dc.description.abstract | Due to the impact of globalization, countries are in need of a third plate form to communicate with each other and to safeguard the interest of their own country without impeding the global development, stipulating terms that countries should comply with. The United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other international organizations are emerged as the times require. However, not all of the global public affairs can be all resolved by the international organization composed by the representatives from the government. Civil organizations in different countries are growing with times and slowly expand its business internationally to assist Governments to solve the problems. China with 18% of the world’s population, in recent year, has emerged as world’s second largest economy. Though the development of civil organization in China is a little bit late, the numbers of civil organization are increasing year by year. Chinese NGO and NPO are part of the social organizations, which manifest interests and will of citizens. China’s social organization is divided into three categories: social organization, foundations and private non-enterprise units.
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation is a religious Non-Governmental Organization from Taiwan. Buddhism was transmitted to China from India since Eastern Han dynasty and Buddhist ideas and practices have shaped Chinese culture in a wide variety of areas, including art, politics, literature, philosophy, medicine, and material culture. With long evolution over two thousand years in each dynasty, Buddhism has integrated with traditional Chinese culture of Confucianism and Taoism and finally become Chinese Buddhism. Not long after “New China” established, Buddhism was experiencing revolutionary reformed under Marxist theory advocated “religion is the opium of the people”. With the growth of prosperous market economy, people must face the pursuit of desires and the choices of lifestyle. The gap between the rich and the poor are gradually increasing. Buddhism was also transformed to meet different needs of society. Buddhism in China and Taiwan developed toward to the different ways.
After experiencing the Great Cultural Revolution and then toward the era of economy reform, religious policy in China faces amendments. Buddhist monuments and artifacts have been listed as a national cultural heritage protection, also seen as the benefit of international relationship development and tourism business. Again, Buddhism gets government’s attention and grows under the “supervision” of relevant government departments. However, the Buddhism in Taiwan developed toward to “Humanistic Buddhism”. Several Buddhist organizations are setting up charity group and helping government to resolve social problems. Tzu Chi foundation entered to China since 1991 and focused on philanthropy in many cities of China. Tzu Chi is the first organizational and International RNGO in China and also the first legally registered overseas funds and Buddhist organization in 2008 after twenty years of effort. Its successful strategies are summarized as below:
1. Unlike China’s Buddhism, Dharma Master Cheng Yen has endeavored to bring the Buddha’s doctrine into people’s daily lives, and inspired by Catholic nuns, she has gathered her disciples to devote themselves into social work in an organized way.
2. Insist on staying away from politics and focusing on “Tzu Chi’s Eight footprints” to relieve needy people from sufferings.
3. Tzu Chi commissioners dedicate themselves to the Master’s commitment as their own and take part in four missions globally.
4. With “Tzuchi’s spirit”, volunteers drive themselves to carry out the missions with pure heart and clear minds, and to develop a harmonious society.
5. Unique organizational structure shows the essence of Buddhism that everyone is equal.
6. “Community volunteer” makes the mobilization more efficient and quick. | en_US |