The Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) held five sessions of its annual Year-End Appreciation Ceremony at the Kallang Theatre from 9 to 10 January 2015 to thank volunteers and donating members. In addition, attendees were encouraged to go vegetarian for the day. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
The year 2016 is also the 50th anniversary of Tzu Chi, whose mission has always been to serve the needy with compassion. The two large onstage banners at the theatre displayed a Chinese couplet composed by Dharma Master Cheng Yen herself: “大爱之道广披寰宇．长情之路古往今来”(“Pave a Path of Great Love Around the World; Walk the Path of Compassion Life after Life”). Each session of the Year-End Appreciation Ceremony started with a video of the organization’s charitable acts showcasing volunteers’ efforts all over the world. Over the last half century, the spirit of compassion so deeply embedded in the blueprint of the organization is itself a reflection of how volunteers never forsake the needy.
Annual Blessings from Master Cheng Yen
At the annual Tzu Chi Year-End Appreciation Ceremony, every volunteer and audience member will receive a “福慧红包”(“red packet of wisdom and blessings”). The funds used to make these little gifts come mainly from the royalties of books by Master Cheng Yen, and they are meant to thank those who have contributed to the organization’s charitable undertakings in one way or other. This year’s red packet is especially meaningful as it is inlaid with a specially designed Tzu Chi 50th anniversary coin.
Lu Chuan Qing is a long-time certified volunteer and has a collection of Tzu Chi red packets carefully amassed over more than 20 years. Upon receiving the latest edition of the red packet, she would place it on her altar and keep the old one which has been thus replaced. Lu feels that the red packet represents pure and sincere well-wishes from the Master. Therefore, she views them just as she would family heirlooms, and intends to leave them for her grandchildren so that they can get to know the history of Tzu Chi. She finished by saying that while worldly riches will eventually be used up one day, (the) wisdom (that one develops from doing Tzu Chi’s work)) can never be depleted.
Over the years, many Tzu Chi members have carefully displayed the red packets at their family altars or at their work desk, adorning them with Jasmine flowers every fifteenth of the lunar month. Li Shui Zhi who has been a donating member since 1996, has also attended many Year-End Appreciation ceremonies over the last 20 years. Every red packet she received is displayed on a high shelf where one can clearly appreciate the meaning behind every year’s design. Li has visited the Tzu Chi headquarters in Taiwan three times and aspires to become a volunteer when she retires this year.
Tzu Chi Free Clinic Safeguards Lives with Love
Apart from a recap of the charitable undertakings of Tzu Chi and an inspiring musical sign language presentation, a few Tzu Chi volunteers and beneficiaries also went on stage to share their experiences with everyone. An 80-year-old lady, Kuang Run Zhen, was one of them. As she could not afford the long-term cost of TCM treatment, she had delayed seeking out medical attention for her chronic knee problem. In addition, she worried over who would care for her daughter, who is intellectually impaired, and was thus hesitant to visit the hospital.
In August 2015, Madam Kuang, a Christian, happened to walk past the Tzu Chi Free Clinic at Redhill and saw a notice stating that TCM services were offered unreservedly to all races, so she decided to step into the clinic. After benefitting from the careful medical attention of a TCM physician at the free clinic, her condition has improved. She happily states that her body is now well and that she walks with a much livelier gait now. The mother and daughter pair also donate the amount that they have saved from the long-term social welfare help they are receiving, back to the free clinic in the hope of benefiting others.
Tzu Chi beneficiary Shalie’s goddaughter, Didi, also shared the story of her godfather, who has been an elephantiasis sufferer for more than 20 years. Shalie did not live in very ideal conditions and his neighbours were unhappy about the unpleasant odour that emanated from his pus-filled wound. The Tzu Chi medical home care team spent two months persuading him to allow them to clean up his flat. Didi said that she saw the sincerity in the team who only wanted to help make his life better. Today, her godfather is much happier and also allows the medical team to regularly clean and dress his wound. They no longer rely on Didi to convey messages to her godfather and can communicate directly with him instead.
Caring for the Needy—for the Long Haul
The story that volunteer Huang Xi Jie (a sufferer of cerebral palsy) had to share was the most touching of all. “Hello everyone, I am Huang Xi Jie.” Struggling to articulate himself, he had barely gotten the words out before warm applause broke out among the audience.
Due to being born prematurely, he was beset with challenges in his learning, motor coordination and communication abilities. In June last year, his cousin Wu De Hong brought him along to the Tzu Chi recycling point at Ang Mo Kio. There, he was welcomed warmly and felt the love and care that everyone had for him.
Huang walks with a limp and there are times when he takes a tumble over uneven ground. Once, he fell when he had nearly reached the Jing Si Hall. However he resolutely picked himself up and made his way forward, insistent on continuing with his participation in the entire large-scale event that was being held there. His determination has moved many, and many too, look up to him as an inspiration. Huang draws a meagre monthly salary of $400, yet this has not stopped him from setting aside $15 for donating to charitable causes.
Ex-beneficiary Ye Shun Cheng is now a Tzu Chi volunteer who engages in Tzu Chi activities, such as house visits to beneficiaries and recycling events, with the fervent desire to give back to society. He is very grateful for the care and concern that volunteers have shown him over the last 10 years which helped him to walk out of the low point in his life. Today, he holds down a stable job while concurrently pursuing a PHD degree and taking care of his visually impaired father and mobility-challenged mother. At the conclusion of the day’s event, a member of the public even came up to Ye to give him personal encouragement, and this made him aspire to share his experience with even more people in future.
Vegetarianism is Just a Thought Away
To convey the message of respecting all life by upholding vegetarianism, 25 Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association members and volunteers presented a musical sign language item. In the presentation, a group of land and water animals in a forest lived in harmony in their natural habitat until a group of greedy hunters appeared. The hunters cut down the trees and brought great distress to the creatures. The cast delivered an impactful message to the audience with their fine acting coupled with music and background narration.
More than 500 people made up of volunteers and event attendees responded to Tzu Chi’s “111—Vegetarian for a Day” campaign by signing up online using their smartphones or tablets. At the site was an awareness promotion zone encouraging visitors to sign up for the campaign, in the hopes that they will extend their vegetarian practice to one day a week, and perhaps eventually, even vegetarianism all year round.
Global warming and melting polar ice caps are problems that have reached alarming levels. At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris in November last year, the agreement sets a goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (°C) compared to pre-industrial levels. Tzu Chi also put forward their suggestion to designate 11 January of every year as “111 Ethical Eating Day”.
Wang Ke Fang, a 70-year-old clutching a walking stick in hand, was a first-time participant in the Year-End Appreciation Ceremony. Two years ago, she visited the Tzu Chi Free Clinic and learnt that vegetarianism can be accomplished by a mere thought. She felt that taking lives was cruel and decided to uphold vegetarianism every day. She would read and copy down the Jing Si Aphorisms which volunteers shared with her every day in her notebook, and feeling that she had benefitted greatly, purchased the book of aphorisms for herself at the venue. Wang supports recycling and will normally sort out her discards at home so that she can pass them to the recycling volunteers every month on Tzu Chi Recycling Day. She also commented that she would like to attend the event again next year.
In his concluding speech, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore Low Swee Seh said: “Vegetarianism is the easiest solution for global warming…..(in) doing good we need to involve everyone……” On behalf of the organization, he thanked everyone with gratitude, for it is with their faith and support that Tzu Chi can continue its work to foster greater harmony in society.
The two large onstage banners at the theatre display a Chinese couplet composed by Dharma Master Cheng Yen, which reflects the unwavering care of Tzu Chi volunteers towards those in need. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
This year’s “red packet of blessings and wisdom” comes in the form of a Tzu Chi 50th anniversary gold coin inlaid into the design. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Li Shui Zhi (left) has been a Tzu Chi donating member since 1996 and aspires to be a volunteer after her retirement this year. She carefully displays every red packet received at the Tzu Chi Year End Appreciation Ceremony every year on her altar at home. (Photo by Huang Da Lun)
Wu De Hong (left) brought his cousin Huang Xi Jie (second from right) to a Tzu Chi recycling point six months ago, and this marked the start of Huang’s participation in the organization’s activities. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
The Year-End Appreciation event touched many hearts and Xie Xiu Qin (right) too, was moved to tears. She often checks out Tzu Chi’s Da Ai TV programmes on Facebook and wishes to share Tzu Chi’s activities with others as well. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
Ye Shun Cheng (centre) shared how from a Tzu Chi beneficiary, he became a volunteer. He visited the homes of beneficiaries and took part in recycling activities, and his experience made him cherish what he has. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
To encourage the practice of vegetarianism, a short sign language musical of how man’s greed destroyed an originally peaceful natural habitat was presented. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
The musical was put up by 25 Tzu Chings and volunteers. In addition, attendees were encouraged to support the “111—Vegetarian for a Day” campaign by signing up online using their smartphones or tablets. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Grandma Wang Ke Fang is a Buddhist and goes vegetarian every first and fifteenth of the lunar month. After watching the presentation, she decided to consume vegetarian meals every single day. (Photo by Fu Ya Tian)
Outside the performance venue, booths were set up at a cultural promotion zone to showcase Tzu Chi’s Jing Si publications and green lifestyle products, making it convenient for members of the public to browse and buy. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
It was a lively scene as members of the public thronged the cultural promotion zone. (Photo by Alvin Tan)
After the event, volunteers distributed gift packs to attendees and sweets and snacks to little children. (Photo by Lin Meng Cai)
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