Successful Stories of Our Alumni

I am Yuan Ying (袁瑩) and I am from Beijing, China. I came to Taiwan in September 2014 and completed my studies in January 2020.

Tzu Chi University’s Institute of Religion and Humanities is located on the Jieren Campus. There are mountains nearby and trees are everywhere. I enjoyed the birds’ singing and floral scents. Living in such an environment enabled me to slow my pace, concentrate my thinking, and focus on my studies.

The Institute prepared me to study faith, action and healing; moreover, all the professors had their research interests and the unique ways of teaching, guiding me to read religious texts, carry out fieldwork, and teach religious texts. As a result, I kept expanding my horizons and stimulating my thinking.

I had never been in Hualien before September 2014. My professors and peers made great efforts to help me at the beginning and afterwards, so I didn’t spend too much time adjusting to the new environment. I didn’t experience too much homesickness, either.

Hualien has many religious organizations, thus it was a perfect place for carrying out my fieldwork. Moreover, Tzu Chi University was founded by Tzu Chi Foundation, which has its world headquarters in Hualien. Many of my peers were the masters from Jing Si Abode and Tzu Chi volunteers, and I studied with them at the University or visited Jing Si Abode with them during leisure times to enhance my Buddhist studies.

I have gained solidly in my academic work from studying religious texts, and simultaneously enriched my firsthand experience from daily practice. I feel very happy about everything and feel grateful to everyone.

我是來自北京的袁瑩，2014年9月來到慈濟大學宗教與人文研究所就讀，並於2020年1月順利畢業。

宗文所地處山邊的人社院校區，環境清幽雅緻，抬眼可見的山巒綠樹，四季縈繞的鳥鳴花香，讓我從擁擠匆忙的都市節奏中慢下脚步，心境漸漸地趨於舒緩而專注，很自然地進入學習和思考的求學生活。宗文所的課程設置非常豐富，充分體現了以探索宗教在信仰、實踐、和療愈等三方面之意義的辦學特色。教授們在研究領域和教學方式上各具特點，引領著我在經典研讀、田野實踐和教化功用上，不斷拓展眼界，激蕩思維。

此外，所上也充盈著慈濟特有的人情味，老師和同學的關懷和善意，讓我倍感親切，迅速化解了異鄉求學常見的陌生感和思鄉情。還有就是學校所在的花蓮，是一個宗教研究和田野觀察的絕佳場域，這裡有各式的宗教團體和廟宇教會，尤其是慈濟功德會的發源地「靜思精舍」。

作為在海外受證的慈濟委員，能夠在課堂上和資深的慈濟師兄姐和精舍師父一起討論學習；在課外和假期，去精舍親近上人和常住，親身參與佛法共修和坡務勞作，這是多麼殊勝和難得的因緣啊。總之，在宗文所讀書的這幾年中，我收穫了扎實的學術訓練和豐富的實踐體悟，實在是法喜充滿、感恩無盡。

學生袁瑩

2020年4月於花蓮