The World Of Tzu Chi March 2024 (Vol.149)

17 TZU CHI 149 Making vows leads to karmic affinity Sustaining the resolve perpetually T wenty-four-year-old Ng Wei Lun has been engaged in Tzu Chi activities, including parent- child bonding classes, alongside his mother since childhood. Fourteen years have elapsed, and he is now a trainee commissioner. While many young people his age still indulge in leisure activities, he dedicates time to good deeds. Guided by the wise words of Jing Si aphorisms, he has always maintained composure when facing workplace challenges, surprising those around him with his calmness and wisdom. He attributes this to the nourishment of the Dharma. After hearing CEO Yen’s insights on sustainability, he reflected, “In addition to sustaining Tzu Chi and the Earth, we must also ensure the sustainability of our resolve to walk the Bodhisattva Path.” I ntroduced to Tzu Chi in 2008, Neo Yen Peng only became a certified commissioner in 2023 because of her concerns about the constraints of precepts and the responsibilities involved. During her time in Taiwan, she heard a seasoned volunteer share, “Making vows gives oneself an opportunity; without them, karmic affinities will not arise. With vows, affinities and support will follow.” Reflecting on this wisdom, and touched by the earlier volunteers’ sharing during the 30th Anniversary celebration, she felt grateful for their pure intentions, which led to the establishment of the Jing Si Hall in Malacca, where she first encountered Tzu Chi. She remarked, “It was actually my own mind that stopped me from moving forward. Only with a pure heart can one go far in Tzu Chi. Learning from the experiences of earlier volunteers has given me strength.” With a clearer direction and goals in Tzu Chi, and an understanding of the significance of making vows, she bravely made a vow to promote book study in the community. She believes that only by learning the Dharma can one navigate challenges with calmness and awakened wisdom. Photo by Ngiao Swee Ping Photo by Quek Kah Hoon