讓慈悲跟智慧相輔相成，《行願一甲子》教富濟貧、濟貧教富｜天下文化Podcast x 靜思人文

This episode is a co-production of CommonWealth Publishing and Jing Si Humanities. Tzu Chi Foundation CEO Yen Po-wen and Jing Si Bookstore COO Tsai Ching-er engage in an in-depth conversation, exploring how a tech professional from the semiconductor industry crosses boundaries to calculate an equation about "love." Yen Po-wen was formerly the CEO of United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), a prominent figure in the semiconductor industry for thirty years. Looking back on his early life, he focused on high-tech wafers, pursuing yield rates down to the decimal point, and emphasizing efficiency at every second. But at the peak of his career, he chose to turn around, shedding his suit for volunteer work. This time, he was no longer dealing with cold machines, but with warm, compassionate people. He shared that in the past, in the tech industry, his daily thoughts revolved around "solving problems" and "increasing profits"; but after joining Tzu Chi, he relearned the meaning of "efficiency." At disaster sites, speed is important, but even more crucial is "compassion." In the program, Yen Po-wen fondly recalls Tzu Chi's sixty-year history—the "Bamboo Tube Years." Thirty bamboo tubes and five cents for groceries—these may seem insignificant in economics, but in the calculation of charity, they are infinitely large. This is because they inspire not just monetary figures, but the thought of "wanting to help others" that everyone has before leaving home each day. This continuous intention can change the world more than a one-time large donation. The most thought-provoking chapter concerns the question of "who is helping whom?" Yan Bowen mentioned that when Tzu Chi distributes supplies, why do those who give bow to those who receive them in gratitude? This is a huge cultural shock for business people accustomed to authoritarian management. But he later understood: it is these suffering people who demonstrate the impermanence of life, giving us the opportunity to give and witness our own happiness. Therefore, charity is not about giving alms, but about expressing the most humble "gratitude." It is the suffering of those who provide our spiritual practice. The program concludes by returning to the rapidly changing AI era. As a technologist, Yan Bowen offered profound insights: technology can help us build platforms and analyze data, making disaster relief more precise; but technology can never replace a warm hand or the sincere eye contact between people. The future of charity may need rational technology to support efficiency, but it needs even more emotional warmth to embrace every wounded soul. [Recommended Books] *Sixty Years of Practical Actions: Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi*: https://bookzone.cwgv.com.tw/book/BGB592 *Sustainable Governance: Let Love Spread Forever*: https://bookzone.cwgv.com.tw/book/BCB899