This thesis explores how Tzu Chi builds its foundation with the Twelve Great Vows from Sutra of the Medicine Buddha. According to the book Eastern Pure Land and Medicine Buddha published by Jing Si, Tzu Chi has three times with this sutra. First, Dharma Master Cheng Yen founded Tzu Chi and holded Dharma Assembly of the Medicine Buddha, recruiting charity’s members and donation, in 1966. Second, for building Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualien with the spirit of respecting life, she went to Taipei and sermons this sutra, recruiting new members and contribution. She was attracted by many followers, loyal and faithful. Successfully, Tzu Chi Hospital was completed in 1985, and the area of education and humanism was also finished soon afterwards. Third, being aware of the Natural and man-made disasters originated by the collective karma, Master Chen Yen preached Sutra of the Medicine Buddha. Medicine Buddha forges the Eastern Pure Land by the Twelve Great Vows. By the approach of ethnography and literature review, I found the idea of Pure Land in Tzu Chi comes from Sutra of the Medicine Buddha. Moreover, it is the “Tzu Chi Three Vows” –Pure Mind, Peaceful Society, and Peaceful World, themselves which build the Four Main Missions for the Pure Land in Human World.
