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

TZU CHI 142 13 members even during the movement control order (MCO). In March this year, when Swee Nyun learned that Tzu Chi KL & Selangor will be staging a musical adaptation of the Lotus Sutra , he and other members of the book study group decided to form a Dharma boat. To him, spreading the Dharma was an urgent task, for it was through the Dharma that he and his wife, Chong Yan Moy, were able to shift their mindsets and go through life calmly during the pandemic. He appreciated the fact that when one puts the Dharma into practice in daily life, one eventually becomes a better version of himself. Failed as a father In 2017, Yan Moy enrolled Swee Nyun in the Tzu Chi Global Entrepreneurs’ Camp held in Hualien, Taiwan. During the visit to Tzu Chi’s missions in Neihu, he heard so much about wholesome goodness, be it people, deeds or things. Upon his return, he joined Tzu Chi as a volunteer. When he accompanied his child to the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class, Swee Nyun had the opportunity to hear other parents sharing their stories. Only then did he realize that he had given too little time for his children, as he was busy with his business. He started to make amends. He learned to listen to what they had to say, and to see things from their point of view when communicating with them. By the time he took up the responsibility of organizing the book study sessions, he was able to see through the Dharma teachings that he had been a father who had failed in his role. “Many years ago, I became angry when talking to my then 18-year-old eldest daughter and I slapped her. Now, I really feel sorry for my action. At that time, I decided to send her to the faraway land of Chile to study because I thought she was too stubborn.” Although this daughter, Wei Ming, only went to study in Chile for one year, Swee Nyun had been feeling rather guilty. The time came for him to express his regret face to face with his daughter when she participated in one of the book study sessions. Wei Ming said that at that time, she was too eager to leave her family, and so agreed to go to Chile to further her studies. Her revelation of her past feelings that the family once meant nothing to her shocked the father. What a fortunate action he had taken by changing his ways, to garner a change in his daughter’s thought about him, and the place called home. Wei Ming also apologized to her father. The father-child relationship was rekindled. Interestingly, the more Swee Nyun learned about the Dharma, the more he gained. Back in March 2020, when the MCO was implemented, most businesses were forced to close temporarily. His credit card machine business was so badly affected that the turnover was zero for a period of time. The MCO meant people had to stay home involuntarily. Swee Nyun said that if not for the Dharma that he had learned, he would have just confined himself in the room and focused on playing with his handphone, or worried about his business; and worse still, clashed with his family members. The Dharma had shown him the way, and he decided to make good use of the time at home to enjoy his family life. Each day, he would proactively discuss with his children what to cook for meals. They would then go online to search for recipes, prepare the ingredients and do the cooking The Lotus Sutra: Returning to Our Pure Intrinsic Nature