Tzu Chi Jing Si Abode Introduction
Tzu Chi Jing Si Abode was established in the winter of 1969, initially covering an area of over forty pings. It was funded by the founder Master Cheng Yen's mother, who purchased the land, with construction carried out in stages over the years. At that time, the master and the resident monastics worked diligently to cover the costs by making handicrafts, and they also rolled up their sleeves to join in the construction work. Over the years, due to aging buildings, leaks, and the needs of the organization, it has undergone a total of ten expansions to become what it is today. The Jing Si Abode serves as a place for Tzu Chi monastics to cultivate their practices, emphasizing tranquility and serenity, and is not a typical tourist attraction, hence it is not marked with road signs. One can find Guang'an Temple near the 195 km mark on Taiwan Provincial Highway 9, where one can enter via a side road. After proceeding about 300 meters, there is a parking lot; upon alighting, following the guidance of the maple woods and taking a right turn forward will lead to the destination with gray tiles and white walls. The architecture of the abode includes, from the outside to the inside: Main Hall, Guanyin Hall, New Lecture Hall, monks' dormitory, nuns' dormitory, laymen's dormitory, dining hall, office, vegetable garden, and fruit orchard. Visitors can follow the path through the maple woods to arrive at the park, where they will face the elegantly simple Main Hall. Visually, the inner edge of the roof forms a triangular shape resembling a "person," while the outer edge of the roof features three circular columns grouped together on the center and both sides, expressing the symbolism of the Three Treasures; the four supporting pillars outside the hall symbolize the "Four Immeasurable Minds" of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, serving as the best explanation for Tzu Chi's practice of humanistic Buddhism, wishing for the Bodhisattva to embody in the human realm and for Buddhist teachings to be integrated into daily life.
