The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.112)

2019 • 07 12 eature the same year the family adopted Rocky. Swee Ueng, who had then newly joined Tzu Chi with Boon Ngoh, was appalled by images published in the media of injured casualties – some were even trapped under fallen rubble. Swee Ueng was reminded of Master Cheng Yen’s call to mitigate disasters through collective kindness and signed a pledge during the Buddha’s Day Ceremony in May to observe a vegetarian diet for three months. To his surprise, he managed to uphold a vegetarian lifestyle to this day despite many failed attempts in the past. “Wearing the Tzu Chi volunteer uniform gives me strength. It’s a reminder to myself that I’m a part of a united force contributing to a worthy cause, hence I’ve to be more vigilant in thought and deed. The more I learn about the significance of a vegetarian diet, the deeper my conviction in upholding it. It’s not hard to sustain a vegetarian lifestyle; the right mindset is key,” he shared. Initially, Swee Ueng wavered in his commitment to vegetarianism as he believed that certain sources of meat remain safe for consumption, such as organically-bred livestock and deep-sea marine produce, which he perceived to be cultivated in relatively safe environments. Meanwhile, Boon Ngoh had a more pragmatic concern: she considered a vegetarian diet a less practical option as she was of the impression that meat is an essential source of protein for her adolescent children. Swee Ueng later learnt from several online sources that the oceans are already polluted by heavy metals, plastic waste and other sources of waste. This revelation alerted him to the significance of adopting a vegetarian diet to address the pertinent issue of environmental conservation. Boon Ngoh, on the other hand, remained on the fence when it comes to vegetarianism – until a volunteer training session in January 2009 whereby she declared in jest to the volunteers in attendance that she would pledge to observe a vegetarian diet for a week – the shorter the duration, the better. Yet, she ended up signing a year-long pledge after learning about the competition for food sources between humans and animals, as well as the urgent mission to protect the Earth through vegetarianism. “I did not make a lifetime commitment as yet to allow myself time to learn and adapt at my own pace,” she related. To this day, she remains a staunch vegetarian. Respecting all life forms The couple used to light mosquito coils in the front yard nightly to shield Rocky from mosquito bites, but later became worried that prolonged exposure to the scent of mosquito coils would adversely affect its sense of smell. They eventually let Rocky into the house and kept it on a leash in a corner in the rear part of the house. After some time, Boon Ngoh decided to allow Rocky to roam free as she pitied it being confined to a small space. In return, she had to clean the floor of the fur shed by Rocky and rid the house of its odour daily. Rocky gradually became Boon Ngoh’s constant companion at home when other family members were at work or in school during the day. Boon Ngoh grew increasingly fonder of Rocky over time and would talk to it, as the latter seemed to understand her feelings. Rocky’s astute and obedient nature won Boon Ngoh over. Likewise,