Since 1983, the Japanese Niwano Peace Foundation has granted annual awards to an individual or organization that has made a great contribution to enhancing religious interaction and diminishing religious conflicts in the name of peace. The past award recipients came from more than ten countries with Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist backgrounds being represented. On February 27, 2007, Niwano Peace Foundation announced Master Cheng Yen to be the 24th Niwano Peace Prize winner, the first Taiwanese person to accept this award. The Tzu Chi Foundation spokesperson, Her Rey-Sheng, and Director of the Department of Religious Affairs, Hsieh Ching-kui, went on behalf of Master Cheng Yen to accept this prize at the ceremony held on May 5, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. According to the Niwano Peace Foundation, Master Cheng Yen’s Buddhist teachings have always been easy to understand but with great profound meaning. Her teaching also overturned the barriers among different religions, races and political ideologies. Master Cheng Yen has led Tzu Chi volunteers globally in helping those in need through charity, medicine, education, culture, international relief and more in hope of a society full of compassion, forgiveness and happiness. These activities have made an immense contribution towards world peace. Therefore, the prize was a token of gratitude and respect for Master Cheng Yen’s devotion in the past decades.
Before the ceremony, the president of the Niwano Peace Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Niciko Niwano and their staff came to Taiwan to visit the Tzu Chi Foundation. The group of eight met with Master Cheng Yen in Jing Si Abode in Hualien on May 5, 2007. Master Cheng Yen expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the recognition that the Foundation has given to Tzu Chi. She also indicated that the prize belonged to all the Tzu Chi volunteers around the world because it is a result of their love and compassion.Source: Tzu Chi Almanac 2007
Translated by: Chiung-wen Huang, Stella Wang, Spink-McCarthy
