients receiving physiotherapy treatments to take a leisurely stroll. In addition, the environmentally friendly hospital employs wastewater and rainwater recycling systems and solar-powered road lamps.

The structure itself is girded with an abundance of steel struts and reinforced concrete to withstand strong earthquakes. After central Taiwan was ravaged by a severe earthquake in September 1999, the Master decided to make the hospital strong enough to continue functioning in spite of future earthquakes. The grand opening was delayed for almost a year due to the extra earthquake precautions, but it was worth the delay. Thanks to superb teamwork among the architects, engineers, contractors and construction workers, Master Cheng Yen's high level of expectations have been fully met.

Although the steel and concrete design might make some think that the hospital would be sterile and uninviting, just the opposite is true. From the landscaping around the hospital to every corner within, careful attention has been paid to creating an inviting "home-away-from-home" ambiance. The wide use of wood floors and panels and the numerous paintings and calligraphic works that adorn the walls provide warmth and lend the facility a rich, homelike atmosphere.

Also impressive is the large force of dedicated volunteers that help staff the new facility. The successful recruitment of 5,000 volunteers for the hospital began over two years ago. According to Lin Ya-mei, an official with the Volunteer Services Center, volunteers need to serve at least three days per shift. One hundred and fifty of them serve at the hospital every day.

Lin explained that all volunteers are required to stay overnight. This allows them to gather together in the evening and share the day's experiences. Some people might argue that the requirement of staying overnight is too strict. However, I was surprised to find that every volunteer I met gladly observed the requirement without complaint. Because they volunteer only once every three months, the requirement to spend the night is no great hardship. Every volunteer cherishes each rare and fulfilling opportunity for doing good deeds, even if it means spending the night at the hospital. In this way, not only are the physical needs of patients served, but also the needs of all people eager to improve themselves spiritually. Truly, the new hospital in Xindian is built for all!