The world of Tzu Chi September-October 2021 (Vol.137)

TZU CHI 137 37 strapped for cash. She shared, “I was so sad for being cheated, and I cried and cried for a while. Later, I managed to get over it. Otherwise, I would have killed myself long ago.” It was then that the volunteers understood that Granny Lim was resentful of being cheated and tapped out, hence becoming distrustful, unfriendly and irritable. A blessing in disguise Granny Lim had four other siblings. Her brothers were either living abroad or had passed on, and she had lost contact with her younger sister. So, it was not surprising that during those days, she often sat at home alone and stared blankly at the walls. As such, Mee Moy suggested that she installed Da Ai TV to keep her company throughout the day. “I have watched Da Ai TV for almost ten years now. I like all the programmes.” Granny Lim admitted that she did not know much about Buddhism, but at times when she listened to Master Cheng Yen’s discourse on human sufferings of all forms, she would shed tears. She also liked to listen to Master talking about what Tzu Chi volunteers were doing all over the world. The footages of Tzu Chi volunteers reaching out to help others always earned her respect. As she gained a better understanding about Tzu Chi, Granny Lim began to save in a bamboo bank for charitable donation, and developed an interest in Jing Si aphorisms— the Master’s words of wisdom. Each time when she lost her temper, Mee Moy would guide her using the Jing Si aphorism, “Good words are like lotus flowers blooming on the lip; bad words are like poisonous snakes hissing out from the mouth.” “Nowadays, my temperament had mellowed. I respect Master for being so gentle and patient, I should learn to be so, too.” Granny Lim said thus, while Mee Moy remembered noticing the positive change after Granny Lim sustained a leg injury. Back in 2017, when Chu Mooi first took over the role to care for Granny Lim, a wound appeared on the instep of the granny’s left feet for unknown reasons and became infected. Thus, Chu Mooi and other volunteers took turns to take the granny to the hospital daily, for wound cleansing and dressing. Finally agreed to move The routine went on for three to four months, until the wound slowly healed. During the course of treatment, Granny Lim had suffered much pain, so much so that she could not sleep. Mee Moy then persuaded her to switch to a vegetarian diet to help with the healing. Since then, Granny Lim has adopted a vegetarian diet. Initially, she felt weak without fish and meat. Mee Moy and other volunteers then bought ginger slices out of their own expense and made ginger drinks for her. Granny Lim was moved and touched by their sincere care. She started to change her ways, no longer having prejudice towards people and things, and was less harsh in tones and words. Unconsciously, she became more mellow especially when she saw that the volunteers always helped to tidy up and clean her house whenever they visited, and had