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

06 2020 • 07 eature P atrons to the Jing-Si Books & Café Bukit Bintang outlet, located in the heart of the city, were welcomed by the aroma of coffee wafting in the air and enveloped in a tranquil atmosphere starkly contrasting to the busy traffic outside. In a corner of the Café, customer Chang Sew Loon was either concentrating on a book picked from the shelves or watching Da Ai TV programmes, as he had done for the past few days. Tears streamed down his face as he listened to Master Cheng Yen’s lecture aired on the channel. Sew Loon, a chef by profession, had built an illustrious career for himself, but fell into depression after his attempt at opening a restaurant failed and left him high and dry. He walked into the Café by chance and found solace in the calming surroundings that offered him a sense of security. “My mind feels at ease when I’m sitting in the Café, reading and sipping tea,” he affirmed. Café staff Aw Lay Kheng served him a glass of water from time to time with a smile, never interrupting. Sew Loon gained a deeper understanding of Tzu Chi through Lay Kheng’s introductions and started getting involved in the organization’s activities. He took on kitchen duties by leveraging his culinary expertise and ventured into vegetarian cuisine, besides serving in the kitchen of KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall, preparing meals for Tzu Chi staff. His culinary creations were well-received by the staff. The enduring spirit of self-dependence Nestled in a quiet corner in the compound of KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall in Kepong is another Jing-Si Books & Café outlet. Tucked away from the bustling Jalan Kepong along which it is situated, the Café's presence is marked by a wooden signboard inscribed with the words “Jing-Si Books & Café” in white block letters. The interior of the Café is decorated in subdued, earthy tones of brown, grey and beige, intersecting to evoke a sense of nature and create a comfortable atmosphere. The wooden flooring and furnishings exude an understated, calming charm. The use of natural lighting throughout the premises allows an unobstructed view of the scenery outside, including a replica of the wooden hut in which Master Cheng Yen once lived installed in the adjoining garden, adorned with an abundance of greenery. Entering the Café is akin to entering a secluded sanctuary, shielded from the hum of activity outside. The Café traces its roots back to Tzu Chi’s origins in Hualien, Taiwan. In 1966, Master Cheng Yen led 30 followers in saving NT50 cents each daily for the establishment of the Tzu Chi Foundation with the aim of providing humanitarian relief through charity work. Master Cheng Yen, together with six of her disciples, also each stitched a pair of infant shoes every day to raise funds for the Foundation. Master Cheng Yen adopted “Jing Si”, which translates to “still thoughts” or “quiet contemplation”, as her Dharma name before taking refuge in a monastic life under her mentor, Master Yin Shun. When taken apart, the radicals forming the first character of Master ChengYen’s Dharma name, “Jing ( 静 )”, denote a peace-loving disposition, fighting over nothing, while the radicals composing the second character, “Si ( 思 )”, mean “mindfully cultivating a field of blessings”. Master Cheng Yen has been leading a self-reliant life with the monastic community,