Worldwide aid group’s founder feted by Time mag

MANILA, Philippines—Time magazine has named the founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation, Buddhist nun Darma Master Cheng Yen, one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2011.

Yen founded the organization in 1966 at the age of 29, starting with 30 supporters—housewives who saved 50 Taiwan cents from their grocery money each day to help the poor.

It is now an international organization providing relief in 70 countries to people suffering from disasters.

In the Philippines, there are chapters manned by volunteers that were on the scene within hours of typhoons battering Metro Manila, Abra, Benguet, Baguio City, Pangasinan, and other provinces and localities.

“This acknowledges the love of Tzu Chi people around the world,” Cheng said. “It also shows that love is Taiwan’s most precious gift to the world. With a heart full of deep repentance, we face the disasters of the world and awaken the love of everyone so that they share it with mankind.”

Cheng ranked fifth on the Time list.

The publication described Cheng, who turned 74 on April 26, as a spiritual guru with an “ethereal quality” and a “well-rounded, no-nonsense head of a nonprofit humanitarian machine with divisions in 50 countries and nearly 10 million supporters and volunteers.”

The full list will appear in Time’s May 2 issue. It could also be viewed on its website.