Despite the coldest temperatures of the season, hundreds of members attended the Tzu Chi’s Year-End and Lunar New Year Blessings Ceremony. The ceremony is held to express appreciation to Tzu Chi volunteers and members locally and across the globe for their dedication and continued support.

According to Mr. Chi Kai King, “This year, the Chinese Lunar New Year begins on the new moon, which falls on January 23rd. We will be leaving the Year of the Rabbit and entering the Year of the Dragon.”

The ceremonial theme for this year is to cleanse minds with dharma water; to walk the bodhisattva path in many ways; to pray for the gathering of good will and to leave behind unwholesome ways.

During the ceremony, videos were presented to review the efforts and progress made in 2011 by Tzu Chi in their missions of Charity, Medicine, Education and Humanistic Culture. Volunteers went out across the world to help people affected by adverse conditions from natural disasters including earthquakes, storms and hunger famines from both afar and as close as Little Falls, New Jersey.

Singing and praying, along with choreographed ceremonies took place, as well as the distribution of the Red Envelope to Tzu Chi members and guests. Angela Chu, a Tzu Chi Certified Commissioner and Volunteer explained. “The red envelope is called The ‘Red Envelope of Wisdom and Blessings,’ as Master Cheng Yen always wishes everyone blessings and more wisdom.”

Deputy Executive Director, Katie C. Chou commented, “Most people think of Buddhism as something more personal, involving self-improvement through meditation and mindfulness. Tzu Chi, through the teachings of Master Cheng Yen, is Buddhism in action, reaching out to help others and improving themselves along the way. Helping others creates happiness for yourself and it helps you build your own wisdom.”

The Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, opened in Cedar Grove in 2000. The organization offers a vegetarian food bank for low-income families on Fridays and Saturdays and also participates in the Cedar Grove Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration. Around Mother’s Day, it also holds its annual celebration of the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, Tzu Chi Day, which is the anniversary of it’s founding and the birthday of its founder, Spiritual Leader and Buddhist Dharma Master, Cheng Yen. Master Cheng Yen was also listed in TIME Magazine’s, 100 most influential people in the world for 2011.

Tzu Chi Mid-Atlantic Regional Office is located at 150 Commerce Road in Cedar Grove. For additional information, contact 973-857-8666.