The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.111)

TZU CHI 111 45 battle against cancer, she would be confronted with despairing thoughts of “Why me?” over her unfortunate plight. Sometimes, she would be gripped by bouts of pain that fuelled her resentment towards her ex-husband, begrudging him for landing her in such a miserable state. Koi Chin is grateful that she crossed paths with Tzu Chi when she was at her lowest. Prior to that, she had, in fact, participated in recycling work at the recycling point attached to her apartment block before her cancer diagnosis, but never considered committing as a volunteer as money-making pursuits were her priority back then. Her brush with cancer had prompted her to reflect on life, which she found wanting. With the prospect of premature death looming on the horizon, she resolved to devote herself to Tzu Chi should she survive this ordeal. Once her condition had stabilized, she kept to her word and began attending volunteer training sessions. Fortunately, she was spared from undergoing chemotherapy when her cancer relapsed, although surgery was inevitable. The care and companionship she received from Tzu Chi volunteers boosted her morale during those trying times. Recuperating from illness did not hinder her from taking up the role of volunteer-in-charge for a Tzu Chi recycling point – a responsibility she has undertaken for five years since. “The volunteers and local residents who help out at the recycling point co-operate well with each other and are self-starters who clearly understand their respective tasks. They make my job much easier,” she quipped. In her efforts to encourage more people to volunteer for recycling work, Koi Chin would often spread the word on Tzu Chi’s philosophy and the importance of environmental conservation to fellow residents, keeping her occupied and leaving her with barely any time to dwell on her bitter past and her illness. The workings of karma Koi Chin’s participation in the Dharma as Water sutra adaptation performance in 2015 marked a turning point in her life. In the six months leading up to the performance, she overcame the physical discomfort caused by her post-surgery wounds and immersed herself wholeheartedly in the sutra study group, lyrical sign language practice and rehearsal sessions. She persevered despite the pain as the profoundness of the sutra verses struck a deep chord with her. She saw scenes of her life unfolding on the stage with every verse she recited. She used to be overwhelmed by resentment whenever memories of her turbulent past came rushing back, but delving into the essence of the sutra through the performance enlightened her to the notion that it was not fate that was tormenting her, but the negative karma she had created in her past lives that needed atonement from this life. “If you want to understand the past, look at your present life and circumstances. If you want to know the future, look at your deeds in this life. Once I understood the Buddhist concept of karma, the hatred in my heart slowly dissipated,” she shared. Furthermore, her participation in the monthly activities held by the Tzu Chi Cancer Support Group at the Tzu Chi Kelana Jaya Community Centre exposed her to many heart- wrenching stories of life and death. Nevertheless, she drew strength from the resilient spirit of the cancer patients, who refuse to give up on life despite the odds.