The world of Tzu Chi June 2021 (Vol.135)

TZU CHI 135 37 The indigenous children queued up to pay homage to Buddha. [Photo by Wong Kuan Fong] The ‘New Norm’ Buddha Day A Global Online Prayer for the World Sharing the Buddha’s love By Tsze Hut Sea & Cheong Siew Wai Translated by Yi-Qin O n May 8, 2021, a day before Tzu Chi’s 3-in-1 celebration, eight volunteers from Kota Tinggi took an hour’s drive to Sungai Lebam to visit a Chinese-indigenous family. Besides relief supplies, the volunteers also brought along a Buddha statue for the family to pay respect to Buddha and rejoice in Buddha’s compassion and love. Tzu Chi started caring for this family since last year, after learning about their plight from the teaching staff of SJK (T) Ladang Sungai Papan. Guided by the volunteers, the four-generation family of about 30 people, aged between two months old and over eighty years old, took turns to perform the symbolic ritual of bathing the Buddha reverently, as a sign of inner purification. “I pray for freedom from sickness and for my whole family to be well,” uttered Tee binti Achai to the Great Enlightened One of the Universe. Tee is a widow with nine children, five of whom are still living in the same village. Tee’s son, Chu Long Heng paid homage to Buddha together with his wife. He said, “I wish that my fishing trips will be safe and smooth, my livelihoodwill improve, andmy five childrenwill grow up healthy.” Most of Long Heng’s children are still schooling, and with his meagre income, he could not afford to build his own house or buy an engine for his fishing boat. Hence, he could only row his boat to sea or borrow an engine from his brothers occasionally. He was thankful for the financial assistance from Tzu Chi, which helps alleviate his burden. Awarm Mother’s Day celebration After the ceremony, volunteers brought out a cake to celebrate Mother’s Day in advance. They also organized a warm bonding session, guiding the children to express their filial piety to their parents and elders at home by bathing the elders’ feet, serving tea, presenting flowers and a thank-you card. Tee’s daughter, Chu Eng Eng is a mother of seven. When Eng Eng’s daughter, Emmaaculate was gently bathing her feet, her other daughter gave her a shoulder massage before serving her tea and presenting flowers to her. Eng Eng was overwhelmed with happiness as she enjoyed the five-star service from her daughters. Emmaaculate was grateful for her mother’s hard work in raising them. She would help her mother with household chores and take care of her mother when the latter was unwell. She aimed to become a policewoman when she grows up, to serve the society and to make her family proud.