Tzu Chi’s sign language tradition originated in the early days when Dharma Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi volunteers encountered challenges communicating with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals while on their charitable missions. Master Cheng Yen encouraged the volunteers to learn sign language and then express certain texts that way to communicate effectively in a universal manner that transcends any particular spoken language. Since then, Tzu Chi volunteers present Dharma scriptures and other meaningful songs using sign language. They perform at large and small gatherings, during charity care activities, international medical outreach events, disaster relief distributions, and other occasions.
