The world of Tzu Chi April 2020 (Vol.121)

TZU CHI 121 41 care and nightly prayers for her. Alas, Poh Luan seemed to be fighting a losing battle against the destructive cancer cells slowly wearing down her body and spirit. She started slipping into frequent lapses of consciousness and constantly felt lethargic. Her memory was fading fast, yet she never forgot her spiritual bond with Master Cheng Yen. One day, after her family had conducted prayers for her, she whispered to her younger brother in a feeble voice: “I want to go to Taiwan.” Her younger brother was baffled and enquired her wish again, to which she repeated her request with firm certainty. Poh Luan’s resolve to meet the Master gave her strength to overcome the odds. Her final wish was granted as she embarked on a trip to Taiwan on February 25, 2019 with renewed vigour. “Do you remember me?” Master Cheng Yen asked kindly upon her first meeting with Poh Luan. “I do,” replied Poh Luan with a meek smile. The exchange was brief, yet profoundly telling of the inseparable, transcendent bond between master and disciple. The Master presented Poh Luan with a one-of-a-kind accessory lovingly crafted from straw as a keepsake, much to Poh Luan’s delight. On the morning of March 13, 2019, a month and a half after her wish of meeting the Master in person had been realized, Poh Luan passed away peacefully in her sleep with a lingering, tranquil smile on her face. Poh Luan’s diligent efforts and generosity had enabled Tzu Chi’s core missions to take root and thrive in the state of Kedah, providing fertile ground for expansion. Her demise was imminent, yet her legacy and spirit will live on in the hearts of her friends and family. Low Poh Luan had dedicated herself to charitable causes for more than two decades, impacting the lives of many. [Photograph by Hsiao Yiu-hwa]