The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.106)

TZU CHI 106 17 Age is nothing to worry about Since we started attending Master Cheng Yen’s Dharma talks at dawn, I used to get up at 3 am every day. At 4 o’clock, a volunteer would pick me up to the Liaison Office, to open the door and prepare. Nowadays with poorer health, I wake up later. Although I recognize only very few Chinese characters, I still insist on making notes. Sometimes if I could not manage to write down in time, I would just leave it blank. As age catches up, mymemory deteriorates. Listening toMaster ChengYen every day, I forget most of the things that were said. However, I continue to listen and make notes daily. As long as I can remember one sentence and do it well, it will be right. After the Dharma session, I would go to the park for morning exercise and go home for breakfast at 7-ish. A regular pattern of life is very important. It is also important to stretch and walk every day. If both feet are functioning well, our bodies will be healthy; the lesser we move, the more unstable we will end up.As one gets old, the best pleasure is to be able to manage one’s own self without troubling the younger generation. Each time I went out for voluntary work, the volunteers would give me a lift. They always said it was “on the way”, but in fact, it was “purposely arranged on the way”. Although I felt bad, I learnt not to reject. Instead, if I have not received any invitations for duties for a few days, I would call the volunteers and request, informing them not to feel sorry about putting me on duty because I am old. To tell you the truth, when I was 70 and everyone encouraged me to be certified as a Tzu Chi Commissioner, I was quite anxious. I was so old, what could I do? People of our generation often think that we are useless when we are old, such is life. My relatives and friends said similar things: At this age, you should just enjoy life! They don’t need you as a volunteer! Once I met Master Cheng Yen’s biological mother. She was four years older than me, yet she was very lively and still doing lots of Tzu Chi work. She gave me a lot of encouragement, and told me to volunteer for any tasks that came by. Watching her doing it, I thought I could do it too! So, I took the courage and decided to be certified. I no longer feel that I should “enjoy life” when I am old. Thinking about the days Picking up e-book at the age of 93, Cai Kuan always takes herself as an example and encourages others not make age a hindrance to learning new things. Age of Longevity: How Would You Like to Grow Old?