The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

TZU CHI 106 15 you company!” Ah! I hurried in when she opened the door. Ah Shan was very quiet. Although still bad-tempered, she had at least accepted me. I wanted to hold her hands, but she refused. Whenever I said anything against her will, she would suddenly bawl me out. “The room is so dark, no lights at all. How about me opening the window a little, so that you can see me...” I then opened the curtains and she quietly leaned over and let me hold her hands. I gazed at her, “You have such a beautiful and dignified look, and I feel very happy when I look at you. The outside world is filled with sunshine, trees and birds. We have not done anything bad, no one will harm us...” Before I left, I told her, “You have to take care! I will ask some volunteers to come and help you to arrange the bed.” She nodded and said goodbye to me. I treaded carefully, taking one step at a time, and there was no need to use many words. Subsequently, she eased off shouting at me. I later learnt that she had poor vision and could barely see. That was the reason she kept her house dark and did not venture out. I discovered that Ah Shan’s children left her without bidding farewell. She was very sad and could not get out of the hatred. Moreover, her eyesight was bad, which made her very insecure. I held her hands and led her out of the house slowly, and as the sunlight shone on us, her eyes could not adapt. “Don’t worry, just keep still for a while!” I said to her. After her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, we strolled around while she listened to me recollecting my days as a midwife. Later on, we returned to the house. “You have a companion now. If you have anything, just tell me, don’t worry!” After retirement, Cai Kuan (bottom pic, left) started travelling around the world for ten years. Then at age 70, she was certified as a Tzu Chi Commissioner and began to actively involve herself in voluntary service. [Photograph courtesy of Cai Kuan]