The world of Tzu Chi July-August 2022 (Vol.142)

TZU CHI 142 09 comes the strength”. One example was volunteer Alicia Chew, who does not read Chinese characters. In order to enhance her understanding of the sutra verses, she used online translation application to translate the verses into English. It was challenging and stressful, but she was rewarded with spiritual joy and decided to share the teachings she has learned with volunteers from the English- speaking group. Another seed volunteer, Chong Choy Lin from Kuantan, Pahang, was a little worried as the usual practice venue was less than ideal, and she found it quite challenging having to remember and perform movements for several songs. On May 29, she led 46 volunteers on a more than three hours’ trip to KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall, for the seed volunteers’ training. She was pleased to see her team members learning attentively, and were able to perform the movements well and in good synchronization. She felt that although the power of one person could be weak, the team worked as one, moving in one direction together. Seizing the opportunity Middle-aged Chong Yoong Ying signed up as a seed volunteer together with her daughters. With a day job, she had to manage her schedules to make time for the training and rehearsal sessions. Her daughters helped to guide and familiarize her with the sutra verses and to memorize the movements. Her persistence came from the positive changes she has observed in herself. Looking back with teary eyes, she said, “In the past, I would hold grudges when I was scolded by others, but now, I have learned to change my behaviour and restrain my temper instead. I have also learned to not hear it when others say unpleasant words. I hope to bring all my family members to join Tzu Chi.” Volunteer Dong Min, a mainland Chinese citizen married to a Malaysian, joined Tzu Chi in 2020. She was impressed by the spectacular scenes of the 2015 “Dharma as Water” musical adaptation, but regretted that she did not have the chance to participate and could only watch the recorded footages. Her earnestness to participate in a sutra adaptation performance finally came true this year. She confessed that she was still unable to fully observe the ten precepts of Tzu Chi. She hoped that her participation in the musical adaptation could help strengthen her resolve to observe vegetarianism and revive her aspiration to cultivate diligently. She expressed regrets for her unintentional mistakes and all those she had hurt in the past. She said, “The forward and backward hand movements in synchronization with the ‘Sutra Opening Verses’ reminded me of how I had repeatedly made advancement and then retreated on the path of spiritual cultivation. I was astonished when I immersed myself in the musical adaptation and related my feelings.” Dong Min looks forward to rid her unwholesome habits and desires, thereby becoming a better person. With cleansed hearts and renewed vigour, the volunteers practised mindfully, with the Dharma in their hearts while performing the body movements. Their shared goal was to immerse themselves in the light of the Dharma, to inspire others to learn the Dharma diligently, and to promote the spirit of living bodhisattvas in the world. It was certainly an uplifting sight as the pristine petals of the blissful lotus continue to unfold and blossom. The Lotus Sutra: Returning to Our Pure Intrinsic Nature