The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.114).

2019 • 09 48 eople In late 2016, Gek Wah (front row, 2nd from right) and Seok Lee (2nd row, far left) received their certification as Tzu Chi Commissioners with blessings from Master Cheng Yen at a ceremony in Taiwan, with the support of other volunteers. [Photograph courtesy of Tang Chiew Liew] the lessons imparted during volunteer training sessions was challenging as her memory had not been restored to its full capacity. Therefore, she would record every lesson using her mobile phone and play the recordings on repeat at home to gain a thorough understanding of the course content, before enlisting the help of her children to document her thoughts and insights. Yeok Fong would extend her concern to Gek Wah often by assisting the latter in keeping up with the lessons. Meanwhile, fellow probationary commissioner, Tan Seok Lee empathized with Gek Wah’s predicament and offered to copy notes on her behalf. A sense of obligation to deliver her best motivated Seok Lee to be more attentive during lessons, ultimately benefitting herself as she would delve deeper into the teachings. Seok Lee professed her admiration for Gek Wah’s courage and fortitude, which inspired her decision to accept her certification as a Tzu Chi Commissioner. With the generous assistance of other volunteers, Gek Wah managed to overcome the odds to earn her qualification as a Tzu Chi Commissioner. Upon receiving news of her certification, she was overjoyed beyond words. Prior to the trip to the Jing Si Abode in Taiwan for the certification ceremony, Yeok Fong promptly made arrangements with other probationary commissioners on the same trip to look after Gek Wah, assuring peace of mind for Gek Wah’s family. “I’ve never given up on my commitment to Tzu Chi and my aspiration to meet Master Cheng Yen in person. I’ll try again and again, year after year, until I’m granted the chance of standing before the Master,” asserted Gek Wah. At the end of 2016, Gek Wah’s wish of meeting Master Cheng Yen up close was fulfilled as she hobbled her way to the Master, sobbing uncontrollably. “Are you all right?” the Master enquired tenderly, yet Gek Wah was at a loss for words. Nevertheless, she trusted the Master to empathize with her innermost thoughts. In a subsequent encounter with the Master, Gek Wah was choked with emotion as she revealed her plight, to which the Master replied with a brief homily on the workings of karma. The Master’s words enlightened GekWah to the core concept of karmic law, which dictates that one cannot escape the consequences of one’s actions from one lifetime to the next. She has since learnt to embrace her illness with an open heart and be more proactive in her rehabilitative therapy sessions to improve her well-being, besides continuing to volunteer diligently at the Recycling Centre. Gek Wah still walks with an unsteady gait and has yet to regain full use of her right arm, but she is grateful for being able to not only stand up on her own again, but also continue serving with Tzu Chi – a blessing more profound than she could ever ask for.