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Tzu Chi's Master Cheng Yen wins Niwano award

The Niwano Peace Foundation of Japan has awarded its 24th Niwano Peace Prize to Taiwan's Dharma Master Cheng Yen (證嚴法師), founder of the Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, in recognition of her contribution to serving needy people, a Tzu Chi spokesman said yesterday.

Cheng is the first Taiwanese recipient of the Niwano Peace Prize since it was established 24 years ago to honor individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to inter-religious cooperation, thereby furthering the cause of world peace, and making their achievements known as widely as possible.

Wang Tuan-cheng (王端正), deputy chief executive of the Tzu Chi Foundation, said the Niwano Peace Foundation had already held news conferences in Britain, Switzerland, the Vatican and Japan on Feb. 27 to announce its decision to award this year's peace prize to Cheng.

The presentation ceremony will be held in Tokyo on May 10.

In addition to a certificate, the winner will also receive a medal and ?20 million (US$171,450) in prize money.

According to Wang, the Niwano foundation president is scheduled to visit the Tzu Chi Foundation headquarters in Hualien County in May before the presentation ceremony.

Cheng Yen was quoted as having said that she would share the award with the large army of Tzu Chi volunteers scattered around the globe to express her heartfelt gratitude for their long-term support and assistance in carrying out her three vows to "purify minds, harmonize society and free the world from disaster."

The venerable nun founded Tzu Chi in 1966, with "instructing the rich and saving the poor" as its motto in carrying out four great missions -- in charity, medicine, education and culture. Under Cheng's leadership, the Tzu Chi Foundation has been involved in international disaster relief, bone marrow donation, environmental protection and community volunteer work.

Cheng was previously awarded the Eisenhower Medallion for her contribution to world peace.
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