Today, we’ve come together in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Tzu Chi’s medical mission in the United States – three decades of unwavering commitment to compassion, service, and healing. I have nothing but gratitude for our founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, who once said: “Among the eight sufferings of life, illness is the most painful.”

The inception of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Free Clinic in Alhambra, California, in 1993 marked the commencement of a transformative 30-year journey in the United States. This clinic became more than just a healthcare facility; it served as a cornerstone for personal growth, nurturing a humanitarian spirit that transcended cultural and ethnic boundaries…

Time flies, and 30 years have passed in the blink of an eye. Thirty years ago, my wife Xiumei Hong and I returned to Taiwan from California to visit our families. We made a memorable trip to Tzu Chi Global Headquarters in Hualien, marking the first time we visited Master Cheng Yen…