Chinatown Parade and Charity Sale 唐人街义卖

This Sunday, Boston Chinatown had their annual Chinatown Parade and Tzu Chi had our annual Charity Sale along with the parade in Chinatown. Before the actual charity sale, we had a discussion among ourselves what should we sell in our booth. When Tzu Chi first started the annual charity sale in Chinatown, we mainly sell handmade decorations by our very own members. It was very successful and our sales were very good. But recently, due to various reasons, we now concentrate on selling our own Tzu Chi publications, although sales were not as good. Hence, there was the discussion whether to return to the initial successful decoration sales or continue with the present not-as-good Tzu Chi publication sales.

这个礼拜天是波士顿唐人街一年一度的义卖活动，而慈济波士顿及如以往地共襄盛举。义卖之前，我们讨论了应该以什么为我们义卖的主题。当年慈济刚加入唐人街义卖时，义卖的主题是慈济自己制作的福慧红包及装饰品。那时义卖非常成功和销售非常的好。但是由于种种原因，近期义卖的主题改成了慈济静思刊物，而且销售并不是很好。因此，讨论范围成了我们是否该返回到最初成功的福慧装饰品或是继续目前怠销的静思刊物。

My own personal view is, initially when we first joined the annual Chinatown Parade, the aim should be to introduce Tzu Chi to everybody and hence we sold decorations that were easy to be purchased by all. Now that most Chinese knew about Tzu Chi (we were one of the 4 organizations selected for leading the Boston Sichuan Earthquake fund raising, among the hundred over organizations), our next aim should be to introduce Master's teachings to the public.

我个人的看法是，最初参加唐人街义卖时，目的应该是介绍慈济给整个华社。因此我们用的是方便法，出售大众所爱的福慧装饰品。现在，慈济已经取得华社的认同（波士顿为四川地震赈灾时，慈济是一百多所机构公认的四所领头机构中的一所） ，我们下一步应该是宣导正法，把上人及慈济的法脉介绍出去。

Hence, our Charity Sale concentrated on 3 parts: introducing the concept of having a good thought everyday with our bamboo bank, Tzu Chi publications and non-disposable utensils. Response was good. People like the idea of our bamboo banks and we managed to encourage several public to bring them home.

因此我们的义卖分成三个主题：介绍竹筒岁月及日行一善的概念、宣导慈济静思刊物和提倡使用环保餐具。会众反应良好，都很喜欢竹筒岁月背后的故事。我们也成功地鼓励几位会众把竹筒认养回家。

Tzu Chi publications were slow to warm up. The vegetarian cook-books were fairly popular. There was an elderly who was very interested in Tzu Chi and wanted to find out more. However, due to financial constraints, he bought only a book on "Still Thoughts". But we gave him our Tzu Chi journal and he was very happy. There was another guy from Cambodia. He asked for English publications and we showed him the English version of a book about Master. Without asking for the price or finding out more information about the book, he bought it. I was surprised. My guess was that Tzu Chi must have touched his heart in one way or another in the past.

慈济静思刊物销量较慢，倒是素食菜谱相当受欢迎。义卖时，有一位老菩萨听了我们介绍慈济后，很想更进一步了解慈济。因为生活并不十分宽裕，老菩萨只请购了本“静思语”。不过，我们把握难得的一面缘，多送了几本慈济月刊给老菩萨，令老菩萨喜出望外，满生欢喜而去。希望在不久的将来，能在志工队中见到老菩萨的身影。另一件令人感动的事与一位柬埔寨大德有关。这位柬埔寨大德向我们询问慈济的英语刊物，我们便向他介绍了上人的英文自传。没想到这位柬埔寨大德，一不问书的内容，二不问书的价钱，便买下那本上人的英文自传。那一刹那我真的是即惊讶又惭愧。惊讶于他的果断，惭愧在我身为慈济人，请购上人的书时，还要斟酌。想必，慈济因该曾经感动过他。

For our non-disposable utensils, Yi Fang SG's son is the most hardworking, showcasing to everybody the importance and usefulness of using them. He is very successful with elderly as well as young adults.

环保餐具方面，宜芳师姑的儿子是我们的小小宣导员。他即勤奋又用心，常常以身解法，展示环保餐具的实用性、方便性和重要性（爱护地球、人人减碳）。最难得的是，解说中带有智慧，不管是老菩萨、中年人、少年或小菩萨，都被他成功地隧服。

The whole event ended in the afternoon. I must say that it was very successful in letting people know more about Tzu Chi.

整个义卖活动在下午圆缘。我深信会众有更加了解慈济。希望大家法喜充满，法都入心。