The world of Tzu Chi July 2020 (Vol.124)

23 TZU CHI 124 The itch stopped after he switched to using Jing- Si powder detergent at the recommendation of a volunteer during a trip to the Abode. “The detergent is not available locally, but I believe the Jing-Si soapberry multipurpose cleaner works as effectively. It protects both our hands and the environment! I’ve been using the powder detergent sparingly for the past five years. It’s about to be used up soon!” he professed. Cheng Wee is relieved that the chronic itch was alleviated after following the volunteer’s recommendation to wash his clothes with Jing-Si cleaning products. As the breadwinner of the family, he leads a hectic lifestyle, dividing his time between managing his company, volunteering with Tzu Chi and other errands. Yet, he insisted on doing his own laundry, a task he felt obligated to undertake on his own as part of his daily routine even with a busy schedule. Everyone in the family has their own duties to tend to, he opined. Hence, he hoped to lead by example to convey to his children the necessity of taking responsibility for one’s own life. “I thought that Daddy’s habit of washing his clothes by hand was odd, given that we own a washing machine. Yet, his clothes seem to be cleaner when he washed them himself!” quipped Samantha. Meanwhile, his wife commented, “I’m all for him settling his own laundry. That way, he no longer badgers me to ask if his laundry is done. He’ll handle it himself. Most importantly, the cleaning products keep the house clean and are environmentally-friendly, giving me peace of mind.” As we spoke, Cheng Wee produced a pack of Jing-Si instant rice from the kitchen. “We tend to save a spare pack of instant rice in the house. It’s nearing its expiry date. I’m grateful for that!” he proclaimed, leaving us baffled: Why was he grateful that the packet of rice was almost expiring? He explained, “Every volunteer stores some instant rice in their homes, so that when a disaster occurs and the stock of instant rice in the Jing-Si Books & Café inventory is insufficient, we volunteers are ready to contribute our extra packets of instant rice to support disaster relief efforts. Each of us might not be able to supply much, but when more than 2,000 volunteers in the KL and Selangor region unite, the collective force is substantial.” Therefore, Cheng Wee is grateful that the spare packet of instant rice in his home has remained untouched until its expiry date due to the absence of disasters in Malaysia. He shared his experience of relying on instant rice for his daily meals on an overseas disaster relief mission, recalling that he was not averse to consuming the rice every day as he understood the purpose of its invention, that is, to ensure that disaster victims receive sustenance in calamitous times. “I’d be thankful so long as I have something to eat during a disaster,” he mused. Moreover, Jing-Si oatmeal is a constant presence in Cheng Wee’s home. The family insists on consuming only oatmeal from Jing-Si over food safety concerns. “I trust that Jing-Si products are safe for consumption,” asserted Cheng Wee, revealing that the food production line at the Abode is equipped with facilities of the highest standards, as he had observed during a trip, reflecting the Dharma masters’ dedication to food hygiene to preserve the health of all consumers. He is also moved by the Dharma masters’ self-reliant spirit in toiling daily in exchange for subsistence and pledged to support their hard work by using Jing-Si products. An Oasis of Calm and Serenity