A Taiwan-based Buddhist charity attempts to take the founding nun's message of compassion global

Tzu Chi is an international Buddhist organization led by the Venerable Cheng Yen, an 87-year-old nun living in Taiwan. Over five decades, the nun whose work began with a small group of housewives has expanded into a global organization. Tzu Chi has millions of members across 67 countries, including the United States. The organization follows the principle of humanistic or engaged Buddhism, which emphasizes loving compassion, community engagement and action over rituals and prayer. The organization has also been able to successfully recruit business tycoons and industry leaders across several countries to help raise money for its various efforts, such as disaster relief, education and a host of social programs.