Kuan-Shu likes their example so much that it named its tutoring arm Blue Magpie Family.
Inspired by Tzu Chi's commitment to tough projects, Shih emphasizes hands-on work at Kuan-Shu.
At first Kuan-Shu instructed farmers about green cultivation and the dangers of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
Taiwan's most popular charitable causes are education and child welfare, leaving room for Kuan-Shu's environmental and agricultural projects.
Volunteers are welcome since Kuan-Shu, despite its growing commitments, employs only 15 people.
Kuan-Shu says the ducks cut down on pests such as golden apple snails while fertilizing the rice with their droppings.
To encourage the locals to use seawater instead, Kuan-Shu found farmers who were doing that and asked them to give presentations.
The name Kuan-Shu, which means "observing trees" in Chinese, refers to Buddhist scripture about attaining truth while immersed in the peacefulness of nature.
Kuan-Shu aims to transform one of the area's abandoned sugar factories into an educational center for local farmers and a tourist attraction dedicated to environmental issues.
In 1999 he established the Kuan-Shu Educational Foundation, which runs an organic rice farm, restores local wetlands and operates a free tutoring program for low-income students.
In its wetlands restoration project Kuan-Shu again applied creative thinking.
His job keeps him in Taipei or on the road most days, but he stays in contact with Kuan-Shu's director, Hong, and gets updates from his wife, who meets with Hong weekly.
When Shih does make the trek to Kuan-Shu, traveling an hour by high-speed rail and 20 minutes by car, few people realize they are mingling with one of Taiwan's most prominent executives.
Kuan-Shu is also on the lookout for other places to establish organic farms and plans to expand its wetlands project by adding a larger facility that can promote local industries and host more visitors.
Kuan-Shu favors this type of efficient, eco-friendly innovation.
Citing that practice, Shih declines to reveal how much he has given Kuan-Shu as its sole funder--it doesn't accept donations from anyone else. (Shih owns 2.4% of Asus' stock.) "Buddhists should forget about recognition, " says Shih.
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