Current Buddhist Charity And Philanthropy Organization And Its Charity Activities

The development of NPO has been a global phenomenon and aroused an association revolution in the world. Since 1990, China also witnessed a rapid increase in the growth of NPOs. These NPOs have played an active role in providing social services and promote social harmony, and belief-based NPOs are an important category among them.Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation is currently the largest Buddhist Charitable organization in the world with origin from Taiwan, now Tzu Chi has millions of supporters in the world, and has established its influence and enjoyed good repute in China. In its more than 40 years development, Tzu Chi has established brand charity program Four Missions, and have build its Concentric Circle Organization, besides, Tzu Chi creates systematic training for volunteers and devoted commissioners. Since participating in flood relief work in east China in 1991, Tzu Chi has carried out many charity work in China's mainland, such as relief, environment protection, education, medical,etc. Now Tzu Chi has office in Nanjing, Jiangsu.This paper examines the development and characters of Tzu Chi Nanjing office, with more than two years' participating and observing in Tzu Chi's charity and philanthropy work, and interview with devoted Tzu Chi commisioners and volunteers in Nanjing, the paper tries to explain how does belief-based NPO work and function in China's mainland, such as how to enroll volunteers, how to make fund raising, how to handle relationship with government, and how to balance religious factor in secular philanthropy. The paper also used many of Tzu Chi's publications, such as Still Thought Abode, Tzu Chi's Monthly, etc. The paper is divided into five parts. Part?analyzes differences between concepts of charity and philanthropy, related concepts such as NPOs, NGOs, the third sector, associations are also covered. Part?describes theories and research in charity and philanthropy field. Part?gives a brief introduction of Buddhism participating social service in the history and in current China. Part?describes Tzu Chi organization and charity activities in Nanjing. Part?analyzes characters and specifics in the activities and development of Tzu Chi, such as how does it combine religion with charity and philanthropy, its civil society character,'hierarchy level in its organization, profession and CIS in its work. Part?concludes interviews with Tzu Chi's volunteers, Part?analysis how to carry out grassroot philanthropy in China, where government always plays key role in nearly every areas. Part?is a conclusion and give some thought in the development of charity and philanthropy.With more than two year's participation in Tzu Chi's work, the author has following observations:"Buddhism in the World" is the main value in the development of Tzu Chi Foundation. Tzu Chi's leader Dharma Master Cheng Yen has been appealing for Buddhism's involvement in the secular world. In practice, Tzu Chi Foundation takes a secular road of charity and philanthrophy, encourages and brings its member's to go to needy people, teaching people to be aware of the illness and pain of others and value the blessings they enjoy in lives and bring happiness to others. In Tzu Chi's charity work, it promotes great love, stresses personally consoling aid recipients. "Buddhism in the World" functions as its work ethic, it stresses empathizing with people's tragedy and understanding their suffering. Besides, Dharma Master Cheng Yen explains teachings of Buddism with secular language, which can often be seen in Tzu Chi's classics Still Thought Abode. Beside promote Buddhism's teachings with secular words, some of Buddsism's rites and discipline have been retained and reformed. Tzu Chi's management style is love and precept embodied in four circular structures (Unity, Harmony, Mutual Love and Joined effort) and standardization.Besides, Chinese Confucianism ideas are also combined in the structure of the activities of the organization. Other findings includes private contact is the main channel in the development of Tzu Chi, and female shows more enthusiasm in the field. Volunteers in the study are pure philanthropy people in terms of they contribute their time, energy and money while have no expectation of material reward, however, they also have something in return, such as established social capital and feeling of empowerment.Results are obtained concerning how to promote philanthropy in China, with patriarchy and Guanxi-oriented (Relationship-oriented) social psychology as its background, volunteer organizations has limited room. However, in the study, we find there are great resources for philanthropy at grass-root level in China. The development Tzu Chi at one hand comes from volunteers' commitment and enthusiasm, at the other hand, is also a result of combination of religious influence, organizations' accountability, profession that embodied in the structure of philanthropy activities. Therefore, the paper makes recommendations of providing better environment for development of grass-root philanthropy organizations, to enable believers and non-believers participate in philanthropy, enable religion to better serve the society and people, value volunteers and empower them, and apply professional method in the design of the activities to make it more rational and attractive to ordinary people.