The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.110)

2019 • 05 40 would not live past six months. In addition, Lashmikah also had a cleft lip, congenital heart defects and 80 percent deafness amongst other serious health conditions. Gunasunderi was devastated but determined. Giving Lashmikah all her love, she soldiered on. Fortunately, the hospital referred Lashmikah’s case to Tzu Chi and that brought about a turnaround in the lives of Gunasunderi and her family. To ensure that little Lashmikah received the best possible care, Gunasunderi quit her job but eventually thought of leaving home as the mistreatment by her husband became unbearable. Alone and at a crossroads, Gunasunderi’s parents offered to have her and Lashmikah back in the family home. Her brother and his wife welcomed them too, and she experienced the comfort of home when she needed it most. Yet, her anger and resentment towards her husband remained unabated. She could hardly stop expressing her unhappiness to the Tzu Chi volunteers who visited her. Fear and anxiety hounded her constantly as her husband would constantly demand money from her to buy liquor. Coupled with her daughter’s health condition, which was like a ticking time bomb, Gunasunderi frequently found herself at the end of the rope. Bamboo bank: the power of pure intention Having spent time with Gunasunderi, Tzu Chi volunteer Koh Yean Ping saw that more than material assistance, she needed to be released from her emotional turmoil. So she started to share the story of Tzu Chi’s bamboo coin bank with Gunasunderi and guided her to see that positive results can be derived from positive actions. Gradually, Gunasunderi learnt to transform her resentment into the power of blessing. She took to heart the volunteers’ advice and started her daily donations to the bamboo bank, awakening kindness in her own heart each day. The warm and caring attitude of the volunteers touched Gunasunderi’s family members and as their understanding of the bamboo bank deepened, her parents, brother, sister-in-law and aunt took to the practice of charity through the bamboo bank. “We have four bamboo banks in the house now. Even though I donate only 5 or 20 cents, I make a wish each time for the health and happiness of my family. It may not be a lot of money, but every cent counts and contributes towards helping those who need it most,” beamed Gunasunderi. Whenever the volunteers visited, Gunasunderi and her family looked forward to receiving slips of paper inscribed with Jing Si Aphorisms , which served as their constant source of inspiration. Gunasunderi’s most unforgettable aphorism is: “The past is a distraction, the future is mere fantasy, seize the day and do what is right.” Misfortune sometimes knocks when least expected. In April 2018, Gunasunderi’s daughter was suddenly sent to the Intensive Care Unit due to complications that arose while undergoing corrective jaw surgery. The family was told to prepare for the worst. In desperation, the child’s grandfather knelt on the floor and begged the doctor to save her life. Resentment towards the hospital staff welled up in Gunasunderi. Sensing how upset she was, volunteers advised her to take refuge in the Divine and place her faith in the hands of the medical team. They further explained that just like she cherished her daughter’s life, she should, likewise, cherish and protect all lives. There and then, the whole family pledged to become vegetarians and continued blessing the little girl through donations to the bamboo bank. Amiracle happened after a week. Lashmikah ouching Life Story