May 13, 2026
Passing Down the Dharma Path, Taking Responsibility Without Regret. Reflections on a Heartfelt Talk 法脈相承 承擔無悔 記一場觸動心靈的分享
By Peter Uy
On May 6, two nuns from the Tzu Chi headquarters in Hualien, Taiwan, came to the Tzu Chi Philippines Jing Si Hall. They brought Master Cheng Yen's sincere wishes and the spirit of the Dharma path, then led a workshop about Tzu Chi's teachings.
The nuns spoke honestly, explaining Tzu Chi's original mission and direction. They helped volunteers understand that the Dharma path is how we continue our spiritual life, and Tzu Chi is the foundation for putting our vows into action. "For Buddhism, for all living beings" is not just a slogan—it is a promise every Tzu Chi member keeps life after life. We must walk the Bodhisattva path with a pure heart and do good in the world with firm determination.
Afterwards, Henry Yuñez, the CEO of Tzu Chi Philippines, went on stage to share his many years of experience as a volunteer in Tzu Chi Philippines. He talked about the hopeful looks from local people during disaster relief distributions, the lives touched at free clinics, the innocent smiles of children helped by our school sponsorships, and many moving moments working with Tzu Chi volunteers. But when he started talking about the past three years—specifically, the promise to build a Tzu Chi hospital—his voice became heavy.
He said these three years had been very hard. From the first blueprints to constant changes, from raising money to dealing with government rules, from managing staff to countless other problems—each issue weighed heavily on his heart. He said, "Master Cheng Yen hope that we can fulfill the wish of the people of the Philippines for a Tzu Chi hospital of their own. I dare not let go of this responsibility, and I cannot let it go…"
Building a hospital costs a huge amount of money, but the donations they have raised so far are far less than what is needed. Before he could finish, his voice broke. The emotions he had been holding back suddenly burst out. He covered his face with his hand. His shoulders shook violently. A crying sound escaped through his fingers. The CEO—usually calm, reliable, always bringing smiles and strength to everyone—stood on stage weeping like a child who had let down all his guard.
Sitting in the audience, my heart felt like it was squeezed tightly by a giant hand. The pain took my breath away. Tears flowed uncontrollably down my cheeks. The CEO cried because of the heavy burden on his shoulders, the pain of facing many problems alone late at night, the frustration of running into obstacles again and again, and the fear of letting down Master Cheng Yen and all living beings. I cried in the audience because my heart ached watching him carry everything by himself. I felt sad knowing he was completely exhausted but still gritted his teeth and said, "I can do this." I understood that behind those tears lay so much unspoken suffering and tiredness. At that moment, all I could do was whisper in my heart, "Brother, you have worked so hard." But I didn't want to interrupt this honest showing of feelings. I let my tears blur my eyes and shared his pain and emotion in that moment of responsibility and devotion.
I remember when I first joined Tzu Chi—from being a trainee, to becoming an official disciple of Master Cheng Yen. Back then, I knew little about charity and only half-understood Tzu Chi's principles. Attending classes in those days, I remember how the CEO patiently taught us: "When Tzu Chi members do things, we must first learn to be sincere, respect others, and try our best to respect them." He often said, "Do willingly, accept happily"—giving is not sacrificing yourself. While helping others, you also grow your own spiritual life. He often said, "Go out into the world, see suffering and recognize your blessings"—only by understanding the suffering of others do you understand the meaning of your own efforts. He always quoted Master Cheng Yen: "Just do it"—no matter how many difficulties come your way, as long as your direction is to help all beings, keep going.
These words have been like a light guiding every step of my Tzu Chi journey. His example of leading by action has become my truest model. I have watched him work tirelessly every day, worrying about everything, giving all his time and energy to Tzu Chi, quietly hiding all his grievances and hardships, and showing only his strongest, warmest side to everyone. The tears he shed that night were not weakness—they were compassion itself. They were a sense of responsibility that puts duty above life. They were the most moving example of Tzu Chi's spirit: "practicing what is hard to practice, enduring what is hard to endure."
I am grateful to the CEO for using his own life to show us what it means to "take responsibility," to "protect," and to truly "live as a Bodhisattva in everyday life." I am also grateful to the Dharma path for guiding me, allowing me to meet such a role model, and for being guided and encouraged on my path of growth. In the end, this heartache and sadness turned into deep gratitude and strength. I promise to keep this inspiration in my heart, turn it into action, firmly remembering Master Cheng Yen's teachings, follow in the footsteps of the CEO and all Tzu Chi members, and move forward steadily on the Bodhisattva path—never betraying my original wish, never betraying the Dharma path, never betraying this great love for the world.
5月6日，兩位來自台灣花蓮慈濟精舍的常住師父，帶著上人的殷殷囑託與法脈精神，來到菲律賓分會志園區的靜思堂，為我們帶來「法脈宗門」的精進課程。師父的開示字字懇切，細細梳理慈濟的初心與方向，讓我們深深明白：法脈是慧命的延續，宗門是行願的依歸，「為佛教，為眾生」從來不是一句口號，而是每一位慈濟人，生生世世都要踐行實踐的承諾，要以清淨心行菩薩道，以堅定心行諸善在人間。
課程結束後，慈濟菲律賓分會執行長楊國英師兄走上台，和大家分享這些年在菲律賓深耕慈濟的點點滴滴。師兄緩緩道來，說起街頭賑災發放時鄉親們期盼的眼神，說起義診現場一個個被溫暖的生命，說起助學路上孩子們純真的笑臉，也說起團隊攜手同行的無數感動。而當話題轉到三年前，執行團隊發願籌備建造慈濟醫院的那一刻，語氣漸漸沉重了起來。
他說，這三年，是步步艱難的三年。從最初的藍圖規劃，到一次次的方案調整；從各方資源的籌措，到政策協調的奔波；從人力的調配，……數不清的難題接踵而來，每一件事，都像一塊石頭，沉甸甸壓在心上。他說：“上人把這份願交給我們，菲律賓的鄉親盼著有一間屬於自己的慈濟醫院，這份責任，我不敢放，也不能放……”
蓋醫院需要筆龐大的經費，但現在籌到的善款跟預算還相差很多，話音未落，師兄的聲音突然發顫，原本努力穩住的情緒瞬間決堤。他抬手摀住臉，肩膀劇烈地顫抖著，壓抑許久的哭聲從指縫間透出來，一個平日里沉穩擔當、總是把笑容和力量帶給大家的執行長，此刻像卸下了所有鎧甲的孩子，在台上泣不成聲。
坐在台下的我，心瞬間像被一隻大手緊緊揪住，疼得喘不過氣，眼淚幾乎是不受控制地湧了出來，順著臉頰止不住地掉。師兄在台上哭，哭的是肩上千鈞的重擔，是無數個深夜獨自面對難題的煎熬，是想把事做好卻屢屢遇阻的無奈，是怕辜負上人、辜負眾生的惶恐；我在台下泣，泣的是看著他獨自扛下所有的心疼，是明明知道他早已心力交瘁，卻依然咬著牙說「我可以」的不捨，是明白這份淚水背後，藏著多少說不出的苦、道不盡的累。此時此刻的我，只能在心裡說一句“師兄，您辛苦了”，可又不忍打擾這份真情流露，只能任由淚水模糊雙眼，和他一起，在這份責任與擔當裡，同悲同感。
還記得我剛踏入慈濟大門時，從見習、培訓，到正式授證，成為上人座下的弟子，一路以來，那時的我，對慈善懵懂無知，對慈濟的理念一知半解，在學員的課程上是師兄耐心地告訴大家：「慈濟人做事，要先學誠心，心要尊重他、想盡心想尊重他。常說“甘願做，歡喜受”，付出不是犧牲，而是在成就別人的同時，成就自己的慧命；他常說“走入人群，要見苦知福”，明白眾生的苦，才懂自己要付出的意義；他總把上人的話掛在嘴邊，“做就對了”，不管遇到多少困難，只要方向堅持是為眾生。
這些話，像一盞明燈，照亮我在慈濟路上的每一步；他以身作則的模樣，更成為我心中最真切的榜樣。我看著他為了志業，日日奔波、事事操心，把所有的時間和精力都獻給慈濟，把所有的委屈和辛苦都悄悄藏起，把最堅強、最溫暖的一面留給大家。此刻他流下的淚，哪裡是軟弱，分明是至情至性的慈悲，是把責任看得比生命還重的擔當，是慈濟精神裡「難行能行、難忍能忍」最動人的寫照。
感恩師兄，用自己的生命歷程，為我們示現了什麼是“承擔”，什麼是“守護”，什麼是真正的“菩薩人間化”。也感恩法脈的牽引，讓我有幸遇見這樣的前輩，在成長路上被指引、被鼓勵。這份心疼與不捨，最後都化作了滿滿的感恩與力量。我願將這份感動記在心裡，化為行動，牢牢記住上人的教誨，追隨師兄與所有慈濟人的腳步，在菩薩道上堅定前行，不負初心，不負法脈，不負這份人間大愛。