20 children from the Parent-Child Bonding Class performing to the catchy theme song of Da Ai Drama "I Love Mei Jin". (Photo by Alvin Tan)
Even before 3pm, scores of Tzu Chi volunteers had already gathered at the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre to decorate the venue. A full array of Tzu Chi's Jing Si publications and media products were arranged neatly on the booth stands near the entrance. A peek into the back stage revealed the excitement exuded by the children of the Parent-Child Bonding Class while having their make up done – seems like they will be staging a performance afterwards.
The audience started to fill the theatre around 7.30pm. Kickstarting the night's event was a sign language performance of the Da Ai TV station song “Great Love Brightens Up the World" by Tzu Chi Singapore's Unity Sign Language Team. What followed was a snap view of the recent popular Da Ai drama "I Love Mei Jin", which portrays the story of Tzu Chi volunteer Lee Mei Jin who aspired to be a teacher when she was young.
Love, the propeller of Education
Mei Jin realized her dream when she grew up and during her teaching years in a primary school in Taipei, she taught her pupils dedicatedly and nurtured the problematic ones with impartial love.
As with most parents, Mei Jin herself also faced problems communicating with her teenage sons. After years of mother-son conflict and some soul-searching, Mei Jin eventually decided to change her attitude by letting go her ego as a mother and truly listening to her sons.
With the drama's theme song still playing at the end of the snap view clip, 20 Parent-Child Bonding Class children took the stage dancing and signing to the catchy song. The kids' nimble and adorable moves, coupled with their funny interaction with the drama's main actress and Mdm Mei Jin formed a lively scene that cheered up the audience.
Actress/singer Xiu Qin, who played adult Mei Jin in the drama, shared her insights from depicting the cheerful teacher. "I've learnt to remain positive when confronted with stumbling blocks in life," she said.
At the end of her testimonial, Mdm Mei Jin, who is also a veteran member of the Tzu Chi Teachers' Association, concluded that every child has to be taught in accordance with his aptitude, "only then are we really putting ourselves inside their shoes".
“I Love Mei Jin”, with its inspiring, lively and warm storyline, has been recognized by the Taiwan Media Watch and was recently awarded the "Best TV Programme for Children and Youth" in Taiwan. Those who have watched it through DVD in Singapore, especially parents, found it easy to relate to the parental expectation depicted in the drama.
Zhou Qi Shi and wife Lin Cai Jing, who was among the audience that night, remarked, “Parents nowadays expect the best from their children. We often demand our kids to achieve our expectations. Watching 'I love Mei Jin' helps me reflect on the way I parent my children. In the past I always scold them when they misbehave. Apparently I have been wrong.” After listening to Mdm Mei Jin’s sharing, the couple deeply felt the need to be patient with their children.
True life stories
Upholding the belief that the media is the most influential medium in bringing hope to society, Da Ai TV has been in existence for 13 years in Taiwan. The channel broadcasted worldwide via satellite in October 1999 and later became accessible around the world via the internet. Over the years, the station has dramatized numerous real life stories for its Da Ai Drama series and has so far produced more than 150 dramas.
Every drama produced is based on true life stories of Tzu Chi volunteers. Besides "I Love Mei Jin", the audience was also introduced to TV film “The Addict” and a 10-part drama “Beggars Have Big Vow”.
“The Addict” describes the struggles of Huang Rui Fang as a drug addict for 30 years; his life changed when he came across the Tzu Chi monthly magazine when he was in jail. The film also portrays the sacrifice made by his mother to help him give up his pernicious habit and turn over a new leaf. Huang is now an active volunteer in Tzu Chi hospitals and recycling station.
Famous actress Pan Lili, who played Huang’s mother in the film, couldn’t hold her emotion thinking back of the moving scenes during the filming. She also shared with the audience the positive impact and the new life perspective she gained from working in this drama.
The other story “Beggars Have Big Vow” describes the determination of poor couple Lin Shu Jin and her husband in raising funds for Tzu Chi for it to build a hospital in rural Dalin Township in central Taiwan. Lin went through many hardships going from place to place asking for donations, eventually overcoming the doubts of her relatives and friends and fulfilled her dreams.
Though the trailers of the two stories weren't long, the tenacity and optimism of the protagonists struck a chord with many audiences that night. Yang Xiu Feng was seen wiping away her tears when the trailers were played on the screen.
Having gone through an unpleasant past in her life, Yang is always easily moved by stories of courage such as these. Now that she has become a volunteer, she knows she will lead a different and fulfilling life.
Finding solutions to learn Dharma from the internet
Since the establishment of Da Ai Television in 1998, it has successfully spread the humanistic values over the world. Where there is Tzu Chi’s contact point, the community is often able to access Da Ai Television through satellite broadcast, except Singapore.
Despite the inconvenience, local volunteers and the public are still able to identify with the quality programmes, all thanks to the internet. Even for the elderly who mostly are not familiar with internet usage, some are willing to try out different methods to be able to access Master Cheng Yen's dharma programmes.
“I do not know how to use the computer so whenever I want to watch Da Ai TV, I'll get my daughter to help,” explained Yang Xiu Feng bashfully. She added that she loves watching Master Cheng Yen’s teaching the most because she feels the tranquillity in her heart and she is able to see her life in different perspectives after watching it.
Sister Hu Xiu Fang, who is also keen to acquire Master Cheng Yen’s teaching, is not able to watch Da Ai Television at home unfortunately. Therefore, she chose to grab the opportunity of every Tzu Chi sharing and volunteer session to watch Da Ai TV and to keep up with the Master’s teaching.
There are also volunteers who manage to catch up with the new technology in order to watch Da Ai TV. After seeing her child browses the web and watches movie online using his tablet computer, Lin Cai Jin decided to buy one and use her leisure time to watch Da Ai drama and Master Cheng Yen’s teaching.
Lin confessed that she used to cling on her views on everything and was easily worked up whenever her opinion was opposed. After listening to the Master’s teaching for two years, she learnt to change her mind and took her setbacks positively.
A series of wonderful performances and life story sharings ended when the programme came to a close. Despite the ephemeral kaleidoscope of our life, Great Love will always remain and nourish everyone’s heart. We believe that the event, albeit short, has spread and cultivated the seeds of love in every one in the audience that night.
Mdm Lee Mei Jin (right) and Ms Xiu Qin, who played Mdm Mei Jin in the drama "I Love Mei Jin", performed together with the children from Tzu Chi's Parent-Child Bonding Class. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
The lively performance by the kids cheered up everyone in the audience. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Actress Pan Lili on stage with emcee Chen Kai Lun. (Photo by Khor Kim Seng)
Sister Lin Shu Jin shared how she and her husband stuck to their wish to raise construction fund for Tzu ChiDalin hospital even when they were in heavy debt.(Photo by Chen Chin Hua)
Because of her unpleasant past, Sister Yang Xiu Feng (1st from right) is easily moved when she learnt of people's courage to overcome their adversity. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
The emcee invited the audience to put their palms together and sing the song “The Prayers”. (Photo by Khor Kim Seng)
Many from the audience purchased the Da Ai drama from the booth after the event. Picture shows a young girl who bought the drama “I Love Mei Jin” obtaining an autograph from actress Ms Xiu Qin. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
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