The world of Tzu Chi May 2021 (Vol.134)

“I n the Heaven above and the Earth below, none is like Buddha. It is the same in the worlds of the ten directions; of all that have been seen in the entire world, none compared to Buddha…” On May 10, 2020, at 7 a.m., Dharma Masters at Jing Si Abode, as well as, staff and volunteers of Tzu Chi’s four major missions, lined up orderly in front of the Buddha Hall of Jing Si Abode in Hualien, Taiwan. Observing social distancing, they paced slowly towards the ceremonial table while chanting verses “Praising Buddha”, marking the opening of the unprecedented “live” Buddha Day Ceremony in Tzu Chi’s history. Despite the difference in time zones, Tzu Chi volunteers in Malaysia, along with some 500,000 people in 61 countries and regions, joined the solemn live ceremony held at Tzu Chi Headquarters. Among those joining the ceremony was 74-year-old Phong Kem Fong, who had a stroke that affected the left side of her body. She regained her ability to walk after several physiotherapy and acupuncture treatments. However, having stayed at home for some time during the Covid-19 pandemic, she was lethargic and feared to even walk down the stairs. Initially, when her daughter Wong Lee Peng, who is a Tzu Chi volunteer, invited her to join the “Bathing the Buddha” Ceremony to boost positive energy, she declined. She only took part after her daughter explained how precious the opportunity was. During the ceremony, Lee Peng observed that her mother was joyful. She said, “Mum seemed interested in the songs played during the ceremony. I was so pleased seeing her put her palms together and singing along.” On seeing Master Cheng Yen giving a passionate speech, the humbled Lee Peng professed that she had not done enough. At that moment, she felt a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to serve during the pandemic. She had been helping a Tzu Chi care recipient living near her to get daily necessities. She also often rang the care recipient to extend her care. Thanks to her kindness, a good rapport fostered between them. She shared happily, “It is fulfilling to help people in need. This is what I should do as a Tzu Chi volunteer.” Over the years, Tzu Chi volunteers worldwide had been rejoicing in the annual 3-in-1 celebration of Buddha Day, Mother’s Day and Global Tzu Chi Day held on the second Sunday of May. However, in 2020, the event had to be moved online due to the pandemic. As such, Tzu Chi volunteers and members of the public, around the globe, participated in the ceremony via live broadcast on the Da Ai TV, YouTube channel or other video-conferencing platforms, and paid gratitude to Buddha, parents and all sentient beings. Evolution of Bathing the Buddha Ceremony For Buddhists, May is significant because Shakyamuni Buddha’s birthday is on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. In 1996, in conjunction with Tzu Chi’s 30th Anniversary, the first Tzu Chi’s Buddha Day Ceremony was held at the Tzu Chi Junior College of Nursing It is commonly known that December 25 is Christmas Day, when Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. This inspired Master Cheng Yen, who advocates humanistic Buddhism, to make known to people that in history, there was also the Great Awakened One of the Universe, who had come to this world—the Shakyamuni Buddha. TZU CHI 134 29