The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

2019 • 01 12 eature there is no discomfort, one can be discharged very quickly. I recalled during my medical check-up in Changhua, some kidney stones were found. So, I decided to proceed with treatment while volunteering at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. The doctor was soft spoken and attentive during consultation. He must have been worried that I was old and unclear about the procedures, so he patiently explained to me until I nodded and stated that I understood. “Have you informed your family?” Despite the doctor being so cautious, I innocently replied, “No need for that! I understood that the therapy is very simple. You just lie down and give the stones a ‘burst’, isn’t it?” The doctor said with a smile, “It doesn’t work that way. Just be sure to keep your family informed.” I was a little anxious, and I did not want my children to worry. But I still gave in and made the long-distance call home. The doctors had everything arranged. In no time, I was already changed and laid on the icy stage for pulsing. After a long wait, nothing happened. The doctor came to apologize to me. He looked at the X-ray film and said that there was no kidney stone. “So you may come down now; no need for surgery!” Ah! I was so happy, quickly got off and changed. As the elevator doors opened, I sawSister Lan Fang waiting outside with the children. I quickly announced, “The doctor said no surgery is needed! There are no stones!” It was an instant relief and their exhaustion of rushing over from Changhua vanished right away. We clung together, glad to know it was just a false alarm. Sister Lan Fang muttered to herself with her palms together, “Dear Buddha, thanks for protecting...” She then proposed that we went back to the Jing Si Abode, since everyone was in Hualien. In front of the Buddha Hall of the Abode, my children stood tall with their palms together for a long time. After that, they stayed close to me as we strolled around the Abode in the gentle breeze. Sister Lan Fang and myself were full of smiles as we watched the children chatting with one another. Am I so incapable? It is common for us, ordinary people, to have a change in mood easily. I remember once while I was volunteering at the hospital, an experienced volunteer told me to “listen with your eyes, and watch with your ears”. I was quite confused, but was embarrassed to enquire further. So, I thought to myself, “I will just play by ear when I am faced with the situation.” Then when I was asked to get a book, I casually promised but ended up getting the wrong book. I was so ashamed, got myself caught in the whirlpool of self-blame, thinking: “Such minute task and I can’t get it right?” I even thought about quitting as a volunteer. Upon seeing how disheartened I was, a volunteer reminded, “You thought of giving up just because you hit a snag. How are you going to continue on this long journey?” She was right! Where have I placed my initial vows and intentions? Doing things right is short term, behaving right is forever. As the saying goes: “We pass each day whether we are troubled, angry or happy.” It is better to be broad- minded and put off the worries. A sister from different kinship In my 70s, soon after I started volunteering with Tzu Chi, I went for a home visit to a woman named Ah Shan, who lived