Tzu-Chi
Tzu-Chi (S. Chinese: 慈济基金会, T. Chinese: 慈濟基金會) is one of the two large Buddhist organizations in Taiwan (the other being Fokuangshan). It was founded by the nun Master Cheng Yen. Tzu-Chi maintains a small number of monks and nuns, and conducts its works via volunteer organizations consisting largely of laypersons. Unlike other Buddhist organizations, Master Cheng Yen has stayed very much out of politics and generally declined to be photographed with political figures.
The organization was heavily criticized in the early 1990s for spending much of its focus in relief efforts outside of Taiwan, but these criticism ended after the 921 earthquake in which the organization was able to draw on its logistics experience to provide disaster relief. In contrast to the official government efforts to deal with the disaster which was considered uncoordinated and haphazard, Tzu-Chi was widely praised for its efforts.
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