The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.113)

34 2019 • 08 pecial Feature total of five shows of The Great Dharma Master Zhizhe and The Story of Bright-eyes Rescuing Her Mother over three days, commencing July 19, 2019. The performances attracted audiences of over 5,000 in total. The Great Dharma Master Zhizhe opened with a stirring scene depicting the plight of the citizens of a country besieged by unrest. Amidst the chaos, a monk offers a steamed bun to a mother-and-son pair in distress. The monk contemplates the dire state of the embattled country, but also laments that there is no fate worse than being trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation. As theperformanceprogressed, theaudience was introduced to a young, precocious Zhiyi and the trials and tribulations awaiting him at various stages of his life in his quest for the true essence of the Dharma. The cast delivered engaging performances that immersed the audience in the many facets of Master Zhizhe’s storied life, his accomplishments and personal struggles. Volunteer Voon Mee Lee, who has been leading Tzu Chi Kuching for the past few years, made the trip from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur for the performance, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the Dharma. Master Huisi’s parting words to his disciple: “Do not be the last bearer of the Dharma” struck a chord with Mee Lee as a reminder to not lose sight of Tzu Chi’s principles in sustaining the M emoirs of Eminent Monks: The Great Dharma Master Zhizhe chronicles the life and times of the titular Master Zhizhe, widely revered as the founder of the Tiantai tradition of Buddhism. He served as the advisor to the imperial government of the Chen and Sui dynasties in ancient China, earning the admiration of the emperors of both dynasties. He went by the name Zhiyi before being bestowed the title of “Master Zhizhe” by Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty. Master Zhizhe devoted his lifetime to propagating the teachings of the Dharma, advancing Buddhism and delivering all sentient beings from suffering. He is honoured as “Sakyamuni of the East” by posterity for his outstanding contributions in laying the foundation for Buddhism to flourish in China. Adapting the25-episode TheGreatDharma Master Zhizhe , originally produced as a television series, to a 2-hour stage performance was a challenge made even greater by the production team’s dedication to preserving the nuances of the heartfelt exchanges between Master Zhizhe and his refuge master, Master Huisi – a reflection of Master Cheng Yen’s benevolent spirit in passing on nuggets of wisdom to her disciples. Fresh off their 2-day run of The Great Dharma Master Zhizhe in Malacca, the Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company travelled to the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall in Kepong for a