To combat the depressed economy — and possibly climate change as well — the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation yesterday unveiled an exhibition and workshop, calling on people to enrich their lives by turning waste into reusable resources.
“To celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Tzu Chi, we are hosting a nationwide ‘Enrich with Simplicity’ exhibition that will run until May 17,” foundation senior volunteer Josephine Lee (李憶慧) said.
Lee said that Tzu Chi spiritual leader Master Cheng Yen (證嚴法師) has told her followers that living a simple lifestyle is the best way to get through the current economic crisis.
“Tzu Chi volunteers have put together ways to live simply in the areas of dining, clothing, housing, transportation, education and leisure, so that people can learn how to maintain a simple lifestyle,” Lee said.
Exhibitions will be held in seven cities and counties throughout the nation and volunteers will be available to both guide visitors and share their own philosophies or techniques on humble living, Lee said.
For example, at Tzu Chi’s Taipei branch, volunteer Gong Xiu-chuan (龔秀絹) will teach people how to clean used plastic bags to reuse them and how to make porridge from dried out rice grains that are stuck to the bottom of rice cookers, while another volunteer, Chan Mei-mei (詹梅妹), will share her philosophy of life, which is to live modestly but to give generously, Lee said.
On top of saving money, the practices also advance environmental protection, which is also an important part of the foundation’s mission, Lee said.
“We hope that through both the exhibition and the interactive workshops, people will be inspired,” Lee said.
The Taipei exhibition will be held at Liberty Square from Friday until May 14.
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