After a month since the 13 May World Peace Interfaith Prayer Ceremony, the Singapore Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) members gather once more to relive the touching moments of the event and to express gratitude to one another. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
On the afternoon of 24 June 2012, despite the end of the regular Sunday consulting hours, the TIMA volunteers on duty did not leave the Redhill Tzu Chi Free Clinic right away. Instead, more TIMA members in their black and white uniform started to flock in to the clinic.
Unlike their usual Sunday duties, what was welcoming the team that afternoon was not another line of patients, but a relaxed atmosphere filled with light fragrance of tea and desserts.
The tea party was organized with the purpose of showing appreciation to all participating TIMA members of the World Peace Interfaith Prayer Ceremony (in conjunction with Tzu Chi Day, Buddha Day and Mothers’ Day) held more than a month ago. It also marks the team’s first official gathering session, in which the main organizing committee of close to 20 consisted of all TIMA members. This include TIMA’s dental team convener Dr Eugene Tang acting as event coordinator and Emcee of the day, nurse clinician Derek Tan assuming the logistic and photographing task, and many other TIMA members, including nurses, pharmacists and TCM doctors taking up roles beyond their daily professions.
The gathering yielded an overwhelming response, with a total of 86 TIMA members and Tzu Chi volunteers (including ten volunteers from Sri Lanka) in attendance. After walking down the memory lane with photos of the interfaith prayer ceremony, a warm-up session led by nurse Sister Anne Ching kickstarted. The room was immediately peppered with chuckles as the participants struggled with learning the sign language of the popular Tzu Chi song, ‘One Family’.
In the spirit of family, the TIMA members and the non-medical Tzu Chi volunteers have worked together not only in caring for needy residents and overseas patients, but also united as one in participating in the massive 1798-strong human formation during the 13 May interfaith prayer ceremony.
“I did have my challenges along the way, especially in juggling between my work duty and the schedules of the (walking mediation) practices.” Recounting the period during the preparation for the prayer ceremony, Brother Derek Tan shared the challenges of having to swap working shifts with his colleagues in order to make time for the practices and rehearsals. That drew some understanding smiles and knowing nods from several fellow TIMA participants.
As Brother Derek had also invited a few of his colleagues to participate in the formation, the greater challenge for him and his peers was to strategically arrange their schedules to accommodate for the practices. As the saying goes, when there’s a will, there is a way, Brother Derek was thankful to have gained support and understanding from his superior and colleagues. All effort was indeed worthwhile as the nurse clinician of Tan Tock Seng Hospital remarked, “I was really touched by the solemn spirit of the event. It’s a feeling that words can never describe.”
Through the ceremony, Brother Derek once again comprehended the meaning of Master Cheng Yen’s aphorism that “The beauty of an organization stems from the discipline and coordination of everyone”.
Also among the formation, Dr Chee Chen Sin, a dentist by profession, jovially shared the two main feelings he felt – muscle “ached (感痛)” which totally diminished when the peacefulness and harmonious atmosphere of the event “touched (感动)” him. Dr Chee further shared that he felt very honoured to be “one little piece of the puzzle” in the formation, and that to him the journey in Tzu Chi is a continuity process.
Indeed, as Dr Edwin Lim, the medical consultant of Tzu Chi Singapore’s Free Health Screening and Medical Clinic (FHSCMC) put in his words, “while the many events of Tzu Chi move us into tears, we should also be moved into action”.
In hopes of further inspiring more TIMA members to contribute their love and support for the needy, Dr Yeoh Lee Ying gave a good picture of the activities that new TIMA members can volunteer in with several Da Ai TV news. The videos include reports on TIMA Singapore’s house calls to immobile and needy patients, services provided at the two Tzu Chi clinics and other medical activities previously conducted by the TIMA team.
Dr Edwin Lim further introduced the origins of Tzu Chi’s medical mission as well as the essence of its unique medical humanity. He also encouraged the TIMA members to attend the annual TIMA Convention held in September in Hualien, which is the spiritual home of all Tzu Chi volunteers. Dr Edwin further shared his personal experiences in attending the past conventions, where he had the opportunity to not only witness the Simulated Surgery Programme on body donors in Tzu Chi University but also to participate in their farewell ceremony. Reverently addressed by the medical students as “Silent Mentors”, the entire programme is conducted with great respect and dignity, and the story of the body donors and their families never fails to move Dr Edwin to tears. In addition, apart from the usual medical knowledge sharing, participants of the convention are also conscientiously reminded through the reports of TIMA activities worldwide that healthcare is not just about curing sickness, but it is also about healing people and healing hearts.
Delighted in seeing the steady growth of the TIMA team, Brother Low Swee Seh, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, gave his words of encouragements to the team towards the end of the gathering. The CEO commended that it was a breakthrough for the branch to have 82 TIMA members participating in the formations at the interfaith prayer ceremony. He believed that with such continued growth, “there will be a lot more that TIMA members could contribute and achieve”. He also took the opportunity to announce the green light for the continuation of the medical outreach to Sri Lanka, which is a good platform for TIMA members to reach out to the much less fortunate.
Just as the spirit portrayed by the song ‘Where Does Our Path Lay?’ (敢问路在何方) sang by Dr Chee during his sharing, the now matured TIMA committee aspires to give their fellow member a clear direction in walking Tzu Chi’s path of Bodhisattva. With this tea party as a head-start, plans are set to conduct such bonding session at least monthly to serve as a portal for local medical professionals to understand more about Master Cheng Yen’s ideals as well as Tzu Chi’s humanistic values and activities.
Dr Eugene Tang (left) and fellow TIMA members preparing for the tea party.
Participants learning the sign language of the ice-breaking song from Sister Anne Ching. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Volunteers from Sri Lanka joined in to perform the ‘One Family’ song for the TIMA team. (Photo by Derek Tan)
Dr Chee Chen Sin, who felt honoured to be “one little piece of the puzzle” in the prayer ceremony formation, sharing his sentiment of Tzu Chi with the participants. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Brother Derek Tan shared the challenges of having to swap working shifts with his fellow colleagues in order to make time for the ‘walking meditation’ practices and rehearsals prior to the prayer ceremony event. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Dr Yeoh Lee Ying giving introduction to TIMA Singapore’s current medical endeavours and volunteering opportunities. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Delighted with the steady growth of TIMA, Tzu Chi Singapore CEO Brother Low Swee Seh proudly gives his encouragements to the team. (Photo by Derek Tan)
Tseng Pei Wei, 21, got to know of Tzu Chi through the blood donation drive at FHSCMC almost half a year ago. The medical-student-to-be is moved by Tzu Chi's humanistic values, and is often impressed by the insights of Master Cheng Yen. Currently waiting to start his university studies, he has decided to take up the offer of studying medicine in Tzu Chi University, Taiwan. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
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