This year’s, Tzu Chi’s fourth distribution event coincides with both Ramadan and the upcoming Buddhist Auspicious Seventh Lunar Month. With the theme of “Accumulating Merits Through Joyful Giving,” it is hoped that strong compassion and devoutness will be inspired in all regardless of different religions and ethnicities. （Photo by Chai Jiuan Hua)
“This month is the fasting month, a month of compassion, a month of fasting, a month of giving, prayers, extending a helping hand to the needy” – These are lyrics from a Muslim Ramadan cartoon which was being played at Jing Si Hall.
This year, Ramadan started on 29 June 2014 and ended on 27 July 2014, which also marked the start of the seventh lunar month. Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) took the opportunity to invite the less privileged together on 13 July 2014. In accordance with the Buddhist Auspicious Seventh Lunar Month and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, volunteers promulgated the theme of “Accumulating Merits Through Joyful Giving,” inspiring care recipients to show care for those less privileged than themselves.
Despite spending the entire morning working tirelessly in the sweltering heat participating in a pan-island recycling activity, volunteers rushed down in the afternoon for this event. Volunteers brought the care recipients and their families to Jing Si Hall to enjoy the joyful feeling of coming home.
On the slope leading to Jing Si Hall, tents were erected for beneficiaries to get haircuts. Some of the care recipients made their way early to the hall to get their hair cut.
As the buses from Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) pulled into the car park one by one, the volunteers rushed forward to receive them. Care recipients with mobility problems were quickly helped onto wheelchairs with the help from the diligent and agile Tzu Shao youths. Under the guidance of team leader Liao Xiu Tian, 11 members from Tzu Shao took part in the volunteer work. They cared for the elderly tenderly, helping to take their shoes off and carrying the shoe bags. This brought many smiles to the faces of the elderly care recipients.
Bodhisattva Teams in Action
Serving altruistically and enjoying the moment breeds compassion. Keeping this in mind, Queensway Secondary Three Student Fu Yi Cheng, who has been a member of Tzu Shao for two years, took part in this event. Despite being of small stature, he enthusiastically and carefully wheeled the care recipients to the entrance of the hall. He expressed that he was very happy to be able to contribute back to society by volunteering with Tzu Chi.
In the hall, the short clip “Maudgyalyayana saves his mother” and “Ramadan Song with Zaky” were screened. These films depict the meaning behind the Auspicious Seventh Lunar Month and the holy month of Ramadan respectively. Religious faith acts a guide for people to be good, to show self restraint in the face of desire, to keep one’s body and mind pure, to cultivate compassion, be generous, and do good deeds to help others. The emcee shared with the care recipients from different religious backgrounds that although different, the many faiths share the same life philosophies and are similar in essence.
“Giving is not only for the rich” -- with this theme in mind, volunteers presented a skit entitled “The Bamboo Bank Era,” that illustrated how giving originates from a caring heart. They urged the audience to cultivate the habit of saving and donating 50 cents daily. Following that, volunteers went around collecting donations and allowed the care recipients to express heartfelt giving.
The 250 care recipients spent a wonderful afternoon in the company of the Tzu Chi volunteers. Together, they respected and practiced the Muslim religious commandment of breaking fast after 7pm. No refreshments were served during the event, but instead the less privileged were given packets of vegetarian food to bring home for consumption.
Fifty-five year old Wati, a family member of one of the care recipients, had been unable to come down to Jing Si Hall for quite some time due to family commitments and needing to take care of her sick and elderly mother. On the invitation of Tzu Chi volunteer Peng Li Lin, special arrangements were made such that she could attend the event and reunite with her Tzu Chi family.
Carrying her fully laden bamboo bank, Wati happily contributed all the contents. Despite dealing with a tight financial situation at home and nursing an injured back, she still limped to the event to pass her bamboo bank to Tzu Chi to help the needy. This gesture made Wati feel overjoyed. Drawing strength from her Tzu Chi family, Wati regained her motivation to confront her issues. “I will put in effort! Thank you Tzu Chi members for walking the journey with me and giving me encouragement and strength,“ she exclaimed.
“Every time I come back there are different programs to enjoy, they are also very exciting, it feels good coming home!”Ffty-five year old Tzu Chi care recipient Mr Ho expressed his joy. Looking at the tireless Tzu Chi volunteers around him, he hopes his two sons will not waste their time playing computer games and take part in more Tzu Chi activities as well as contribute back to society.
Fu Yi Cheng (second from left, back row) participated in this event with 10 other Tzu Shao volunteers. He carefully maneuvered a care recipient around in a wheelchair towards the entrance of the meditation hall, learning and cultivating compassion along the way. (Photo by Li Ming Hui)
Some Tzu Shao volunteers needed a little time to overcome their psychological barriers, and ultimately plucked up the courage to help the elderly take off their shoes. This gesture surprised them greatly and brought many smiles to their faces. (Photo by Li Ming Hui)
“Giving is not only for the rich” --Volunteers enthusiastically performed the skit "The Bamboo Bank Era," spreading the message that giving comes from a loving heart and calling upon everyone to give rise to good thoughts and donate fifty cents every day. (Photo by Chai Jiuan Hua)
A volunteer playing the housewife in the skit went up to the audience holding a bamboo donation box to receive donations. Many of the care recipients eagerly cast their donations and in so doing, learnt the virtues of giving. (Photo by Chai Jiuan Hua)
Wati, a family member of one of the care recipients, who was absent for a period of time due to injuries sustained after a fall, overcame her difficulties to collect a bamboo bank to bring home. She expressed that helping the needy is a joyous thing. (Photo by Chai Jiuan Hua)
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