The world of Tzu Chi August 2020 (Vol.125)

TZU CHI 125 47 and providing volunteers with an avenue to contribute. His generosity is exemplary. He is a faithful disciple of Master Cheng Yen. We hope that he’ll return in spirit to continue walking on the Bodhisattva Path with us,” Ang Kim Sing, the person-in-charge of Tzu Chi Klang, remarked solemnly with a heavy heart. Kim Sing added that even though the ageing Grandpa Lim had become unable to drive due to declining health in his twilight years, he insisted on serving at the Free Clinic, transported by his chauffeur. Moreover, he urged fellow volunteers to dedicate their time and effort to Tzu Chi’s missions rather than visiting him. Grandpa Lim acquainted himself with Tzu Chi in his seventies. Twenty years on, he had amassed an abundance of merits by contributing his time and effort to meaningful causes. He had lived the latter half of his life to the fullest with his children’s support and prepared to depart from the world with dignified composure. Two days before his demise, he conveyed his wish to his wife to dress him in his Tzu Cheng Faith Corps uniform and cap instead of the traditional robe for the deceased, as the outfit was his joy and pride and represented his lifelong commitment to Tzu Chi. Grandpa Lim’s funeral rites were conducted in a simple manner according to Buddhist customs. Fifteen volunteers stood silently in a row before the funeral parlour to pay their final respects to Grandpa Lim as a sign of gratitude for his philanthropic deeds and a gesture of appreciation for his benevolent spirit. As the hearse slowly pulled away from the funeral parlour, the volunteers bowed deeply to Grandpa Lim and trailed behind the hearse, praying for his reincarnation to the earthly realm to continue his mission. After the cremation, Grandpa Lim’s ashes were scattered into the sea by his descendants, fulfilling his last wish to rest in peace in nature. The well-loved Grandpa Lim is now absent in the flesh, but his spirit remains. He will be dearly missed by all. Due to MCO restrictions, attendance at the chanting ritual for Grandpa Lim’s funeral was limited to a few. The ceremony was streamed live to the family of the deceased and fellow volunteers to allow them to participate in the mourning of Grandpa Lim. [Photograph by Koh Poo Leng]