Statement of the Founder

According to statistics from the Executive Yuan, the number of suicide deaths in 2005 exceeded 4,000 – far more than the number of people killed during the "921 Earthquake" in 2000. Suicide has therefore become a major social problem.

This suicide phenomenon has not only created shock and concern in society. Its reporting in the media has only made a spiritually impoverished population obsessed with negative thinking feel even more lost. As a result, people think about giving up when faced with the slightest provocation or setback. Others choose suicide on a momentary impulse. There are also reports of families and groups committing suicide as well.

It is my belief that the preservation of a healthy approach to life, conveying the correct message on the value of life and preventing further increases in the number of suicide cases requires more efforts to be put into suicide prevention and promoting greater respect for life.

To this end, the Dharma Drum Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation (here-in-after will be referred to as DDHSIF or simply the Foundation) launched the "Caring for Life – No, Suicide, No" social movement in 2006. Every year as a part of the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) we partner with various suicide prevention groups around the world to organize a series of events aimed at reminding the general population of their responsibility in suicide prevention. At the same time, we seek to establish and strengthen people's respecting, caring and cherishing for life; to cultivate sentiment of compassion and wisdom, and thus to purify people's hearts in the hope to create a world of peace and harmony. Last year (2007), Dharma Drum in itiaed the first ever local "Caring for Life Awards " in Taiwan to encourage groups and individuals involved with suicide prevention, and received a strong response.

As suicide prevention is now an important issue for the global society that calls for international cooperation as well as sharing of experiences and information, Dharma Drum decided to expand the scope of the awards by reaching out to related international organizations, the government agencies and the greater community this year (2008). In commemoration with the WSPD in September, Dharma Drum will host the "2008 International Caring for Life Awards" in Taipei, Taiwan. It plans to invite the top representatives from the World Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) to attend and present the awards, while the National Suicide Prevention Center, Department of Health, Executive Yuan will co-host a symposium on caring for life and suicide prevention concurrently. These efforts will boost public participation and awareness.

"Breathing is a wealth of its own, where there's life there's hope". We must encourage the general public to embrace the concept of "Caring for life, respecting for life and treasuring for life" and remind everyone to help prevent suicide among their friends and relatives. Only by working together can we establish a healthy outlook on life as well as a safe, free and positive living environment.

To everyone, I offer these words of encouragement: "You don't have to choose suicide. There are still many other options open to you!"

Founder of Dharma Drum Mountain
and
Chairman of the Dharma Drum Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation

Master Sheng Yen
2008/3/27 Taipei