Guo Hong Qi feels that engaging in charitable undertakings is a means to cultivate oneself spiritually and has been encouraging others to take part in various types of Tzu Chi activities. (Photo by Ng Sher Lin)
“May we inspire the mind of awakening in one another, may the Way of Innumerable Meanings be widely practiced……”with joy evident on their faces, Tzu Chi volunteers sang out a segment of the lyrics within the “Dharma as Water” stage adaptation at the close of the 2014 lunar new year charity bazaar. In their midst were many new volunteers who had taken part in the adaptation last year and had begun to understand the Dharma teachings. After learning the concept of humanistic Buddhism, they had stepped forward to volunteer their help in the bazaar.
Fifty year old Ou Shi Guo, who relies on a wheelchair to get around, shares how happy he is to be able to contribute to the success of the bazaar. He had arrived early at the Tzu Chi Free Clinic at Redhill to receive the Master’s morning teachings at 5.30am, before taking an MRT to Pasir Ris where the bazaar was located.
Ou suffers from a congenital leg problem, and often experiences pain and weakness in his legs. After an operation, he became wheel-chair bound. Fortunately, the disabled-friendly facilities available in Singapore still enables him to make his way around.
A few years ago, when Ou visited the Tzu Chi Free Clinic near his house for free medical treatment, he was warmly received by the neatly-dressed volunteers. He was drawn towards the teachings of Master Cheng Yen while watching Da Ai TV programmes, and since 2011, he has been taking part in the community study sessions. Ou was even a participant in the 2013 “Dharma as Water” stage adaptation.
When Ou saw footages of destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, he felt that even though he does not have full mobility, he can be considered a fortunate soul. Wanting to do his bit for the survivors, he took part in the street fundraiser together with other volunteers while seated in his wheelchair. In addition，during the two-day charity bazaar, Ou helped out full-time with two of his friends, and his pair of hands would clean thousands of cups every day. “Creating positive good karma and good affinities with others is important,”he states.
Volunteer Ou Shi Guo depends on a wheelchair to move around but during the two days of the charity bazaar, he would still ensure that he could watch the Master’s morning teachings at 5.30am before taking an MRT to the bazaar to help out. (Photo by Ng Sher Lin)
Holding a Family Together With Tzu Chi
Volunteer Fu Jin Sheng shuttles about busily at the bazaar as he delivers cleanly washed bowls and plates to the various vegetarian food stalls, betraying no trace of the ailments that plague his body. Having fallen from a height thrice at the construction site, Fu suffers from cervical spondylosis as well as diabetes. Though his body does not feel well, he says:“I’m very happy to be able to be here contributing together with the rest!”
He is particularly grateful for the care that Tzu Chi volunteers have shown him over the years, enabling him to walk out of the low point in his life and open his once shuttered heart. He likes the blue and white uniform of Tzu Chi volunteers and hopes to be able to wear it one day and help the needy.
Though Fu has been bothered by illnesses for many years and needs to make monthly visits to the doctor and take medication, he remembers the words of Master Cheng Yen: “if it is the right thing to do, just do it”and engages himself enthusiastically in community recycling activities.
Thinking back upon the past, Fu remembers the acrimonious relationship he had with his wife and daughter that tore the family asunder. With patient counselling from volunteers, his stubbornness finally melted and he was able to empathize with his sick daughter and accept his wife who had once left the family. He says regretfully, “After that turbulent period, I now treasure the times that we have together, and am more understanding and tolerant.”
Using an analogy of a rose that is exposed to the harsh sunlight and gradually withers, while at the same time protecting itself with sharp thorns, he recounts how unapproachable the Fu Jin Sheng of old appeared to others. Tzu Chi volunteers on the other hand, were like a a clear spring that watered the rose, showering him with love and care, till he was finally able to regain his confidence.
Fu Jin Sheng (first from left) seized the opportunity to contribute to a charitable undertaking after he gradually tired of his old lifestyle. Here he is seen delivering clean bowls and plates to the vegetarian stall. (Photo by Mai Yue Yuan)
The Path of Right Faith in the Right Teachings
Businessman Zheng Zhen Yu and his spouse, Yang Mei Zhen, sponsored a grass jelly stall at the bazaar. He also helped purchase many festive items for friends that bought coupons but were unable to turn up at the bazaar, and delivered them to the nursing homes as well as to the elderly folks living alone.
A few months ago, Zheng lead seven of his employees from different departments in upholding a vegetarian fast. They also attended the community study sessions and signed up as sign language participants in the “Dharma as Water”stage adaptation. After the conclusion of the adaptation, all of them continued to observe vegetarian fasts and even joined the ranks of Tzu Chi volunteers.
Both Zheng and his wife got to know of Tzu Chi some seven to eight years ago. At that time, their child was going through a rebellious phase and had run away from home. Through the wisdom in the teachings of the Jing Si Aphorisms, Yang understood the importance of love in reaching out to her child and bringing him back to the family fold.
“If we observe carefully, the blue skies are always there.” Yang shares how she gradually learnt how to use love to teach her child. On her own initiative, she sought out a psychologist and reflected on her approach. Subsequently, whenever her child threw a tantrum, she would wait till both of them had cooled down before discussing the problem together. Her efforts paid off one day, when her child gave a public presentation and mentioned that the person he loved the most was his mother. Whereas in the past, the relationship between Zheng and his child was strained, they can now converse and joke cheerfully with each other.
Though in the past Zheng used to have the attitude that he was merely cooperating to organize the activities, after attending the study sessions, he gained a better understanding of the spirit and ideals of Tzu Chi and feels that this is the right path for him to take. Both husband and wife feel that Tzu Chi is like one large family, where everyone chips in to accomplish common goals.
Another couple, Chen Guo Liang and Lin Yi Zhen, were sign language participants in the stage adaptation and had continued their vegetarian fast even after its conclusion. Together with five other colleagues, they had turned up to help at the bazaar. Their bosses, brothers Guo Hong Qi and Guo Hong Jie, were also assisting in the festive goods section. The Guo brothers had requested their human resources to regularly convene workers to support various charitable and recycling activities of Tzu Chi during the weekends and public holidays, and thus the same was done for the charity bazaar.
Guo Hong Qi believes that one is influenced by the company that one keeps, as such he feels that what he is doing is a form of giving back to society as his colleagues can only develop spiritually by taking part in wholesome activities.
During the two days of the charity bazaar, volunteers worked tirelessly to awaken the goodness in the hearts of others; even as they bustled about, they did not forget to encourage each other to attend the morning sessions of the Master’s teaching and together, look forward to the new study sessions focusing on the Sutra of Infinite Meanings that would commence in the new year.
Zheng Zhen Yu (fifth from left) and wife Yang Mei Zhen (second from right), once again invited their staff to take part in a Tzu Chi activity by manning a grass jelly stall at the bazaar together with them. (Photo by Douglas Lee)
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