The Chen family transformed their gratitude into action and participated in the Water Repentance Sutra adaptation presented during the 2012 Year-end Blessing Ceremony.（Photo by Alvin Tan）
“I, my wife (Feng Chun Mei) and two sons (Chen Guan Wen and Chen Guan Ming) have participated in the sutra adaptation of the Water Repentance text. I feel very fortunate and this blessing is what Tzu Chi has given me.” Looking dignified in his stage uniform of white shirt and black pants, the sincere and honest-looking Ming Fu, together with his family, took part in the Sutra Adaptation of the Water Repentance text during Tzu Chi 2012 Year-End Blessing Ceremony.
“Tzu Chi didn’t just help with our living and medical expenses, the volunteers also cared deeply for my children and had many words of encouragement for them. They sincerely gave of themselves, and that’s the reason I want to be part of Tzu Chi.” Ming Fu gushed, as he related the strong connection his family had with Tzu Chi.
The Brave Little Warrior
In 2004, their son Chen Guan Zheng, then only 12 years old, was diagnosed with leukaemia. His chemotherapy bill came up to $25,000, and that of his cord blood transplant totalled more than $10,000. To an odd-job worker like Ming Fu, the medical cost was simply too large to bear. Fortunately, the National University Hospital (NUH) referred their case to Tzu Chi. Much of the medical bill was subsequently paid off when Tzu Chi rendered its timely assistance.
In the face of leukaemia, Guan Zheng never once gave up hope. He still had many things that he wanted to accomplish and felt that at 12 years old, he was too young to die. Guan Zheng aspired to be a doctor, and though doctors had estimated his survival rate to be only 20%, he said, “I hope to complete my “O” levels, further my education in a junior college, then graduate from university and pursue my PhD.”
Till this day, his optimistic approach and zest for life is still deeply imprinted in the mind of Qiu-Wei Qin Ji, the Tzu Chi volunteer who was in charge of his case then. At that time, Qin Ji had less than a year of experience in conducting home visits and learned a lot from observing Guan Zheng. In particular, the young boy would strive hard to cheer his parents up, even when his body was wrecked by intense pains from chemotherapy treatment.
On 30 August 2005, Guan Zheng completed the cord blood transplant operation. He suffered side-effects from the course of treatment, gradually losing his sense of taste and appetite. Because of his weakened immunity, he was warded in isolation for two whole months to prevent contraction of bacterial infections. Qin Ji recounted, “When we were at the hospital to see him, he continuously gave us the thumbs-up sign from inside the isolation ward, telling us that all was well with him."
Letting Go
In order to take care of his son post-operation, Ming Fu left his job; he applied for government subsidies, rented out the rooms in his house, and together with his wife’s salary, the Chen family’s financial situation gradually became stable.
At this point, Guan Zheng had had his studies suspended. The volunteers continued to show their concern for him, encouraging him to make use of the time to recuperate, as well as busying himself with coaching his little brother in schoolwork, keeping a personal diary and copying out Jing Si Aphorisms by hand. Guan Zheng once shared that his favourite aphorism was “With no contentment, one will always live in vexation”. With contentment and gratitude, Guan Zheng has been a source of inspiration for people around him.
Qin Ji said, “Though he was so young, in the face of impermanence, he displayed a maturity far beyond his years; he reminded me that we should never underestimate the potential of anyone.”
On 31 August 2006, a year after his operation, 14 year-old Guan Zheng returned to the familiar grounds of his school. That same evening that Teachers’ Day was celebrated at the end of the school semester, he went out shopping accompanied by his mother and younger brother. Unexpectedly, he was involved in a car accident while crossing the road, passing away hours after lapsing into a coma.
Guan Zheng had earlier been invited to share his experience in battling cancer on local television“Channel U”, but even before the programme was aired, his body had been cremated. In the programme, he uttered these courageous words, “Life is unexpected, whatever comes, you just have to deal with it. Whatever turns up is usually not what you have in mind, but when it comes, never mind, let it be!”
Guan Zheng had previously agreed to share his experience onstage during Tzu Chi’s Mid Autumn Festival distribution in September that year and give words of encouragement to other cancer patients like him. During the last home visit before his passing, he had told Tzu Chi volunteers, “Nothing in this world is ours to keep forever; therefore there is no need to feel attachment.” His words serve to console and remind us that we must learn to let go.
On 9 September 2006, after the unfortunate passing of his son, Guan Zheng, Chen Ming Fu drew strength from his grief and took his son’s place onstage during the Mid-Autumn distribution event, sharing his experience and encouraging those who were stricken by illness. （Photo by Wu Xiao Hong）
Cleansing away predicament With Dharma As Water
With the sudden loss of their child, Ming Fu and Chun Mei slipped into depression. Ming Fu further became irritated at the slightest provocation; however he was enlightened by a Jing Si Aphorism that goes: “ One is troubled only because he chooses to dwell on thoughts that he should not be dwelling upon”. His temper subsequently improved and he took his son’s place onstage during the Mid-Autumn distribution event, sharing his experience with everyone. The Chen family also chose not to dwell on the past and decided not to pursue the hit-and-run accident further.
With the unwavering support of the volunteers, Chun Mei also gradually cheered up and the whole family joined the ranks of Tzu Chi members. On the recommendation of a volunteer, Ming Fu started to operate a vegetarian stall in a secondary school canteen. Though busy, he continued to encourage his family to participate in the community Water Repentance study sessions and other activities.
Mrs Chen (Feng Chun Mei) participating in the sutra adaptation. She hopes that the audience will be able to cleanse their hearts and minds through watching the sutra's teachings unfold before their eyes. （Photo by Pua Poo Toong）
With the loss of her son, Chun Mei was initially unable to let go of the bitterness in her heart. After participating in the community study sessions however, she gradually learnt to let go. “I used to feel that the world was very unfair to my family and was filled with resentment. From the study sessions, I learnt about the importance of having gratitude in one’s heart, that I should not give myself undue pressure, and if one wishes to be free of troubles, one should do more good deeds and be grateful to others. ”
The close of year 2012 saw Chen Ming Fu and his family putting in conscientious efforts to assimilate the teachings of the Dharma text. He hoped that his children would come to the realization and appreciate that they were fortunate individuals through the stanza as well as from watching the videos featuring Tzu Chi’work around the world.
Experiencing the Joy of Dharma Within Purified Hearts
Ming Fu says, "While singing the words of the adapted sutra, I felt very calm and at ease." He further added that the stanza whose meaning he benefitted the most from was :
“I repent my impure attachments and my greed,
The craving for fame, wealth and power”
Ming Fu feels that many people live their lives for the sake of money and personal glory . "Some are already paying the price for it, while others are still blinded by their delusions. My family may be very ordinary but we live happily. Guan Zheng once said that even our most precious possessions or the ones we love the most will leave us some day."
Chun Mei also feels the same way about the same stanza verses in the text. Having seen with her own eyes, the downfall of those who have indulged in the bottomless pit of greed without any thoughts of regret, she hopes that by using her body as a medium, the audience will be able to cleanse their hearts and minds through watching the sutra's teachings unfold before their eyes. After committing herself to the study sessions on the Water Repentance text, she was filled with happiness. "All my worries and financial problems seemed to melt away. I put aside all my troubles when I attend Tzu Chi activities. Although I feel tired during rehearsals, upon returning home, I am filled with the joy of Dharma."
In addition, Chun Mei had invited her colleagues to attend the Year-end Blessing ceremony in the hopes that they can get to know Tzu Chi and it’s teaching. She looks forward to the day that they can join the organization and together, serve the needs of the community。
Giving Back to Society
In the past,the Chen family's eldest son, Guan Wen, had the impression that Tzu Chi was solely a religious organization. However, when he entered the National University of Singapore, he started to have a better understanding of Tzu Chi's missions after coming into contact with the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association (Tzu Ching). On his own initiative, he told his father that he would like to join Tzu Ching. With his son's wish in mind, Ming Fu arrived at the Tzu Chi Free Clinic and Health Screening centre to request that the volunteers guide his son. Guan Wen successfully donned the Tzu Ching uniform six months later.
With the passing of time, the Chen family emerged from their grief. During a Water Repentance community study session held in the South Zone, they fondly recalled the memory of Guan Zheng and expressed their gratitude to Tzu Chi for the past help they received.（Photo by Pua Poo Toong）
In the past, Chen Guan Wen had the impression that Tzu Chi was solely a religious organization. He told his father that he would like to join Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association (Tzu Ching) only after he entered NUS. With his son's wish in mind, Ming Fu requested that the volunteers guide his son and six months later, Guan Wen successfully donned the Tzu Ching uniform. （Photo by Pua Poo Toong）
Guan Wen says, "I'm very happy as this is the first time that my entire family is participating in the sutra adaptation together.” Since he was very young, he had lived with his aunt as his parents were busy with work, returning home only during the weekends. The Text study sessions and the presentation of the sutra adaptation had thus created opportunities for their family to bond.
Guan Wen faced some challenge with singing the verses as he had not been using Mandarin for some time and thus had difficulty memorising the Sutra's verses. "My hands and legs may not coordinate well, but if you have the will, you will find the way. " Although he could not keep up with the beat of the melody, he was aware that each hand sign had its own special meaning and served as a reminder to him to reflect on his faults. "Greed is when I indulge in sleep, hatred is when I react with hurtful words to those who provoke me, and ignorance is when I stubbornly cling on to my own beliefs.”
“In the past, the volunteers had cared for my younger brother. Similarly, I hope to be just like them, conducting house visits and caring for others’ children.” During the study sessions, while leading the rest in reading out the section titled “Correcting the Past and Cultivating for the Future”, Guan Wen expressed his desire to give back to Tzu Chi through volunteer work. After the conclusion of the sutra adaptation, he vowed to give his best as a Tzu Ching, and has started to adopt a vegetarian diet. “I advocate vegetarianism yet I do not follow such a diet. It’s contradictory behaviour, so I will try my best to adhere to vegetarianism.”
Time is a good judge of the power of compassionate love; one’s gratitude stemming from a drop of the milk of human kindness is akin to a gushing stream. To the Chen family, their commitment to the study of the sutra text is the start of another affinity with Tzu Chi. In the 2013 Tzu Chi Lunar New Year Charity Bazaar, the Chen family made their contribution by manning a stall selling noodles. They engaged in charity just like the Boddhisattvas whose hands so readily give with compassion.
Youngest son Chen Guan Ming participating in the sutra adaptation, fulfilling his family’s wish to spread the blessings of the Dharma to others together. （Photo by Khor Kim Seng）
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