Tzu Chi Jing Si Abode Introduction
The Jing Si Abode of Tzu Chi was built in the winter of 1969, initially covering an area of over 40 ping. It was funded by the founder Master Cheng Yen's mother, who purchased the land, and construction was carried out in phases over the years. At that time, the Master and the resident members worked hard to pay off the costs through the production of handmade goods, while also getting directly involved in the construction work. Over the years, due to old and leaking buildings or the needs of the organization, the site underwent ten expansions before reaching its present appearance. The Jing Si Abode serves as a place for Tzu Chi monastics to practice, prioritizing tranquility and serenity, and is not a typical tourist attraction, so there are no road signs. Visitors can find Guang'an Temple near the 195k mark on Provincial Highway No. 9 and enter through the small road across from it. After proceeding about 300 meters, they will reach the parking lot. Upon getting out of the car, guests should follow the guidance of the maple forest, take a right turn, and they will arrive at their destination, characterized by gray tiles and white walls. The layout of the Abode, from the outside to the inside, includes: the main hall, the Guanyin Hall, the new lecture hall, the monks’ quarters, the nuns’ quarters, the male dormitory, the dining hall, offices, vegetable gardens, and fruit orchards. Visitors can follow the path through the maple trees to enter the garden, where they will be greeted by the elegantly simple main hall of the Abode. Externally, the roof has a triangular support structure shaped like the character "人" (person), while the outer edge of the roof features three circular columns on each side, symbolizing the Three Jewels. The four pillars outside the main hall represent the "Four Immeasurable Minds" of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, serving as an excellent interpretation of Tzu Chi's practice of humanistic Buddhism, with prayers for the Bodhisattva's embodiment in the human realm and the realization of Buddhist teachings in daily life.
