The world of Tzu Chi December 2023 (Vol.148)

2023 • 12 30 Report by Chan Shi Yih Translated by Lee You Zhuan lobal Presence Love in Ganga Bigha Village Manju (left), weighing only 35 kg, received guidance from nurse Chong Ah Yok on nutritional intake to help improve her body weight and overall health. [Photo by How Siew Heok] I n September 2023, Tzu Chi medical volunteers conducted health checks in Ganga Bigha Village in Bodh Gaya, India almost daily. Upon their arrival at the village entrance each morning, they often saw young people engaging in casual conversations by the roadside. Despite their eagerness to interact with the local villagers, the language barrier limited their communication. Nandu Chaudhary, a friend of volunteer Endrajeet Paswan and a small business owner in New Delhi, is one of the few villagers who can speak English. He became acquainted with Tzu Chi through Endrajeet and regularly follows the news on Da Ai TV. The global presence of Tzu Chi’s humanitarian efforts moved him deeply, and he holds great respect for Master Cheng Yen. Not long ago, Tzu Chi volunteers visited the village to promote the spirit of Tzu Chi’s bamboo bank era. Since then, he not only saves in the bamboo bank he received, but also inspires his customers to collectively perform acts of kindness with small contributions. Moreover, he switched to a vegetarian diet in March this year after gaining an understanding about the law of karma. He said, “Animals, like humans, are sentient beings. We should not harm them; it is all our own choice.” Nandu had originally planned to return to work in New Delhi on September 5. Unfortunately, he was pushed on the crowded train station platform and injured his left arm. During his recovery period, he happily served alongside the volunteers, taking height and weight measurements with one hand, and