The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

TZU CHI 106 11 people?” Mr Jiang continued to tell me more and I was really moved, so I invited some friends from our morning exercise, “Come, let us see how a Dharma Master can save people!” and we followed Mr Jiang to Hualien. Every month, Master Cheng Yen would personally visit some poor households and offer them long-term assistance. She had also set up a hospital that did not require patients to pay a deposit! There were three Buddha statues in the Buddha Hall of the Jing Si Abode. Donned in their conical hats and with boots on, the Dharma Masters at the Abode farmed in the fields; and this was followed by more handicraft work. They lived a tough life, yet they managed to be self-reliant and overcome all difficulties to help others. It was truly unbelievable! Seeing and learning all these brought back vivid memory of my past. In those days being a midwife, I could not bear seeing those families in a bad financial situation. I would pay the charges on labour materials on their behalf, and later, bring some supplements for the mothers who had just given birth. Each time they clenched on to my hand with their weak bodies and said, “Sensei, sorry to trouble you and make you pay for these...,” I would tell them not to worry about it. That was the least I could do, while they had to face the heavy burden of maintaining the family thereafter. Before retirement, whenever I was invited to worship at a temple, I would excuse myself with work or other errands. After retirement, I went for some Dharma talks by different Dharma Masters with my friends. I had a deep faith in Buddhism, and my vow to do good to help others resurfaced. But, I did not know how I could do it. During the trip to Hualien, I saw the Dharma Masters literally putting vows into action, and I was truly touched. After returning to Changhua, I started desperately to recruit Tzu Chi donors, leaving out no one in my social network. Whenever there was a new donor, I would immediately call Sister Qiu Lan Fang, the first Tzu Chi Commissioner in Changhua, “Sister, come here as soon as you can, I have recruited another donor...” Sometimes I would joke, “I am taking this very seriously. I even dreamt of recruiting donors!” Sister Lan Fang was equally serious. She would come to me as soon as she could, no matter how busy or tired she was, and regardless of the weather condition, as she was afraid her delay would cause others to miss out on doing good. Once when I listened to Sister Lan Fang sharing about her experience volunteering every month in Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, I asked in amazement, “What do you do as a hospital volunteer? We are not doctors or nurses...” She replied, “Easy, just help prepare the reserve stocks of cotton balls and bandages...” Those were things I used to do at work back in the health clinic. Without hesitation, I followed Sister Lan Fang and embarked on my path as a hospital volunteer. False alarm for my family It was not until I was certified as a Tzu Chi Commissioner that I realized serving as a hospital volunteer is part of our duties. There is much more to it than I initially understood and so much to learn. For example, one should go into the wards or be at the outpatient area to care for the patients, help to take patients’ blood pressure, and help patients who could not find their way. Once, I met a volunteer, who came to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. According to him, the therapy does not hurt and leaves no wound. If Age of Longevity: How Would You Like to Grow Old?