Some people say the Tzu Cheng Faith Corps is just a source of cheap labor. In fact, they don't accept any payment. They say they compete with each other to do good, because they can build good relations with others by serving them and they can cultivate wisdom through their work.

Night duty volunteer

Winding his way through the traffic, he rushes to the Tzu Chi branch office located in a narrow lane in Taipei. He puts on his Tzu Cheng Faith Corps uniform at the same time that the branch office employees are just changing into their street clothes and getting ready to go home.

From seven in the evening till seven the next morning, Tzu Cheng members on night watch are responsible for the security of the branch office and for keeping the incense in the sanctuary burning. Because the number of Tzu Cheng Faith Corps members increases every year, it may take more than a year for a member to get his turn on night duty. Therefore, he cherishes that opportunity very much.

The Taipei branch office looks simple and plain. Most visitors to the office are Tzu Chi members who come to attend spiritual cultivation classes or to learn calligraphy, painting or audiovisual skills. Some people come to get free Tzu Chi periodicals or to buy books and tapes. Others come to learn more about Tzu Chi. Tzu Cheng Faith Corps members on duty serve as walking information centers.

It is the dead of night. They have checked all the doors, windows and lights. Before they start to feel too sleepy, they each get a cup of hot tea, sit around a table, and chat about their volunteer duties, experiences in life, how to keep a balance between their careers and their Tzu Chi work, what they have learned in studying Buddhism, etc. Some of them are senior members and some are newcomers. Thus, this is a good chance to get to know each other and to exchange views on life.

Early in the morning, they put away the folding cots. Some pick up trash outside and some do tai chi exercises. If an international relief team gets ready to depart from the branch, then the Tzu Cheng volunteers have to get busy again.

Environmental protection volunteer

He started out as an environmental protection volunteer before he joined the Tzu Cheng Faith Corps. Even though he is now a certified member, recycling is still his favorite activity. It is now only a part of his duties, but he realizes why Master Cheng Yen emphasizes the importance of this work. After all, caring for the community and saving the world is not a job for one person. The more people join in, the better.

As he participates in more Tzu Chi activities, he becomes acquainted with many people. That responds to Master Cheng Yen's encouragement to "make good friends everywhere." Not being ambitious, he feels lucky that he does not have to exchange name cards or engage in the other usual social rituals with people in Tzu Chi. While doing recycling, everybody concentrates on what he or she is doing. When anyone needs help hauling heavier bags of recyclable materials, a smile or a few words such as "Give us a hand, Brother" are enough to get the point across. He likes the feeling of this straightforward, matter-of-fact way of doing things.

Recycling resources helps to clean up the earth, but it also purifies the mind. He admires Master Cheng Yen's wisdom in teaching people to train their minds through their actions. How can one explain this? First of all, there is no discrimination with regard to age, gender or social status among all the environmental protection volunteers. They all come together for a purpose. Old folks forget about the arthritis in their knees, the boss of a large company takes off his suit and folds cartons, and petite women work as strongly as the men. All work mindfully without looking around or chatting idly with each other. Isn't that the same as doing spiritual cultivation?

Hospital volunteer

The ambulance siren comes closer and closer. The Tzu Cheng volunteer and several nurses push a gurney outside the emergency room and wait for the patient to arrive. Having had first aid training plus many years of experience in the emergency room, the volunteer can keep calm no matter how critical the situation is.

It is a young man injured in a car accident. One bone is broken and he has visible injuries. Once he is handed over to the doctors and nurses for professional treatment, the volunteer must wait for the patient's family members, who are usually very upset. He greets them and gives them guidance and spiritual support.

A Tzu Cheng Faith Corps volunteer is usually assigned to the outpatient services department or to the wards. The situation in the emergency room is always critical, so the volunteer must be very careful. In addition to his strength and courage, he must also have patience and intelligence.

The volunteer still feels that he has a lot to learn about counseling skills. He is not sure how the family of the young accident victim will react or how he should deal with them. To give them consolation, it is not enough just to say, "Don't worry." He needs to learn to perceive what is going on in their hearts and to improve his communication skills.

Train conductor

"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. We will soon arrive at the Taipei station. Please don't forget your personal belongings when you get off."

The speaker is not the regular train conductor or the station announcer, but he is still responsible for "Tzu Chi Train" passengers visiting the home of Tzu Chi in Hualien. As a Tzu Cheng Faith Corps member, he works closely with Tzu Chi commissioners to invite foundation members and their families to Hualien. On the train, he maintains order, distributes box lunches and explains the schedule. Sometimes, another Tzu Cheng Faith Corps team arrives in Hualien a day early to make necessary arrangements for auditoriums, buses, parking spaces, and cleanup after the activities. In everything they do, the volunteers want to keep the visitors safe and happy.

Whether acting as train conductor or "tour guide," the Tzu Cheng volunteer wants to introduce Tzu Chi and Buddhism to the visitors. He feels that words are not enough to describe the beauty of Tzu Chi. The best way is to let the visitors see and experience it for themselves. Therefore, each time it is his turn to act as guide on the "Tzu Chi Train," he happily remembers what the famous actor Sun Yueh once said: "Good things must be shared with good friends."

Traffic director

Wearing his Tzu Cheng Faith Corps uniform, a whistle in his mouth and a baton in his hand, he stands at the intersection in firm control of the traffic flow, knowing exactly which way the cars and pedestrians should go. Directing traffic is one of the functions of a Tzu Cheng Faith Corps member at any of Tzu Chi's large-scale activities. He learned his skills from the training he received at Tzu Chi. He keeps the traffic flowing smoothly and at the same time maintains the safety of pedestrians. His gestures must be exact and his judgement must be fast and precise.

After a new traffic law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets was passed, he saw several motorcyclists who were not wearing their helmets. When they saw him, they either made fast detours or immediately put on their helmets. It was really funny to see, but he felt proud that he at least looked like a policeman!

Disaster relief volunteer

The raging wind and rain of the previous night had calmed down, but serious damage had been done. The district was declared a disaster area. Radio and television broadcasts warned people not to go in the district so that they wouldn't be trapped in the floods.

Tzu Chi immediately set up a disaster relief center. All the Tzu Chi members living in that area purchased instant noodles, bread, flashlights, rice, vegetables, etc. They fetched large pots and woks and cooked hot meals for the flood victims. Tzu Chi members from other areas came to help.

Several Tzu Cheng Faith Corps members drove to the disaster area. On the way, a fallen signboard blocked the road and they had to get out of the car to remove the obstacle. After they had joined up with other teams, lifeboats soon arrived. They put on long rubber overalls and rowed the boats to deliver hot food to victims in the lanes and alleys where the water had not yet receded. "We are from the Tzu Chi Foundation," they shouted. "We have come to give you box meals and mineral water." Although the electricity was cut off, they had brought a small generator with them and so worked until very late into the night.

The water finally receded, leaving behind a tremendous amount of mud and debris on the streets. Tzu Chi members put on raincoats and rubber boots and mobilized community volunteers to clean up the streets. They worked from morning till night, resting only to have lunch. When the work was finished, everyone was covered head to foot with mud. "You can only experience your commitment through hardship." The Master's words are certainly true.