Tzu Chi volunteers visited Venerable Chuan Zhi’s home on 25 October 2015 to help clean up her living environment. (Photo by Huang Fu Shun)
Recently, 72-year-old Buddhist nun Venerable Chuan Zhi, who suffers from Meniere's disease, had two falls because of her condition. She is also unable to walk steadily due to a nerve problem in her neck and requires a walking aid.
In early October this year, the Venerable went to the Tzu Chi Free Clinic at Redhill for a medical consultation and requested for help from a volunteer on duty. Zeng Jin Er, a Tzu Chi volunteer who lives near her, quickly made a visit to her home. During the visit, Zeng met two Malaysian nuns who had specially delivered food to the Venerable. It was only then that Zeng found out that the nun has mobility issues and had gone two days without food. Seeing her plight, Zeng immediately contacted a Tzu Chi volunteer who runs a vegetarian catering business and requested him to deliver meals to the nun on weekdays. Tzu Chi volunteers take turns to do the delivery on weekends.
On the morning of 25 October 2015, twenty-six Tzu Chi volunteers went to the nun’s home at Marsiling Drive, bringing along with them trolleys, brooms, mops, etc., and did a thorough spring cleaning of her living environment.
“(What we have done) is a form of offering for the Venerable,” volunteer Zhang Hui Ming said joyfully.
After four hours of work, the flat looked spick and span again, much to the delight of Venerable Chuan Zhi.
“Tzu Chi volunteers have helped clean up my home; now, my small Buddha hall looks dignified like before,” she said happily.
During the cleanup, the volunteers also sorted the recyclable items by material type and then sold them to a recycling company. They gave the proceeds to the nun, but instead of accepting the money, she donated it to Tzu Chi’s charity fund to help others in need.
At around noon, the cleaning crew sat down with the Venerable for lunch, and they enjoyed some glutinous rice balls after the meal. In their conversation, the nun shared with the volunteers her experiences caring for old folks in nursing homes and patients at a mental hospital. She also revealed that she used to be a Tzu Chi volunteer 20 years ago.
Venerable Chuan Zhi was deeply appreciative of the volunteers’ help and thanked them profusely with folded palms.
“We are grateful to the Venerable for giving us an opportunity to give of ourselves,” Zeng said cheerfully.
They exchanged words of gratitude, filling the nun’s home with love and warmth. The volunteers will continue to bring care and support to her, in the hope that she can regain her health and continue her spiritual practice in a clean and tidy environment.
Volunteers work hard to scrub the floor in the kitchen. (Photo by Huang Fu Shun)
Volunteer Zhang Hui Ming feels that helping to clean up the home of the Venerable is a form of offering to her. (Photo by Huang Fu Shun)
Bulk waste that cannot be recycled is loaded onto a truck and sent to a disposal area. (Photo by Zheng Wei Xiong)
Volunteers meticulously clean the mesh of each plastic chair. (Photo by Huang Fu Shun)
After four hours of hard work, the volunteers sat down with the Venerable for lunch. (Photo by Zheng Wei Xiong)
Venerable Chuan Zhi joined the volunteers for a group photo after the clean-up. (Photo by Huang Fu Shun)
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