Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

While the city of Christchurch in New Zealand waits to be rebuilt, a terrible earthquake struck the Yingjiang district of Yunan. One natural disaster has followed another, like a loud noise and also like a warning, telling us that we must save the planet. On March 11, a devastating quake hit Japan, followed by a tsunami. Tzu Chi people gathered all over the world and, with a heart of deep sincerity, prayed for the peace of everyone in the planet.

Los Angeles, United States
In the Tzu Chi kindergarten in Monterey, California, the students prayed with the guidance of their teacher. She pointed to the place of Japan on the map and the students in the fifth grade made a wish. The teacher said: "we hope that they will be at peace and that everyone can quickly go to help them."

Suzhou in Jiangsu province, China
The earthquake in Japan registered 9.0 on the Richter scale and caused a tsunami. A warning was issued for Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan. Everyone in the Jing Si Books & Cafe in Suzhou thought of their spiritual home and was concerned for it.

"We hope that everyone will be very peaceful and that there will be no disasters on the earth." Less than five minutes after receiving the news, everyone immediately prayed together with a common heart, on behalf of all the inhabitants of the planet. "Let us pray with a sincere heart, let everyone be at peace and make it through these difficult times," said Wang Yi-rong, who works at the bookshop.

Penang, Malaysia
The members of the Penang branch knelt with their hands joined in prayer, hoping that their common good will could help to reduce the negative karma of mankind.