如何进入慈济 How I join Tzu Chi

严格上说，我第一次认识慈济是从联合早报的一份报导。那年，我在日本东京实习；2004年二月十五当天，我从早报网上读到了慈济人在新加坡推广的“工地文化”，为正在兴建慈济新会所的工地工人提供素食，鼓励他们戒烟戒酒。

I actually first knew about Tzu Chi through a Zao Bao online article while I was in Tokyo, Japan during my overseas industrial attachment in 2004. That article was dated 15 Feb 2004, I kept it because it was interesting: it wrote about Tzu Chi members providing vegetarian lunch for the workers building the new Tzu Chi (Singapore chapter) association, encouraging them to quit smoking and drinking.

那时，深深的被慈济的态度感动，就把那份报导给收录起来。因为当时在日本，我并没有再深入了解慈济。报导有把慈济新会所的地址写下，但是中文地址“伊莱雅路”并没有让我想起这条道路其实就离我家四五个巴士车站。就这样，我把这份报导给忘了，至到2007年整理剪报时从新发现了它。虽然那时我刚加入慈济，但还是觉得不可思议，原来我与慈济的因缘由来已久。

That time, I was very amazed by the attitude of Tzu Chi and saved that online article. But as I was in Japan that time, I didnt find out more. The address is printed out in Chinese and I didnt realise that it is just a few bus stops away from my home. It was only in 2007 when I was packing my stuffs that I saw the article again and realized that I actually know Tzu Chi since 2004.

第二次接触慈济是在2005年，南亚大海啸之后。不记得是哪一个星期天 （应该在农历新年之前），我与家人到四马路观音拜神，听到有人不停地大喊“大爱进南亚”。一群蓝天白云，拿着捐款箱与标语，正在为印尼灾民募款。当下，我 就觉得慈济很眼熟，便捐了点钱。这因该是我第一次在街头捐款（除售旗活动以外），也是款项最多的一次（捐了纸币而不是硬币）。可惜，又因为赶时间，再一次 没停下脚步多了解慈济，再一次与慈济擦肩而过。

The next time I came across Tzu Chi was in 2005, after the Indian Ocean earthquake / tsunamis. I was at the famous Guan Yin temple with my family and hear someone shouting "Great Love into South Asia". Their standard blue t-shirts were very striking and reading the signboards, I realized that they are from Tzu Chi, raising money in the street for Indonesia relief. Back in my mind, Tzu Chi seem to ring a bell and I gave some money to one of the volunteers; that was the first time I donated money on the street (other than flag-raising) and the largest amount I guess (bill instead of coin). Again, I was in a hurry and didnt stop and find out more about Tzu Chi from them.

第三次，我人在波士顿。那年2006， 我上 Super 88 超市买菜，随手把超市外的华文报刊都拿了一份，其中就有慈济月刊第471期。这471期慈济月刊在我书橱里放了很久：没空读。这471期慈济月刊也是我在 波士顿拿过唯一的一份，都没空读第一份了，就不浪费纸再拿了。就这样，两个月过去了。我家人从新加坡飞纽约来看望我，独自搭3小时的车下纽约，我想起了那 471期慈济月刊。慢慢车程，慈济月刊不重，文字多，正好可以打发时间。

The third time was when I was in Boston in 2006. I was doing grocery shopping at BU Super 88 and I took a copy of most of the free Chinese newspapers outside Super 88. At the same time, I took a copy of Tzu Chi Journal, the 471st issue. This copy stayed in my cupboard for a very long time, I always got no time for it. It was also the only copy that I took: I didnt have time for the first copy, why waste paper to take more. It was only when my family was coming to Boston to visit me that I remember that I had a Tzu Chi Journal. My family fly in to New York from Singapore, so I had to take a 3-hrs bus ride down to meet them. 3 hours on the bus, that Tzu Chi Journal will be just nice, not too heavy, a lot of words, perfect to spent my time on the bus.

因缘成熟，终于有机会深入的了解慈济，慈济所做的事，慈济提倡的精神和慈济对较不幸的关怀。老实说，打从心里佩服，认同与支持慈济。月刊末页，全球慈济分 会地址都写了下来。把新加坡分会的地址找出来：Elias Road （英文书写）。猛然想起，应该很靠近我家。到了纽约，和我爸印证后，决定加入慈济。

This time, I finally got a chance to have an in-depth understanding of Tzu Chi, the works they do, the ideas they practiced and their care to the less fortunate. Frankly, I was impressed. I agreed with their beliefs and supported their work. At the end of the issue, I saw the distribution of Tzu Chi chapters all over the world and found one in Singapore, Elias Road (finally in English). I remember that this place should be very near my place. I confirmed with my dad when I met him that day. That was when I decide that Tzu Chi is a good organization to join.