TZU CHI

The World Of
慈濟世界
DECEMBER 2012
34
TZU CHI
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EVENT
Give A Helping Hand to US Hurricane Victims
FEATURE
Da Ai TV
&
e-Radio
~ The Mind-and-Soul Enrichment Media
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www.tzuchi.my
Jing-Si Aphorism
征服百岳山，不如征服無明關。
Photograph by Sue Tow Fong
To overcome the barrier of ignorance is far better than
conquering the mountain of hundred peaks.
~ Jing-Si Aphorism by Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Contents
Contents
Photograph provided by
Taiwan HQ
MASTER’S TEACHING
02
Abstinence and Precepts
Repentance and Great Vows
TZU CHI IN PERSPECTIVE
Honorary Publisher
Free Yourself from Worries
by Casting aside Ego and Perception
Dharma Master Cheng Yen
FEATURE
Editor-in-Chief
06
10
Da Ai TV & e-Radio ~ The Mindand-Soul Enrichment Media
EVENT
December, 2012
Issue No. 34
The World of Tzu Chi Monthly
Advisor
Echo Chien
K. K. Wong
Editor
Hew Kwee Heong
Graphic Designer
20
Give A Helping Hand
to US Hurricane Victims
25
Closing Ceremony of Teenagers’ Class
& Parent-Child Bonding Class 2012
30
PHOTO NEWS
Tzu Chi Cultural Publication
34
GLOBAL NEWS
The World of Tzu Chi Monthly
is owned and published by
PEOPLE
Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Malaysia (K.L & Selangor Branch)
38
Lee Kam Leong
Our Heartfelt Thanks to:
Our Volunteers
For contributing articles, translating,
editing and proof-reading
Publisher
Differences can be Resolved through
Accommodating Approach
DHARMA
42
The Thirty-Seven Principles
of Enlightenment
45
REFLECTION IN SERENITY - Q & A
MASTER CHENG YEN TELLS STORIES
46
The Old Man who Sought Buddha’s Teachings
48
Eating 80% Full is Health-conscious
Donating the Remaining 20% is to
Shower Kindness
RECIPE
INSPIRATION
51
Tofu Burger
52
MALAYSIA TZU CHI CHAPTERS
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Write to us
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Every one of us ought to have a story of
our own; whether touching, agonising
or inspiring, you are most welcome to
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Thank you.
TZU CHI 34
01
M aster’s Teaching
From a Buddhist perspective, abstinence means abstaining from meat,
alcohol, acts of evil, etc., which is prohibited in spiritual cultivation.
Precepts help us to do the things right and avoid misdeeds. Abstinence
ensures that our minds are pure and calm and precepts guide us
towards the right direction. Precepts are used to build a spiritual
firewall against temptation so that we would not succumb to it and
commit sinful acts.
Abstinence and Precepts
Repentance and Great Vows
Lecture by Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Translated by Max Siew
N
atural disasters such as floods, forest fires and earthquakes are occurring
with alarming frequency around the world. Let us joint hands to rescue
Mother Nature before it is too late… Now is the time for every one of us to do
some serious self-reflection and repent of our past misdeeds. Not only shall we
repent, we must also abstain from eating meat, from consuming alcohol, from
doing evil etc. and observe moral precepts. Moreover, we must make great vows
(for the benefit of all sentient beings) and carry them out. We too must make a
concerted effort to care for all beings with love.
When facing disasters, we can always use the precepts – samadhi (a
Sanskrit word, literally means mental discipline or deep mental concentration)
– and wisdom to deal with them effectively. Precepts help us to reflect deeply
02
2012 • 12
on ourselves so that we can act prudently, thus avoiding misdeeds. Practising
samadhi makes our mind calm and tranquil. With samadhi, we can use our
wisdom to analyze all situations with good judgment and dispelling fear and
panic. Walking the Bodhisattva path is not something to be taken lightly of – it
is a life commitment. We should never be unconcerned to human sufferings. No
matter how difficult it may be, we should assume ourselves as earnest spiritual
cultivators, with the tenacity of a camel and the bravery of a lion, and with our
compassion and wisdom, we are committed to end the suffering of others.
Calamities from around the world occur with alarming frequency. Now
is the time for every one of us to do some serious soul-searching and repent
of our past misdeeds. Not only that, we must also abstain from eating meat,
from consuming intoxicant, from doing evil etc. and observe moral precepts.
Moreover, we must make great vows for the benefit of all sentient beings and
carry them out. Only then can we get rid of unwholesome habits and purify our
hearts and minds in order to avert possible impending disasters.
However, some people might wonder since they have done nothing wrong,
why should they repent?
To satisfy one’s appetite for good food and to meet the transient pleasure
of one’s palate, many animals are indirectly slaughtered as a result of this.
Everybody is born with Buddha-nature, the innate capacity for enlightenment.
However, a moment of temptation is enough to make our minds clouded by
ignorance, making our six sense organs (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind)
controlled by the six fields of senses or six dusts (i.e. seeing, hearing, smelling,
tasting, touching and thinking) – an unrestrained use of these functions causes
defilements. So if we don’t restrain our six sensory functions, we will not be
able to extricate ourselves from the effects of bad karma. With a deluded mind
and ignorance of the teachings of the Dharma, in addition to the fact that life
is impermanent, one will indulge in pleasures and enjoyment, unknowingly
committing sinful acts. If the misdeed is committed inadvertently, it is called an
“honest mistake” otherwise it is a “crime”. If one is aware of the root cause of
these sinful acts, one can prevent these from happening.
From a Buddhist perspective, abstinence means abstaining from meat,
TZU CHI 34
03
M aster’s Teaching
alcohol, acts of evil, etc., which is prohibited in spiritual cultivation. Precepts help us
to do the things right and avoid misdeeds. Abstinence ensures that our minds are pure
and calm and precepts guide us towards the right direction. Precepts are used to build
a spiritual firewall against temptation so that we would not succumb to it and commit
sinful acts.
Greenhouse effect and global warming cause considerable harm to Planet Earth
and thus disasters occur frequently. So, how do we protect Earth and minimizing
occurrences of natural disasters? The answer is simple – vegetarianism. Whether it is
in Buddhism, Taoism or other Chinese traditional faith, people often make vows and
observe a vegetarian diet for a certain period or on the 1st and the 15th days of a lunar
month. They do this when they are experiencing a spade of ill luck. By so doing they
hope to have better luck and enjoy peace and prosperity. In fact, practising abstinence
and observing the precepts are not difficult. But it does involve perseverance. It requires
us to tame our wandering minds so that they do not succumb to temptation. By doing
away with the sensual attachment caused by sight, smell and taste, you can overcome
the cravings of your mouth.
There are five “self-reflections” Buddhists normally observe before their meals:
First, they reflect on the effort that brought them this food and consider how
it comes to them.
Second, as they receive this food, they will consider whether their virtue
and practice deserve it and evaluate what they have contributed to the society.
Third, they ensure that they always practise mindfulness, which helps them
to transcend greed, anger and delusion, and whatever they do, they will do it with
a clear conscience.
Fourth, they appreciate this food which nourishes the body and mind.
Fifth, in order to spread the teachings of the Dharma and to do good deeds
for all beings they accept this offering.
To be able to enjoy a peaceful and happy life, we must always be grateful
and mindful of being blessed. We must be quick to repent of our bad habits so as to
rectify them. We hope that everybody will return to the innate purity and is willing
04
2012 • 12
to contribute selflessly to the society. With the tenacity,
endurance, perseverance and stamina of a camel; and
the bravery and fearlessness of a lion, we can overcome
all obstacles and adversity, actively and faithfully
observe abstinence and precepts, repent of our past
wrongs, and kick our bad habits. A lamp is enough to
light up a pitch-dark room and so is the light that dispels
darkness.
The following is a story adapted from the Buddhist
sutra:
In a forest, there once lived a sparrow together
with many other animals and birds. One day, a fire
broke out in the forest and the birds and animals were
in utter confusion. The sparrow took pity on them and
tried as hard as it could to save them. It dipped itself
in a nearby stream and flew over the fire to shake off
drops of water from its drenched body to extinguish the
flames. It repeated this over and over again with a heart
full of compassion. But its effort was ridiculed by other
animals as they thought it was impossible to put out the
big fire with just a few drops of water. The sparrow did
not heed what they said and carried on with its work.
The heavenly god was deeply moved by the sparrow’s
selfless contribution and created a thunder storm to
douse the fire.
When facing a disaster, we must maintain a cool,
calm and collected mind to respond to the situation.
Never underestimate your ability. One person’s ability
may be limited, but if you are committed to do it, you
can definitely make a difference.
TZU CHI 34
05
t
zu Chi in Perspective
Casting aside ego and perception is a way to free us from worries. Being
free from steadfastness, worries and the cycle of birth and death is the
ultimate aim of spiritual cultivation. The spiritual cultivation path is, in
fact, incorporating humanistic culture in the society, while standing the
test of time in active interaction with people from all walks of life, going
through “faith, understanding, interaction and testimonies”. This is exactly
how the Tzu Chi people tread along their Bodhisattva Path in Humanistic
Buddhist cultivation.
Free Yourself from Worries
by Casting aside Ego and Perception
By David Liu • Translated by Darren Chew
T
here was an executive who considered herself to be contributing selflessly
without expecting for rewards, and that had always been the impression
that many volunteers have on her. However, I came to know about a different
story of her when I met her working partner – he said that despite soft-spoken in
her daily routines, she would adopt a demanding attitude and required others to
listen to her when interacting with subordinates. After some careful observations,
he felt that she was not actually contributing unconditionally.
She used to be eloquent while sharing on stage and the audience are
normally touched by her dedication, passion and sacrifice for Tzu Chi’s mission.
In her daily work, she is composed and humbly seeks for repentance, but her
innate stubborn characters depicted a vivid contrast with her touching demeanor
on stage. This is a good opportunity for us to self-reflect and to be vigilant over
our characters on and off stage. Confucius said that in order to have a thorough
understanding of someone, we need to observe his current, his past and on task
completion whether he is still able to maintain the state of tranquility.
06
2012 • 12
When observing someone closely, we may only see something superficial. If by
looking from different angles and distances, we might be able to make a more objective
assessment.
Once, a senior volunteer asked Master Cheng Yen: “I have been contributing
unconditionally, but why am I still feeling upset?” The Master replied: “You might
seemingly be working on it wholeheartedly, but you have yet to cast aside your
viewpoints, and should not request others to follow you. This is conditional and hence
creating uneasiness in you. Be firm in carrying out our mission rather than steadfast in
our opinion. Likewise, having a sense of obligation is far better than having a sense of
justice.” It is well worth our time to reflect and explore on this philosophy of life.
To know others is not easy, so goes a famous saying: “An intelligent person
knows others whereas a wise person knows himself.” If we are able to make careful
observation of one’s action, we can then decide whether the person is a kind gentleman
or a scoundrel. In order to have a clearer understanding of him, we need to observe what
he says and does from a close and far range. This is an invaluable judgmental skill that
TZU CHI 34
07
t
zu Chi in Perspective
ought to be learned.
There is always a difference of opinions between every one of us, as it is easier
to blame others rather than ourselves; easier to excuse ourselves rather than forgiving
others. In case we made an error due to our negligence and innate characters, others will
naturally blame us for the mistake, as this is human nature. We should view praises from
others as an encouragement and accept criticism as a form of constructive comments.
Differing points of view should be received warmly as rooms for improvements. This
is as what I have mentioned earlier about the executive, whose close partner holds
negative views of her; likening a blot of ink on a piece of white cloth. We should feel
grateful if we have wise friends to remind us of our faults, so that we may correct them
as soon as possible; otherwise, we might keep on repeating the same mistake again and
again without knowing.
Letting go off clinging thoughts is a form of liberation from the mind. Hence, the
letting go off clinging thoughts, freedom from worries and liberation from the cycle of
birth and death are ways leading to the ultimate aim of spiritual cultivation. However,
no one can achieve this on our behalf, not even Lord Buddha. He has, however, showed
us the path towards enlightenment. Master Cheng Yen once told us that she did not
know what problem we were facing or will be facing in the future, but she has imparted
us the Buddhistdharma. As long as we put the Buddhadharma into practice, there is
no reason why we cannot solve our problems amicably. In fact, Buddhism is not a
subject to be researched, but to be put into everyday life practice. The in-depth study of
Buddhism created a lot of scholars, thinkers and theorist, but this has nothing to do with
the path of liberation. Liberation or realization can only be found by getting involved
and accumulating experience through dealing with people and issues. This is the subject
Buddha had taught for 49 years, of which the last 7 years of his sermons were focused
on its core – the Bodhisattva Path of Humanistic Buddhism.
If others can accept our opinions, we should be grateful and cherish this affinity.
But, if this is unacceptable to others, we should just set it aside. By always maintaining
a state of emptiness and learning to put aside clinging thoughts, our minds will be at
ease. As clinging thoughts are now dispelled, we can enjoy freedom from worries.
The in-depth study of Buddhist Sutras and chronicles requires “firm belief” and
“understanding”; whilst, putting virtues into practice requires “action” and “testimonies”.
08
2012 • 12
Thus, spiritual cultivation which only involves the morning and evening routine pooja is
yet incomplete. It is only through service to the community will true spiritual cultivation
be attained. As stated in the Amitabha Sutra, in order to attain spiritual liberation to
reach the Pureland, we need to do good kind deeds to accumulate merits. As a matter
of fact, sutras are not only meant for recitation, but to be put into action and practice in
the human society.
There are many ways leading towards enlightenment, among which is by “freeing
ourselves from all attachments”. In short, there is nothing so crucial in life that needs
us to dwell so steadfastly on it. However, there are people who keep clinging onto a
problem so persistently that the ache just multiples by itself. Under such circumstances,
it is quite a task to maintain peace of mind. Once there was a bhikku who asked a
dharma master on how to cross the sea of life and death when he did not even own
a boat. The dharma master replied: “You should not even use a blade of grass when
crossing!” Not to mention about lending a boat, even a tiny blade of grass was not
allowed! The crucial point in this story teaches us that everything is in our state of mind
and no one could help us except ourselves.
In spiritual cultivation, we should not hold a high esteem of ourselves; or else
we will eventually be isolated by others. Requesting others to accept our opinions is a
demanding character; while sticking fast to our viewpoints is akin to compelling others
to bow to us. More so, it would be irrational if we think that our opinions are far better
than others. If others can accept our viewpoints, we should be thankful and cherish
this affinity. If our opinions are unacceptable to others, we should not be frustrated and
maintain a tranquil state of mind. In this way, we can always keep worries at bay.
TZU CHI 34
09
FEATURE
“There is nothing too significant and worthy
in Taiwan other than our Great Love and
compassionate nature. The creation of the
Da Ai TV was never intended to cater for
commercials or entertainments but to instill
loving-kindness in the global community
and disseminating Humanistic Buddhism
to purify human minds. Broadcasting
true stories and living testimonies of kind
people can truly inspire others to be good
and evoke the innate virtues in them.” That
was a piece of invaluable advice given by
Master Cheng Yen.
Da Ai TV & e-Radio
~ The Mind-and-Soul
Enrichment Media
Written and Complied by: Lim Li Tian & Siow Lee Kien
Translated by K. K.Wong
Source: The World of Tzu Chi (Chinese: 151)
Photographs by Tzu Chi Documentary Team & provided by Taiwan HQ
10
2012 • 12
T
he story in this issue is basically focused on a different aspect of Taiwan Da
Ai TV, particularly on the interviewees who are respective heads of the Da Ai
Management. Among them are Michael C. Y. Chang, Da Ai TV Associate General
Manager, Yvonne Wu, Da Ai TV Head of Culture & Education Programme, Fan
Chiang-Ting, Da Ai TV Head of Dharma Programme and Da Ai e-Radio Reportercum-News Anchor, Chang Chia-Ling. These management people revealed how Da Ai
TV had resisted opposing pressure and keen competition from their peers and how they
strive for remarkable viewership from members of the sophisticated Taiwanese society.
Operated by “Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation” and formerly
known as “Tzu Chi Da Ai TV”, Taiwan Da Ai TV was set up on August 17, 1999. As
an NGO, Taiwan Da Ai TV is the only TV Station in Taiwan which does not go for
commercials or advertisements. The operating expenses of this TV Station are funded
by revenues generated by recycling stations and donations from the public.
In line with rapid advancement in Information Technology, the propagation
of Tzu Chi culture has eventually taken shape; transforming primarily from wordsin-print to the present visual image on flat panel and even 3-D. The Da Ai TV has
extended its network across the globe through satellites and cyberspace, disseminating
Tzu Chi’s Great Love to everyone in the international community.
The Da Ai TV offers a wide range of programmes to viewers from
all walks of life, stressing that the innate nature of human beings is
basically kind and virtuous. It also synchronizes TV programmes
to reach everyone across the world, including enabling the
interaction between the TV hosts and the guests-ofhonour possible, thus achieving a breakthrough in the
Tzu Chi broadcasting media.
TZU CHI 34
11
f
eature
Time factor in accomplishing meritorious deeds
Taiwan Da Ai TV was set up on January 1, 1998. At that time there was a curious question
raised by many locals: “Why did Tzu Chi set up the Da Ai TV as there were already so
many TV broadcast stations in Taiwan?”
Michael C. Y. Chang, Da Ai TV Associate General Manager recalled: “At that time,
Master Cheng Yen issued a brief and clear directive, stating that regardless of what the
outcome of the viewership was, we are going to do it the correct way! Da Ai TV has three
roles to play. First of all, it is a ‘remedy’ to end social ills. Secondly, it is an ‘alternative’ to
advocate tasks which are partly neglected by our society— education. Thirdly, “to lead”
and “to keep the ball rolling” – we should lead everyone towards finer values and noble
concepts.”
As a mind-and-soul nourishing media, Da Ai TV has demonstrated its unique features
such as “credibility”, “educational functions” and “social care” and has consecutively won
many film awards among its peers. Currently, the round-the-clock broadcasting Da Ai TV
secured between the twelfth and fifteenth position among hundreds of other TV stations in
Taiwan. This was a fact which Michael Chang could hardly believe, as he thought that only
scripts which were about gossips, love and hatred could win viewership. This prompted
him to recall an advice quoted by the Master: “As long as you worked hard towards the
correct path, the eventual accomplishment is only a matter of time.”
12
2012 • 12
Tzu Chi Paves Noble Paths with Loving-kindness
(Michael C. Y. Chang, Da Ai TV Associate General Manager)
“Those who educated us are the Tzu Chi people
and the Master’s educational concepts. Our role is
to present the stories to viewers and nothing more
than that.” Michael is quite particular about his
role.
Colleagues of Da Ai TV used to refer
Michael C. Y. Chang as “Teacher Chang”, because
during that earlier stages when the Da Ai TV
was set up, most of the employees used to be his
students. Michael Chang who graduated from a
research institute in University Missouri, returned
to Taiwan and had been a producer for several
Taiwanese TV broadcasting stations. He was also a lecturer at the Ming Chuan University
for three decades before joining Da Ai TV. As a producer for the famous programme “60
minutes”, he had won the most significant Taiwanese film award in his career.
The Media’s negligence on conveying positive information and education
From the Taiwanese Media’s point of view, the professional and seasoned Michael Chang
believed that most local media reported on the negative side of news and inclined to focus
news on scandals, funds misappropriation and entertainment and are absolutely reluctant
to write on the brighter side of news. They might not be wrong but what is the true purpose
of disclosing the gloomy side of news to the public?
“There are currently more than a hundred channels in Taiwan and the
competition among TV stations is extremely keen.” Michael believed that the
definition of entertainment programmes in Taiwan is generally classified as those on
love, hatred and revenge. In Buddhism, this is interpreted as greed, anger, ignorance
and arrogance. The media nowadays are totally negligent in conveying the correct
information and education.
Da Ai TV & e-Radio
~ The Mind-and-Soul Enrichment Media
TZU CHI 34
13
f
eature
The Master has shown us the right path
“The Taiwan National Library looked upon news reports by Da Ai TV as collectibles in
national archives. The only two TV broadcasting stations which have contracts with the
national library are Taiwan TV Broadcasting Company and Da Ai TV.”
Taiwan TV Broadcasting Company was the first TV station in Taiwan, so it has the
most complete collection of news reference records. Despite not being a seasoned member
in this arena, Da Ai TV has never reported on hideous news so that the National Library
could archive most of its news reports which were focused on the brighter side of Taiwan.
Michael Chang said that this is due to two contributing factors.
“First and foremost, Master Cheng Yen has shown us the right path. She led the Tzu
Chi community by paving the Bodhisattva Path with Great Love and generated many
touching stories along the way. That was why we have so many interesting topics in our
TV series. Secondly, we should be grateful that most Taiwanese are generally kind in
nature and like to view our programmes. This shows that there are still a lot of kind people
in our society.”
It is the Tzu Chi people who educated us
Being in touch with the Tzu Chi Malaysia community all these years, Michael described
Malaysia as the land of milk and honey. Locally filmed “The Malaysian Tzu Chi Affinity”
is a touching series which depicted on true stories of Malaysians who struck an affinity
with Tzu Chi. This Malaysian achievement has also received overwhelming response in
Taiwan.
Fifteen years ago, before the Media environment in Taiwan reached its deteriorating
stage, Michael Chang came to work in Da Ai TV. After working for some time, Michael
believed that this was an ideal place for spiritual cultivation as he had begun to gain some
spiritual attainment here.
“Many years ago, when I saw Tzu Chi people, I used to feel uneasy and try to avoid
them. As Tzu Chi people were very friendly (but unfortunately, I believed I was not, at that
time), I felt very uncomfortable. However, after sometime, I discovered that most of the
Tzu Chi people were not that bad and perhaps, it was I who misjudged them.”
Michael Chang attributed the success of the Da Ai TV to the Tzu Chi community
and Master Cheng Yen’s educational philosophy. “People who really nurture us were the
Tzu Chi people and the Master’s educational concept. We are only responsible for filming
and presenting the true stories in the Da Ai channels. But, we did not fabricate any story.”
14
2012 • 12
Education First, Entertainment Later
(Yvonne Wu ~ Head of Culture & Education Programme, Da Ai TV)
Yvonne Wu, Head of Culture & Education
Programme, Da Ai TV, was formerly a known
producer of one of Taiwan’s most welcomed
entertaining news programme – “All about
Entertainment”. Every day she used to worry about
the dropping of viewership in this programme and
thus tried to figure out fresh ideas to maintain it.
Day in and day out, she began to feel tired and
disgusted with all these meaningless routines.
“The first thing in the morning when I arrived
at my workplace was to read the ratings of the
viewership. If the feedback read: 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9,
then my overall viewership the day before was deemed to be up to expectations. In this way,
my daily work pressure was ridiculously generated by something lesser than the “1” figure.”
The TV Media should play its role ethically
Commercial TV used to stress on viewership due to advertisements factors. However, to
Yvonne Wu, the viewership ratings remained a vital factor even when she was working
in Da Ai TV, because she believed that this could help improve the quality of on-going
programme.
“At Da Ai TV, I still go for viewership ratings, but unlike Commercial TV, I am now
evaluating the viewers’ likes or dislikes in respect of this programme.”
When she was still working at the Commercial TV, Yvonne had already unsubscribed
the cable TV at home because she did not intend her children to learn materialistic values
of this modern society. She quit the Commercial TV when she was expecting her second
baby and joined Da Ai TV in year 2007.
“I am basically a conservative person and like to follow Chinese traditional values
like, filial piety and code of ethics – these practices are apparently diminishing fast. I do not
believe that the achievements of our children are judged by academic success but rather by
their good behaviour.”
Da Ai TV & e-Radio
~ The Mind-and-Soul Enrichment Media
TZU CHI 34
15
f
eature
The finishing-touch packaging – entertainment programmes
The first impression of Da Ai TV is always on charity. As a matter of fact, it should focus
more on education. Yvonne believed that education and entertainment programmes should
go hand-in-hand to avoid boredom.
“As TV is a visual Media, it needs the finishing-touch packaging through
entertainment programmes. We should also need to observe feedbacks and emotional
responses from viewers.”
Yvonne also elaborated that a quality programme should be steering a child towards
healthy development, physically and mentally. “I will teach the kids good mannerism
while singing and dancing; and to be neat and tidy while playing a game. It is always
education before entertainment.”
Buddhist Dharma – Enabling Us to Return
to Our Inherent Nature
(Fan Chiang-Ting, Head of Dharma Programme, Da Ai TV)
“Initially, I thought that Buddhism is something
very profound and difficult to understand. However
after my encounter with Tzu Chi, I realized that
Buddhism is actually simple and straight to the point
– something about self-betterment in our daily lives
and ways of coping with everyday stress. Master
Cheng Yen said that Buddhism is a cultivation
which enables us to return to our inherent nature,
which is originally virtuous and kind.”
Fan Chiang-Ting, Head of Dharma Pro-
gramme, Da Ai TV, who has nine years working
experience in this unit, said that she had no
16
2012 • 12
knowledge of Buddhism before she joined Da Ai TV.
She had thought of quitting her job at the beginning, but after repeated encouragements
from her senior, she began to pick up some knowledge of Buddhism. Shortly afterwards,
she came out with the known Buddhist programme: “Life Wisdom (人間菩提)” and
“Wisdom at Dawn (靜思晨語)”.
“I was quite fortunate to gain further knowledge of Buddhism after producing 535
series of “Wisdom at Dawn – Water Repentance (法譬如水)”.
Another challenging task is about the producing of Master Cheng Yen’s briefing
series – “Life Wisdom”. As there are three versions of the Master’s sermons – 30 minutes,
35 minutes and 40 minutes, respectively – and we are only given a twelve-minute slot to fit
into the programme for the day (without losing the original meaning), so we are absolutely
left with no alternatives but to come out with the intended products brilliantly.
During her nine years in Da Ai TV, Fan Chiang-Ting witnessed inspiring testimonies
of the transformation of lives in numerous people through the influence of the DaAi TV
series. This virtually spurred her on to produce many more enlightening series of morning
briefings from the Master so that this virtuous influence would be disseminated worldwide
to purify human minds.
Eventful Years of DaAi TV
December, 1995
“World of Tzu Chi” free broadcasting in U2 Channel.
January 1, 1998
Da Ai TV made its debut in Taiwan.
October 10, 1999
Da Ai TV broadcasted in US, New Zealand and South-east Asia
via satellite.
Year 2000
Global Da Ai TV broadcasting via satellite launched successfully.
January 1, 2005
until now
Da Ai TV moved into the Tzu Chi Volunteers populated Guandu
in north Taipei.
May, 2006
Second Da Ai TV Station set up.
Year 2007
Indonesia Da Ai TV Wireless Channel set up.
January 1, 2012
Da Ai TV entered the High Definition (HD) Era.
Da Ai TV & e-Radio
~ The Mind-and-Soul Enrichment Media
TZU CHI 34
17
f
eature
Voices of Virtue Transcends Borders
(Da Ai e-Radio Reporter-cum-News Anchor, Chang Chia-Ling)
“As operator of the e-Radio, we do not invade
privacy of others and I am never interested in
knowing your husband’s extramarital affairs.
Our main focus is not on this but rather on how
you can recompose yourself to lead a normal
life besides being able to show loving kindness
and to help others.”
Because of her decent and professional
attitude, Da Ai e-Radio Reporter-cum-News
Anchor, Chang Chia-Ling usually wins
confidence from interviewees who confide in
her and provide every information needed.
On September 1, 2005 in order to conform to the latest IT requirements, Da Ai
e-Radio switched from its traditional broadcasting to the trendy cyber broadcasting
system. So, it was indeed a great challenge for everyone at Da Ai to adapt to such an
unfamiliar working environment. But, life had to go on and every crew and Tzu Chi
member began to acquire computer knowledge and internet browsing skills.
As far as cyber broadcasting is concerned, Master Cheng Yen has once quoted:
“A single thought transcends three thousand realms”. Due to the creation of
cyberspace we can interact with Tzu Chi Volunteers around the world fast and easy. In
this way, human resources and outsourcing expenses are greatly reduced. This is also
ideally an environmental friendly concept.
Being in Da Ai e-Radio for the 14th consecutive year, Chang Chia-Ling, the
programme host for “Unforgettable Moments with Blue Skies and White Clouds”, has
always cautioned herself to speak decently and dutifully as the Da Ai e-Radio has an
18
2012 • 12
immense influence on everyone all over the world.
“The Master used to advise us to ‘speak kind words’. So, as we are working in the
Media, our job is to convey information to others and we hope the message we delivered
is basically positive and educating in nature.”
Da Ai e-Radio is a broadcasting station which is partly funded by revenues collected
from recycling stations and public donations. Therefore, the operation of this broadcasting
station is never easy.
Conclusion:
In response to rapid development in science and technology, the programmes
created by Da Ai e-Radio are relevant and can cater to the needs of global
viewers.
The Master has once said: “In my limited lifetime, it is practically
impossible to inspire and educate people from all over the world. However,
with the invention of IT and with joint efforts from the Tzu Chi community,
we can truly disseminate Buddhist Dharma throughout the Two-billion
Buddhist Kingdom.”
The Tzu Chi Mass Media focuses news and programmes on the kind
nature of the human race, adhering to what Master Cheng Yen has always
emphasized – propagate virtuous culture to the world and carry on with the
mind-and-soul nourishing and purifying mission.
Apart from the TV and radio broadcasting media, smart phones are
also excellent receptors of useful information from the Tzu Chi community.
It is easily accessible through this link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tzuchi.daai.
Da Ai TV & e-Radio
~ The Mind-and-Soul Enrichment Media
TZU CHI 34
19
E vent
Give A Helping Hand
to US Hurricane Victims
By Tzu Chi’s Documentary Volunteers
Compiled by Hew Kwee Heong
Translated by Tzu Chi’s Translating Volunteers
On October 29, 2012, the strongest Atlantic hurricane,
Sandy, swept through the Caribbean before lashing its fury
on 24 States on the north-eastern coast of the United States.
Tzu Chi volunteers in US set up “Tzu Chi Hurricane Sandy
Relief Coordination Center” in New York City and Cedar
Grove, New Jersey, since day one to help the victims; and
such efforts are still going on.
A
[Photographs provided by Taiwan HQ]
fter its onslaught on the Caribbean Islands,
Hurricane Sandy reached the densely
populated north-eastern coast of USA and engulfed
the entire area with torrential rain and devastating
wind at the end of October. Many families are still
reeling from the aftermath and having to deal with
collapsed buildings, flood damages, harsh winter
temperatures and battered public infrastructures.
Since October 30, Tzu Chi USA had
mobilized volunteers to the disaster-stricken areas
to distribute warm meals, blankets, cash cards and
their love and care to the affected victims. The
help, we can see hope in mankind. Those who are
severe damages, thus bringing hardships to tens of
kind thought of helping others. In a way, this is a
hurricane affected a very large area and caused
thousands of households. If every household were
be given US$600/- in financial aid, Tzu Chi would
need a total of US$10 million for this cause.
Master Cheng Yen said, “Through mutual
20
2012 • 12
safe are blessed people and must always have the
blessing to oneself and to those who are in pain.”
Tzu Chi volunteers of 189 Tzu Chi branches
and sub-branches in US and 33 other countries
have responded to the Master’s call to help the
hurricane victims. They have taken to the streets
10-day fundraising campaign to “Give a helping
public.
sincere prayers for the victims, Tzu Chi volunteers
to solicit “loving-kindness” from members of the
Fundraising activities in Malaysia
On November 15, 2012, Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur
& Selangor, Melaka and sub-branches launched a
hand to US hurricane victims”. Besides their
also hope to touch the hearts of the public while
soliciting loving-kindness from them through
this campaign. This fundraising effort was also
broadcasted through the local Chinese media.
TZU CHI 34
21
E vent
Picture 1 [Photograph by Lee Chin Seong]
Picture 2 [Photograph by Gary Kong Yuen Foo]
At their usual morning assembly on
Educare Centre held a praying ceremony
& Selangor launched a fundraising campaign and
When chanting, 5-year old Zhang Zhi Xuan
November 15, all staff of Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur
and fundraising for the hurricane victims.
offered prayers for the hurricane victims. At the
sang loudly as she wanted her blessings to be
launch, Deputy CEO, Song Quek Khian reminded
heard by the victims; while 4-year old Zhang
everyone that while living in peace, we should not
forsake the disaster victims and should help them
instead. To be able to help those “who are rich” is
a blessing. So, do not hesitate to offer our loving-
Qin En was sobbing when she thought of the
•
kindness right away.
The shocking disaster has shaken the hearts
of many. With the launch of this fundraising
campaign, Tzu Chi volunteers nationwide have
•
the Seeds of Love” activity at the construction
volunteers’ specially prepared lunch, the
workers were shown news of the disaster
which they watched with concern. Most of
and deliver them all the way to the disaster
them, including the foreigners, responded
victims living in the Eastern shores of the United
when invited to extend a helping hand to the
States. This loving-kindness will definitely warm
total of 666 fundraising activities were held.)
November 17 was the usual monthly “Spread
site of KL Jing-Si Hall. While enjoying the
that we can harness everyone’s loving-kindness
(From November 15 to November 25, 2012 a
also held a fundraising at the end of its 11th
(Picture 1)
and rounds of fundraising activities, it is hoped
themselves for the cold winter.
That same day, Melaka Da Ai Educare Centre
Graduation Ceremony at Melaka Jing-Si Hall.
taken to the streets for a noble cause. With publicity
the hearts of the many victims, who are bracing
suffering victims.
•
US victims. (Picture 2)
At the Closing Ceremony for Kluang Tzu Chi
Teenagers’ Class, the teenagers brought along
their Bamboo Bank collections to donate to the
hurricane victims. Wu Shao Xuan realized that
Every kind thought helps to alleviate disaster
•
On November 16, Kuala Lumpur Da Ai
22
2012 • 12
disaster can take away everything you own,
whether you are rich or poor. He said he will
Picture 3: Dr Yap Hong Keong (left) and Dharma Master
Xuan Shan. [Photograph by Tan Lian Hee]
Picture 4: Grandpa Lin Dou (2nd left). [Photograph by Tan
Ken Teik]
be more pious and vigilant. The parents, who
it will strike in future, so we must constantly
small donations from so many people bring
they are proper.” (Picture 3)
came for the ceremony, also donated. May the
•
hope to the victims.
Melaka Tzu Chi Free Clinic held a fundraising
be mindful of our actions and words to ensure
•
campaign to solicit love and kindness from the
miss the opportunity of helping the hurricane
fundraising experience and he felt wonderful.
victims. She brought along her grandson as
Seeing the patients taking out money to
Master Xuan Shan donated after watching the
video clips on the Hurricane Sandy Disaster.
and household chores, Yao Mei Rong, a Tzu
Chi volunteer from Tampin, did not want to
patients. This was Dr Yap Hong Keong’s first
donate had deeply touched him. Dharma
Despite having to take care of her grandson
she solicited for funds in her neighbourhood.
(Picture 5)
•
On their monthly visit to the Sungai Buloh
Leprosy Settlement on November 25, a
group of Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth members
She said, “We are so lucky that we had no big
informed the residents that Tzu Chi is carrying
disasters so far. But we don’t know whether
out a large scale relief operation for Hurricane
Sandy’s victims. The elderly, who are retirees
and living on government subsidy, donated
generously. Ninety-year old, Grandpa Lin
Dou, who was one of the donors, said
although US is a rich country, there are still
•
areas ignored by the government. (Picture 4)
On November 22, the Bodhi Vegetarian
Restaurant in Klang held a charity sale to raise
funds for the US Hurricane Disaster Relief.
Prior to the event, Tzu Chi volunteers held a
promotional campaign within the area. People
Picture 5: [Photograph by Chin Kwai Peng]
TZU CHI 34
23
E vent
Picture 6: Regular customer, Mugilen (2nd right) brought
along his father to the charity sale. [Photograph by Tan Kim
Chew]
•
Picture 7 [Photograph by Chan Kai Sian]
of different races gave their support. (Picture 6)
– the Bamboo Coin Bank Era. More than 10,000
markets and shopping complexes to solicit for
recipients to practise the concept of “setting aside
In Seremban, Tzu Chi volunteers went to
funds and loving-kindness for the hurricane
victims from November 15-25. When invited
bamboo coin banks were adopted by the aid
small change for charity daily”.
Many victims could not believe that it is
by volunteers to join the fundraising at the
a charitable organization from Taiwan that had
new volunteer, was initially a little reluctant
the Bamboo Coin Bank story, they were deeply
market, Zhang Zhi Ming, a businessman and
as he was worried that he might meet his
customers and friends there. However, he said
he took pity on the victims who needed help
urgently. After experiencing the joy of helping
given them the emergency cash. After listening to
impressed. Some even rushed home immediately
to bring a jar of coins which they donated to help
others.
Another distribution will be held before
others, he even helped to look for suitable
Christmas for people who did not get the relief
(Picture 7)
or are unemployed. Medium and long-term aid
locations for the next fundraising activity.
cash earlier because they had lost their documents
will be scheduled as and when needed.
Master Cheng Yen said in her letter,
As of November 25, Tzu Chi Foundation had
addressed to all US victims: “Tzu Chi is always
cash cards worth US$600 each, in more than 20
and get back to normal. My sincere best wishes to
distributed more than 10,000 sets of hot meals and
devastated communities in New York and New
Jersey. Tzu Chi’s disaster relief centre is still
receiving 1,500 calls for help daily.
In the distributions, Tzu Chi volunteers
also promoted the humble beginning of Tzu Chi
24
2012 • 12
with you and will help you survive this disaster
you for a speedy recovery and rebuilding. Let us
heal the pain and suffering and bring out our innate
courage and perseverance. I believe with a positive
attitude, you can restore your homes and be back
to normal soon.”
Closing Ceremony of
Teenagers’ Class & Parent-Child
Bonding Class 2012
By Siow Lee Kien, Lim Beng Cin & Kiew Li Wen
Compiled by Kelvin Ting Kie Mei
Translated by Hew Kwee Heong
Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur & Selangor’s Parent-Child
Bonding Class and Teenagers’ Class held a joint closing
ceremony at Yuk Chai Chinese Primary School Hall on
November 18, 2012.
The 731 performers observed a vegetarian diet and
rehearsed for the musical sign language performance
months earlier. Their sincerity and hard work paid off
with an excellent show that deeply touched everyone. The
audience was also inspired by the teachings in the “Water
Repentance Adaptation”.
M
“
om, what does ‘pure innate nature’ mean?”
“Pure innate nature is the feeling of empathy
when you feel like helping your friend with her
homework; or the feeling of sympathy when you
feel like looking for a home for a little dog; or to
have an honest and filial heart.”
On stage at Yuk Chai School Hall, volunteer
Irene Kuak and daughter, Fu Chu Yi, shared an
interesting dialogue on “Pure Nature”.
The Parent-Child Bonding Class and
Teenagers’ Class would meet once a month to
learn about managing parent-child relationship
with love and kindness. This year’s participants
had the opportunity to study the teachings in the
Buddhist scripture, “Water Repentance Text”, and
to stage a musical sign language performance at
the Closing Ceremony.
The songs staged were Prelude (序曲) – “A
Perfect, Bright and Inherent Nature (一性圓明
自然)”, “Repentance for our Endless Afflictions”
(懺悔煩惱障)” – “Repentance for all our past
follies (一一悉懺悔)” and “Correcting past
erroneous doings and turning over a new leaf”
(改往並修來)” (by the Parent-Child Bonding
Class), “Repentance for Karmic Obstacles (懺
TZU CHI 34
25
E vent
[Photograph by Lee Kok Keong]
family - Yong Xuan, Yong Hao and Yong Zhen
shared their commitments to vegetarianism.
Parents and children, who were either
fulltime vegetarians or had observed more than
100 vegetarian meals, went on stage each wearing
an “Ambassador of V-gen” badge and shouting
the slogan: “I love Planet Earth, I eat vegetables!
V-gen!”
[Photograph by Chai Yee Yang]
Amending the past and cultivating for the future
悔業障)” - “Making vows after repenting (至誠
Li Mei Yan said before joining this sutra
of Dharma Master Wu Da (悟達國師傳奇)” (by
when she was about to scold her son for messing
發願)” (by the Teenagers’ Class), and “The Story
Teachers’ Association).
Li Mei Yan shared that through her
participation in the Parent-Child Bonding Class
and the musical Sutra adaptation, she has learnt to
change negative thoughts into positive ones and
to reflect constantly. As a result, her relationships
with her children, husband and colleagues have
improved.
Cai Yu Xiang and three siblings from the Xie
26
2012 • 12
performance, she was hot tempered. One day,
up his study table, she remembered a piece of
advice frequently mentioned by the volunteers,
that is, to “switch thought”. She quickly turned
and walked away to find a place to calm down.
When she returned later, she found that the table
had been tidied and her son, Zhang Xiao Wei then
apologized to her.
Mei Yan also had many complaints and
doubts about her husband. After attending the
Right top: Li Mei Yan and family. [Photograph by Lim Su Nguan]
Right bottom: Cai Yu Xiang and family. [Photograph by Lim Shy Tean]
Parent-Child Bonding Class, she has learnt to
be grateful to her husband for taking care of the
family.
In the office, Mei Yan also liked to compare
with her colleague. After joining the sutra study
group, she started to understand the retributions
of Karma. Now, she believes she can eliminate
the karmic obstacles by repenting her past
wrongdoings and to avoid repeating the same
wrongdoings.
Mei Yan said she used to be very self-centred
but Tzu Chi has changed her. She is looking
forward to becoming a Tzu Chi volunteer.
Vegetarian families
Ten-year old Cai Yu Xiang became a vegetarian
5 years ago when he was studying in Kuala
Yu Xiang told the audience, “Vegetarian
Lumpur’s Da Ai Educare. In the kindergarten,
diets won’t cause nutritional deficiencies. Eating
how the piglets and chickens were tortured to fulfil
reports confirmed that meat contains excessive
he saw the movie, “Crying Life”, which showed
man’s desires. From thence, he has developed
compassion for animals.
meat doesn’t mean you will be healthy. Scientific
Beta-Agonist. When we eat meat, this chemical
will stay in our stomach!”
TZU CHI 34
27
E vent
Xie Ya Zhong and family.
[Photograph by Lim Su Nguan]
He advised the audience to try eating
vegetarian meals one day a week first, and then
gradually increase the number of days.
A slightly overweight Yu Xiang said, “You
need not worry that taking vegetarian meals will
Yong Xuan said that the few times she was
enticed to eat the fried chicken served at the school
canteen, she had diarrhea! She then realized that
she has to keep her vow fervently.
Twelve-year Yong Zhen asked his class-
make you fat like me. I grew fat because I ate too
mates, “Do you think a corpse is edible?” His
Yu Xiang’s father, Cai Lin Fa, thanked his son
with another question: “Do we consider the fish,
much. I am now going on a diet!”
for leading the whole family in going vegetarian.
He said, “Just like the song - Perfect, Bright and
Inherent Nature - says: All creatures have Buddha-
nature despite from different species; we all need
to breathe, eat and sleep.”
Xie Yong Hou from Teenagers’ Class said
that his mother prepared vegetarian food for him
classmates replied, “Of course not!” He continued
chickens and pigs we eat everyday as corpses?”
All his friends felt shameful and started to cut
down on their meat consumption.
Father Xie Ya Zhong attributed his family’s
success in converting to the healthy vegetarian diet
to his wife.
to take to school everyday. When his classmate
Water Repentance cleanses bad habits
Yong Hou agreed but on condition that he must be
class reminded Zhou Qun Xi of his younger days.
requested for a set of the vegetarian food from him,
The movie on “Cruel Cooking” screened in the
a vegetarian consecutively for 7 days. However,
He felt very sorry for the fish and ants that he had
his friend failed to comply with this condition on
the fifth day, so he told him to start all over again.
That way he managed to encourage his friend to
eat less meat.
tortured to death then.
Zhou Qun Xi said he cried when singing “All
creatures have Buddha-nature despite from different
species; we all need to breathe, eat and sleep”.
Zhou Qun Xi’s family: Zhe Xuan,
Xiao Xuan, Qun Xi & Qing Zhen.
(left to right)
[Photograph by Lim Shy Tean]
28
2012 • 12
[Photograph by Low Mai Yin]
The Teenagers’ Class performing
“Repentance for Karmic Obstacles
(懺悔業障) - Making vows after
repenting (至誠發願)”. [Photograph
by Lim Shy Tean]
His wife, Su Qing Zhen, was full of praise for
the Closing Ceremony, and was deeply touched by
the children’s performance.
Qun Xi’s daughter, Xiao Xuan and son, Zhe
can rid their thoughts of greed and cherish their
families and friends.
Strong faith in the law of Karma
Xuan, said the musical sign language performance
Eight-year old meat-lover, Xu Hui Min, stopped
observing vegetarian diet.
“Don’t Kill Me” and witnessing the slaughtering of
is inspiring. Both of them are willing to continue
eating meat totally after watching the drama
chickens at the market.
She has stood firm by her decision for one
I go vegetarian because I love the animals
Ten-year old Lin Cai Xuan from Parent-Child
month now. When asked why she is doing this, she
learning in the class that all lives are equal and are
Hui Min’s mother, Luo Yue Ying, was happy
Bonding Class stopped eating meat gradually after
said she does not want to end up like the chickens.
to be respected.
to see that her daughter has learnt about the law
live! Why are humans so cruel? I want them to live
Taiwanese volunteers’ presentation of the sutra on
Cai Xuan said, “Animals have the right to
in peace like us in this world, so I eat vegetables.”
Cai Xuan was also very committed in the
performance, spending 1-2 hours daily practising
at home. She said, “The lyric I remember most
is ‘Greed for fame, wealth and power’, because I
see this in many adults.” She hopes that everyone
of Karma. Yue Ying was impressed with the
Da Ai TV and decided to join this performance.
She also realized through Da Ai TV’s news
coverage on disasters that she is blessed to stay in
a safe and peaceful country. The sharing has also
helped her tremendously.
The Closing Ceremony is not an end, but a new
beginning. It is hoped that the parents and children
have learnt that they need to continue learning to
love each other, listen to each other, accept each
other, and stand by each other in the journey of
life.
Cai Xuan (left), Hui Min (right).[Photograph by Lim
Su Nguan]
TZU CHI 34
29
p
hoto News
Compiled by Kelvin Ting Kie Mei & Hew Kwee Heong • Translated by Translating Team
Health Care for Children at
Agathians’ Shelter
Selangor 2012.10.26
Reported by Teh Seng Lim
Photograph by Yap Tsi Ti
Tzu Chi volunteers and TIMA doctors
were once again at the Agathians’ Shelter
to provide health check, health education
and psychological counselling to the
children, most of whom are orphans,
abandoned children or children of singleparents. Besides the health check, the
children were given pictures to colour as
this simple drill helps them to focus and
be more creative. Founding member,
Madam Manggai thanked the volunteers
for showing their care and concern to the
children.
Strong Wind Ripped Off
Roofs from 77 Home
On October 30, 2012, a strong wind struck
Ayer Keroh Heights, Melaka, ripping off
roofs, toppling power poles and causing
a power outage to numerous houses. The
following day, 15 teams (comprising
of 79 volunteers) visited the 77 affected
families and handed over to them Master
Cheng Yen’s consolation letter, blankets
and instant noodles. They also introduced
the community’s recycling centre to the
residents and invited them to join in to
protect Mother Earth.
30
2012 • 12
Melaka 2012.10.30-31
Reported by Ho Gia Yan & Loo Chia Chi
Photograph by Yong Siew Lee
Photo News Photo News Photo News Photo News Photo News Photo News Photo News
Muar 2012.11.01
Reported by Tan Siang Kew & Kang Miew Tiang
Photograph by Low Choon Hui
Motherly Love Warms
Hearts of Boarding Students
Since February 26, 2012, volunteers from
Tzu Chi Muar have been making monthly
calls on the 130 boarding students of Pei
Hwa High School to conduct humanistic
cultural classes. Besides promoting the
concepts on environmental protection,
filial piety and other topics during the
9-month course, volunteers also delivered
vegetarian suppers to the students who
were studying late at night for their
year-end examinations. At the closing
ceremony of the course on November 1,
the students said, “We will miss you and
the very nice vegetarian supper!”
Selangor 2012.11.03
Reported by Siow Lee Kien & Kiew Li Wen
Photograph by Lee Mun Keat
Mock Air Crash Disaster
Drill at KLIA
Tzu Chi and Malaysia Airlines signed
an MOU indicating that in the event
of a crash disaster, Tzu Chi will help
mobilize its manpower in providing
care, food and transport as backup for the
MAS Emergency Management Centre.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd carried
out a mock air crash disaster drill at the
Kuala Lumpur International Airport on
November 3 to evaluate the readiness
of the airport’s personnel in case of a
real air crash. Fifty Tzu Chi volunteers
participated in the drill.
TZU CHI 34
31
p
hoto News
Promoting the Spirit of Filial
Piety Among the Youth
Melaka 2012.11.03
Reported by Low Siew Lian
Photograph by Lee Kin Chee
Tzu Chi’s Collegiate Youth, Teenagers,
Da Ai Mothers, Teachers’ Association
members and volunteers successfully
presented a stage performance of “The
Sutra of Filial Piety” at Melaka Jing-Si
Hall. The performance which attracted
an audience of more than 1,000 people
was packed with interesting programmes
like musical sign language, experience
sharing and drama. In this materialistic
society of today, this event played a key
role in highlighting the importance of
filial piety among the youths.
Launch of Journey
of the Mind
David Liu, former CEO of Tzu Chi
Melaka and Singapore, visited numerous
Tzu Chi Chapters in central and southern
Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak
to launch his new book – Journey of the
Mind. In this book, Brother Liu shared the
wisdom and joy he has gained through
serving others under the banner of Tzu
Chi. He encouraged everyone to start
cultivating blessings and wisdom as
time is running out. He also quoted short
stories to help enhance his audience’s
understanding.
32
2012 • 12
Central-South Peninsular & East Malaysia
2012.10.31-11.04
Reported by Documenting Volunteers
Photograph by Siow Yau Choo
TZU CHI 34
33
g lobal News
Compiled by Kelvin Ting Kie Mei • Translated by Hew Kwee Heong • Source: Taiwan Headquarters
Global News
Taiwan 2012.11.02
Stationery for Zimbabwe’s
Children
Tzu Chi University recently launched a
stationery-raising campaign for Zimbabwe’s
children. Within 2 weeks, 533 cartons
of stationery and books were collected.
The university students carried out the
campaign by purchasing and packing all
Sri Lanka 2012.10.26-27
Cataract Surgery
for 300 Sri Lankans
Twenty nine volunteers from Tzu Chi
Singapore visited the Sri Lankan based
Hospital Kahawatta and held a 2-day
free clinic in collaboration with the
local medical team and volunteers. This
time, only cataract surgeries and vision
correcting glasses were provided. At the
end of the free clinic, 296 cataract patients
regained their vision and were able to see
again.
Global News
34
2012 • 12
the items by themselves after class. The
response from members of the public was
encouraging as the stationery collected
exceeded its target by twofold!
Global News
China 2012.11.03-04
Forum on Buddhism and
Charity
Global News
The 2nd Tzu Chi Forum hosted by Tzu Chi
University, Renmin University, Peking
University and Tzu Chi Foundation was
held at Renmin University in Beijing from
November 3 to 4. Attended by leading
members of Tzu Chi, scholars and religious
leaders from Mainland China, the forum
touched on topics like, “The traditional
and modernization of Buddhism and
charity, its organization and management;
the influence of this practice on individuals
and society; and the development of
charitable activities in other religions and
regions”.
Taiwan 2012.11.06
New Queue Management
System for Taichung Hospital
A new dynamic queue management
system was introduced by Taichung Tzu
Chi Hospital to minimize the waiting time
at its dispensary. This system displays the
waiting time and therefore patients need
not sit and wait for their turn anymore.
To prevent the erroneous dispensation
of prescriptions, the hospital has also
designed coloured picture labels of
medicine on plastic packs. In addition, a
special counter was set up for the elderly.
TZU CHI 34
35
g lobal News
Global News
Taiwan 2012.11.10
Cameron Hopes to Work
with TC to Green the Earth
American Film Producer John Cameron
visited Hualien Jing-Si Hall recently and
was impressed by Tzu Chi’s spirit of great
love and its emphasis on environmental
protection. He also took a great interest in
Taiwan 2012.11.07
Labour Force Film Awards
for Da Ai TV’s Films
At the 2012 Film Festival hosted by the
Education Center, Labour Office, Taipei
City Council, Da Ai TV won 4 Labour
Force Film Awards from 11 films it
contested. These award-winning films
truly reflected the work, commitment and
perseverance of the blue-collar workers.
The 12-member panel of judges took more
than 2 months to pick and finalise the
winners from the 148 participating films to
ensure that the best contents and subjects
were selected.
Global News
36
2012 • 12
the conversion of recycled PET bottles into
clothing and blankets to cater for victims of
disasters around the world. Also involved
in research and development of green
energy and green building, Mr Cameron
has expressed his interest to work with Tzu
Chi to protect the environment.
TZU CHI 34
37
p
eople
[Photograph by Lim Li Tian]
Accommodating Approach
Differences can be Resolved through
Ang Kim Seng and wife Tan Kwee Eng have
been involved in Tzu Chi charity efforts for
the past 15 years. Being very humble, sincere
and accommodating in nature, they have
been reputed as an exemplary couple and
walking along the Tzu Chi Bodhisattva Path.
Written by Lim Li Tian
Translated by Wong Mun Heng
T
o Ang Kim Seng and wife, it’s a blessing
to be able to walk the Tzu Chi Bodhisattva
path. They are both thankful to Tzu Chi and
glad to have found the true purpose in life. Not
only humble and sincere, the couple is also
understanding and accommodating in nature. In
the eyes of the junior, they are like their patriarch
and also a good husband-and-wife role model.
The duo is 68 years old Ang Kim Seng and 67
years old Tan Kwee Eng. Ang Kim Seng is the
person in charge of Tzu Chi Klang branch.
38
2012 • 12
Frugal and hardworking couple
Coming from very humble background, they
have been used to simple and frugal living.
Even long before they joined Tzu Chi, they
have very good self-disciplines. Master Cheng
Yen has always been reminding her disciples to
observe the four good virtues; perseverant, hard-
working, frugal and compassionate. Ang Kim
Seng and wife have been practicing these virtues
naturally and diligently as if they were born Tzu
Chi people.
Started with recycling
Ang Kim Seng and wife became donating
members of Tzu Chi way back in 1995. At
that time, Kwee Eng was down with illness
and due too much negative news on religious
various ailments. Because of eye disease, her
eyes tend to turn dry frequently and despite
repeated application of eye-drops, she could still
feel the pain. The full engagement in Tzu Chi
activities somehow helps Kwee Eng to forget
about her illnesses. In fact, her health seems to
be improving. “When there is Tzu Chi work for
her to do, she’s very much alive and kicking.
However, once she’s back home, she would
look like a sick person and sleeps all the time. If
there’s any phone call from Tzu Chi volunteers
regarding new projects, she would suddenly
become alert and attentive.” Ang Kim Seng
prefers Kwee Eng to be out and active and not
just idling at home.
Leadership by example earns respect from
establishments which were extremely chaotic
many
further. However, two years later, they happened
strong point. For this year’s Dumpling Festival,
at that time, they were quite hesitant to commit
Job allocation also seems to be Kwee Eng’s
to follow Tzu Chi volunteers to Rumah Sinar
Kwee Eng who enjoys cooking took on the
Harapan (a spastic home) at Kuala Kubu Bahru
and were both overwhelmed and moved by the
spirit of great love shown by the volunteers.
Since then, they began to commit themselves
actively as Tzu Chi volunteers, participating in
all its charity missions.
Being able to contribute is a blessing
Ang Kim Seng, despite his long-term gastric
problem, is always the first to help in any
logistic works. As for Kwee Eng, she has
responsibility of making dumplings for care-
recipients. She bought the ingredients and
arranged volunteers to help wrapped the
dumplings for three days. Of course, during
these three busy days, she did not appear to
be a sick person. For the past 15 years, despite
of all ailments, she has never wavered in her
commitment to Tzu Chi responsibilities and has
won the admiration of other volunteers. To her,
recruiting new donors or volunteers is never a
problem.
TZU CHI 34
39
p
eople
Wai Yean (3rd from right) and her seniors formed a Badminton Team to participate the “Malaysia Students’ Association in
Taiwan” sports tournament.
Since 1997, Kim Seng has found great joy as a Tzu Chi
recycling volunteer. [Photograph provided by Ang Kim Seng]
In the 2010 Deepavali care-recipient relief distribution, Tan
Kwee Eng fed a care-recipient. [Photograph by Lim Poh
Choo]
Kwee Eng remarked: “Perhaps, I did not
hours travelling to the Raub fellowship centre.
leadership through exemplary actions. That’s
volunteers there, it was almost midnight by
receive tertiary education, but I always show my
why people are easily convinced, not so much
by my words but by my actions.”
Tactful in handling human relation issues
10 years ago, Ang Kim Seng and wife took up
the challenge of promoting Tzu Chi to outskirt
After completed the training session of the
the time they reached home in Klang. On the
very next morning, they have to resume work
in Klang. This had been carrying on for two
consecutive years despite approaching the age
of 60 for both of them.
Sometimes, conflicts and friction between
towns like Sepang, Tanjung Sepat and Salak
volunteers seems inevitable. However, Ang
in Pahang and also Kampong Telemong and
modating and as a result in most cases, the issues
Tinggi in Selangor, Raub, Bentong and Karak
Manchis, both located near the border of Pahang
and Negeri Sembilan. In the case of Raub, the
husband and wife team frequently spent 2-3
40
2012 • 12
Kim Seng is always understanding and accom-
could be resolved amicably. “I feel it’s normal to
have differences in opinions. By practicing giveand-take, most problems can usually be resolved.”
Tzu Ching softens his heart
Ang Kim Seng and wife were married with two
boys and a girl. As a stern father, he had always
been very strict with his kids though not so with
others. Kwee Eng said; “In the past, he won’t
but will try her very best to carry on with her
journey on the Bodhisattva Path. Ang Kim Seng
is still very ambitious as he hopes to bring in
more people to join Tzu Chi as volunteers.
“The activities of Klang branch included
allow the kids to get up later than eight in the
places as far as Sabak Bernam, the border town
would get up early and have breakfast together.
Sepat to the South. This covers almost half of
morning. Even on Sundays, the whole family
He didn’t realize the youngsters today tend to
sleep late at night and Sunday is usually the best
day for them to wake up late. He would be upset
if they don’t get up early.” The kids seldom like
to talk to the father directly, so Kwee Eng had to
do her part by bridging the father-and-kids gap.
Son joining Tzu Chi
Having
witnessed
his
parents’
active
participation in Tzu Chi and also noticing how
they have transformed spiritually, the youngest
of Selangor and Perak, to the North and Tanjung
Selangor land area. Of the total population of 2
million, the number of active Tzu Chi volunteers
is only 1,300 accounting for only 0.0006% of
the population. This is too little. I hope to see
every family to have a connection with Tzu Chi,
either having a volunteer or a commissioner.”
What a great vision they have! It is
enlightening to see Ang Kim Seng and his
wife walking hand-in-hand along the Tzu Chi
Bodhisattva Path for the rest of their lives!
son Shin Lian finally decided to join Tzu Chi
too. Initially, after graduated in a university in
Australia, he wanted to stay on to work there.
But, later he decided to come back for the sake
of his parents. He felt grateful that his parents
supported him when he was down. Now he
would seize every opportunity to attend Tzu Chi
training courses.
Kwee Eng hopes her children will walk
the same Tzu Chi Bodhisattva’s Path as what
they are doing. When the Ang couple came to
know about Tzu Chi, they were already 50 years
old. Kwee Eng is not sure how long she can live,
Kim Seng and Kwee Eng were overjoyed to know that their
son, Shin Lian decided to come back to Malaysia for their
sake immediately upon graduation. [Photograph by Yong
Siew Lee]
TZU CHI 34
41
d harma
Lecture by Dharma Master Cheng Yen
THE FOUR
CONSIDERATIONS
•
Consider the body as impure
•
Consider the senses as sources of suffering
•
Consider the mind as impermanent and
ever-changing
•
Consider all existence as impermanent
Consider all existence as
impermanent
Besides understanding the four phases of our
minds, we should also comprehend the truth of
the universe by accepting that all existence is
impermanent. Is there anything in the world that
I can own forever? When a human being is still
breathing, there is always a sense of possession:
“This house belongs to me; this person is my
relative; all this land, property, status, wealth,
titles and so on are all mine.
Ancient castles in ruins
After my death, will I still own that house,
property, land, or even this body? By then,
even this body belongs to no one anymore,
because no family will keep the dead body at
home forever or continue to care for it. Soon
the body will be buried or cremated, and it will
no longer belong to an entity called “I”. Those
good friends and relatives will not be “mine”
anymore either.
Although “I” work hard to earn a fortune
42
2012 • 12
and build a mansion, can I really take them with me when I die? It is customary
here to burn beautifully made paper houses for deceased parents as their heavenly
residence. By so doing, the children have shown their gratitude to their parents
for raising them. But could the departed parents really enjoy the things that were
burnt for them? If there are houses in the afterlife, the children should have better
checked the city planning there to make sure that the paper house they burnt
was not illegal there, or else their parents would have to carry the house on their
backs to settle elsewhere!
Actually the material world becomes irrelevant to a soul as it departs from
the body as it needs no material things for its existence. In the same way, there
are no material things that one can literally and truthfully call one’s own. Yes,
contemplating all existence as impermanent and conditional makes us realize
that nothing but karma follows us after our death.
All material things are a combination of the four elements - Earth, Water,
Fire and Air. I have given many talks on the physical decomposition of matter.
Everything is conditionally formed from the four elements, so if the elements
separate from each other, can there be any truly substantial existence? I always
feel sad when I read books on the cultures and geography of the world. Thousands
of years ago, those famous buildings once stood so magnificent and imposing,
but now they are only piles of rubbles. Is there anything in this world that can
last forever?
The material and immaterial realms
The universe is composed of material and immaterial things. Material things
have forms and are tangible. The immaterial realm includes such formless things
as sound, scent, flavor or thought.
When our six sense organs - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind -
come into contact with the six external qualities - sight, sound, scent, taste, touch
and ideas - they create the six perceptions of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting,
feeling and knowing. For example, just as I am sitting here, all of you can see
TZU CHI 34
43
d harma
me with your eyes. This is the visible form. When our eyes are in contact with
a visible form, our sense of vision will create the perception of seeing - a visible
form in a tangible material, whereas sight is the sensory function created by the
optic nerves.
There are six kinds of sensory nerves. For example, the optic nerves of our
eyes can distinguish all moving and still objects. The gustatory nerves of our
tongue can differentiate all tastes to create the perception of tasting. It is summer
now, and in hot weather we all love to eat cold food. When the nerves in the
tongue experience whatever we consume, they produce the feeling of cold, hot,
sweet, sour or salty. This is the “perception of the tongue”.
In summary, anything tangible is called “form”, while the invisible things
that allow us to distinguish the external world are called “Perceptions,” which
are the feeling of our nerves, the awareness of our sensory organs, or the
consciousness of our minds. As you look at me sitting here, your optic nerves
will receive my image and your brain distinguishes that image. This invisible
thing whose existence can still be felt is the “perception of the eye”. You can
hear my voice with your ears while I am talking, but you cannot see the sound
with your eyes. Sound is formless, thus it belongs to the immaterial realm. (to be
continue in next issue)
* This article is extracted from the book “The Thirty-Seven Principles of Enlightenment”.
44
2012 • 12
Question
&
Answer
Reflection in
Serenity
By Dharma Master Cheng Yen
Translated by K. K. Wong
Q: Why are there endless chaotic phenomena in our society and
what approach should we adopt?
A: Chaotic phenomena are all in the state of mind – the mind can generate
evil intention as well as charitable thoughts. As long as we remain
calm and composed, all chaotic phenomena will gradually fade away.
However, the media plays a key role in shaping our society. In fact, there
are many kind people around in our global community, particularly the
Tzu Chi community. If the media could focus its reporting on kind people
and charitable events, this will eventually disseminate virtuous influence
on our society, thus bringing hope to this deluded world.
Q: Every human does have intentions. When a bad intention is
aroused, despite not putting it into actions, what must we do
to eliminate this evil thought?
A:
Everyone does have intentions. So, if an intention crops up, we should be
“discriminative” and know how to differentiate between good and
evil. For kind intentions, we can go ahead to accomplish them; but for
bad ones, leave them alone – this is the right way to eradicate karmic
obstacles.
TZU CHI 34
45
M aster Cheng Yen Tells Stories
The meaning of life lies not in its
length, but in what we make of it.
The Old Man who
Sought Buddha’s Teachings
T
ime goes on ceaselessly and with every passing moment we get older
and older. Life is constantly generated and exhausted in the cycle of
reincarnation. Therefore, we must use our time wisely and do something
meaningful.
The meaning of life lies not in its length, but in what we make of it. So
what standards do we use to evaluate the value of life?
One day, when the Buddha was lecturing in Magadha, a State in Central
India, an emaciated old man with a hunched back came to the gate of the lecture
hall and asked to see him. However, he was stopped at the gate and told, “The
Buddha is giving a lecture right now, so you shouldn’t go in there and interrupt
him.” But this old man kept kowtowing and begging, hoping to see him as soon
as possible.
The Buddha knew that something was going on outside, so he said to one
student, “Go and see. If someone wants to come in, let him in.” Thus the student
went and came back with the old man.
When the old man was led before the Buddha, he prostrated himself and
kowtowed with tears drenching his face. He said, “I am so delighted to finally
be able to see you! I am so old but still alive! What evil have I done? Why am I
so wretched? Buddha, what I most hope for now is to become your disciple and
monk. This is my only wish in life.”
46
2012 • 12
The Buddha said to him, “It’s very good that you have this wish. The
duration of life is not important. What is important is the mind. Life exists
because of karma. Everyone is born in this world with his own karma and united
with parents who were somehow related to him in past lives. How long you live
and how much wealth you have are also determined by the karma created in
your past lives.”
Then the old man asked the Buddha, “What bad karma did I create in the
past?”
The Buddha replied, “In the past, you fawned on the rich and bullied the
poor. You had no compassion, and you were cruel and greedy.” He went on
to enumerate many wrongs that the old man had committed in the past. For
example, he never sympathized with people who were suffering, or admonished
himself not to be like those who committed bad deeds.
“Such terrible causes,” the old man said. “I can’t believe I created so much
bad karma! So that is why I have suffered so much torment in this life.” He
repented before the Buddha in the hope of speedy emancipation from all his
suffering in this lifetime.
He then said to the Buddha, “I am willing to accept all the consequences of
my past bad deeds. Now I beg you to accept me as your disciple and give me the
chance to practise all the precepts.” The Buddha smiled and said benevolently,
“Your wish is granted. Your heart is pure at this moment and now is the time for
you to become a monk and practise all that I am going to teach you.”
The old man was overjoyed that the Buddha was willing to accept him as a
new disciple and even allowed him to follow him and practise all his teachings.
This was the happiest and most meaningful moment of the old man’s life. He
knew that being born human was a rare fortune and that the Buddha’s teachings
were not easily heard, so he felt very blessed to be able to hear and practise the
Buddha’s teachings.
* This article is extracted from the book “The Master Tells Stories, Volume 2”.
TZU CHI 34
47
i
nspiration
By Teh Boon Huat • Translated by Tan Chun Lee
Eating 80% Full is Health-conscious
Donating the Remaining 20% is to Shower Kindness
People in Malaysia are so fortunate to have an abundance of natural resources, as food
shortage has never really been an issue in this country. Unfortunately, on the other side of
the globe, millions of starving people are evacuating their homelands as a result of natural or
man-made disasters like, wars and floods. According to UN 2010 Statistics, there are still up
to 925 million starving population worldwide.
It is a common practice for Buddhist to self-reflect before having a meal: “Have we
contributed enough to the society…everyone should realize that a bowl of porridge served
in front of you does not come by so effortlessly…” In Malaysia, do we really appreciate
the food we have or do we used to overeat and discard leftovers so much so that these
surplus wastages have grown to be a trash issue?
At the end of year 2011, the Earth’s population has exceeded 7 billion people. Food
intake and daily consumptions are everyone’s basic needs, but global warming in addition
to over-consuming of resources and land over-development have resulted in drastic
reduction in crop yields. If we fail to put a stop to our wasteful habits (for example, many
restaurants in the market organized the all-you-can-eat promotions to generate business
revenue), then the consequences will be a disastrous one.
There were some people in Taiwan who overate and caused severe damage to their
digestive system. That was, ironically, paying money in return for tortures. There were
also restaurants which organized eating competitions, resulting in endangering the health
of competitors. Therefore, Taiwan’s Ministry of Health have regulated rules that forbid
any hospital from shouldering medical bills incurred due to injury or illness caused during
or after eating competitions to prevent the wasting of medical resources. The Healthcare
Bureau might instead consider claiming compensation from the eating competition
organizers (on behalf of the victimized competitor) in an attempt to stop food wastage and
discouraged such unethical competitions.
Last year, Master Cheng Yen initiated a worldwide campaign among the global Tzu
48
2012 • 12
Chi community on: “Don’t eat to your heart’s content; leave some for charity!” (or “Eat
80% full and donate remaining 20% for charity”).
How do we practice by not eating to our heart’s content in our daily life? First of
all, let us work out an individual dining cost outside of home. If a normal 3-course dishes
+ 1 plate of rice cost around RM4, so by reducing a dish we will save RM1; for 3 meals
a day we can save up to RM3, and at the same time feel contented with what we ate. So,
saving up to RM100 every month is possible. If eating out with a few friends, why not
invite them to your house to dine, as this will help to forge closer relationship and save
hefty charges by the restaurant.
Many feedbacks from friends who are involved in laborious jobs showed that
overeating causes drowsiness while working. Medical researchers have suggested that
it is a healthy way of eating by consuming up to 70% full (literary of the stomach). If we
overeat, blood will circulate to the stomach to aid digestion, causing sleepiness. At this
time, our body will also produce free radicals, with lowering of immunity and slower
metabolism rate. Our concentration begins to drop and a feeling of drowsiness follows.
The medical researchers also suggested that overeating will cause obesity and overloading
the body system, which is doing more harm than good. So eat lightly and healthily and
only up to 80% full (literary of the stomach).
It is hoped that everyone could appreciate our good fortune and try to contribute to
the society by sticking to the “waste not, want not” attitude. Let our lives be meaningful
by serving others and our wisdom grows as a result of self-enlightenment.
TZU CHI 34
49
50
2012 • 12
Ingredients
Small burger bun
8 pc
Tofu
240 g
Burdock root
100 g
Carrot
100 g
Tomato (big)
1 pc
Japanese cucumber
1 pc
White rice
1T
Olive oil
2t
Seasonings
Black pepper seeds
tofu burger
a few pieces
Tomato sauce
according to taste
Salad sauce
according to taste
Flour
a little
Soy sauce
½T
(for 8 people)
Method
1. Wash and peel the skin of carrot and burdock
tofu balls.
root, then cut them into thin strips. (Note:
4. Roll the tofu balls into a bowl of flour. Heat
cut and soak burdock root in water, add a
up a little oil in the wok and fry the tofu balls
little vinegar to prevent oxidization. Take out
slightly. Then press the fried tofu balls into
when ready to cook.)
pancake shape about the size of a burger bun.
2. Heat up a little oil in the wok and fry the
carrot and burdock till fully cooked.
5. Cut tomato and cucumber into thin slices.
6. Slit burger bun into halves and toast in oven.
3. Cook tofu in boiling water briefly, strain and
Take out the toasted bun and spread a little
crush it to remove excessive water; add in
salad sauce on its inner surface. Then place
carrot and burdock root strips, white rice and
tomato and cucumber slices and tofu cake
seasonings, and mix well. Divide the dough
in between as sandwiches. Add some tomato
evenly into 8 portions and shape them into
sauce and it is ready to serve.
There will never be another today in our life; so, we must do what should be done.
~ Jing-Si Aphorism by Dharma Master Cheng Yen
TZU CHI 34
51
R ecipe
Chief Cook: Wang Jing Hui
Translated by Hew Kwee Heong
52
2012 • 12
Joint Effort towards
K.L JING-SI HALL BUILDING FUND
Tzu Chi Kuala Lumpur & Selangor is building a 4-storey Jing-Si Hall on a 5-acre land in
Kepong. Due for completion in 2013, this Hall will have a built-up area of 442,000 sq. ft. to
accommodate a Dharma Teaching Hall, International Conference Hall, Tzu Chi Cultural
Display Hall, Administration Office, Jing-Si Books & Cafe, Continuing Education Centre,
Kindergarten, Dormitory and other facilities.
We are appealing for your generous donation towards the Building Fund. All contributions
should be made in favour of Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia, HSBC
Account No. 316029115101. For the issuance of official receipt(s), kindly forward the
bank-in-slip(s) with details of full name, contact number and address, to:
Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Branch)
55-57A (1st Floor), Jalan SS 25/2, Taman Bukit Emas, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7880 9048
Fax: 03-7880 8158
Tzu Chi Community Centres in Central & Southern Peninsula Malaysia & East Malaysia
Bintulu
1st Flr, Jln Tun Ahmad Zaidi, Park City Commercial
Square Ph3, 97000 Bintulu, Sarawak.
Tel: 086-333 089
Seri Damansara
No1, Grd & 1st Flr, Jln Ara SD 7/3B,
Bdr Sri Damansara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur.
Seri Petaling
No. 17-2, Jln Radin Bagus, Bdr Sri Petaling,
57000 Kuala Lumpur.
Kuchai Lama
2-5, Jln Kuchai Maju Satu, Off Jln Kuchai Lama,
58200 Kuala Lumpur.
Bukit Bintang
5-02, 5th Flr, Wisma Bkt Bintang,
28, Jln Bkt Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Setapak
No 17-6-1, Jln 2/50, Diamond Square,
Off Jln Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur.
USJ
Roof Top, 55 & 56, Jln USJ 10/1F,
47610 UEP Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Kajang
No 21-A, Jln Majlis Jaya 1, Tmn Majlis Jaya,
Sg Chua, 43000 Kajang, Selangor.
Sg Long
69-2, Jln SL 1/4, Bandar Sg Long, 43000 Kajang,
Selangor.
Puchong
No 24-2 & 24-3, Jln Bdr 3, Pusat Bdr Puchong,
47100 Puchong, Selangor.
Batu Cave
No 6-2, Jln Dataran Selayang 1,
Dataran Selayang, 68100 Batu Cave, Selangor.
Serdang
No. 9-2 & 11-2, Jln BS5/26B, Tmn Bkt Serdang,
43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Taman Gembira
No 2548B, 2550B (½ unit) & 2552B, Persiaran Raja
Muda Musa, 41200 Klang, Selangor.
Taman Eng Ann
No 22, Galeri Empire, Jln Empayar, Off Persiaran
Sultan Ibrahim / KU 1, 41150 Klang, Selangor.
Banting
No 64A & 64B, Jln Emas 8, Bdr Sungai Emas,
42700 Banting, Selangor.
Bandar Botanic
6-1 & 6-2, Jln Jasmin 1/KS6, Bandar Botanic,
41200 Klang, Selangor.
Bacang
17-3, 3rd Flr, Jln Kesidang 3/11,
Melaka Mall, Off Jln Tun Perak, 75300 Melaka.
Bandar Melaka
No 394A (Lot 962), Tmn Sinn, Semabok,
75050 Melaka.
Cheng
23-1, Jln Seri 5, Tmn Cheng Baru, 76250 Cheng,
Melaka.
Durian Tunggal
DT 4287, Jln Murai 3, Tmn Murai Jaya,
Durian Tunggal, 76100 Melaka.
Jasin
JB 2333 (1st Flr), Bdr Baru Jasin III, 77000 Jasin,
Melaka.
Malim
No 3, 2nd Flr, Jln MP16, Tmn Merdeka Permai,
Bt Berendam, 75350 Melaka.
Segamat
No 29, Tkt Atas, Jln Putra 1/3, Bdr Putra Segamat,
85020 Segamat, Johor.
Ulu Tiram
No 17, Jln Beladau 5, Tmn Puteri Wangsa,
81800 Ulu Tiram, Johor.
By Kelvin Ting Kie Mei
Photo by Lim Su Nguan
Translated by K.K.Wong
Be Prudent and Pious in order to Accumulate Good Karma
In recent years, natural calamities and man-made disasters occur frequently around the world. Master Cheng Yen called on
everyone to be prudent and pious, so that through accumulation of kind thoughts and deeds, we can minimize the occurrences of
disasters and bring lasting happiness to the world. On November 18, 2012 volunteers gave out vegetarian observation cards to
participants during the Closing Ceremony of the Teenagers' Class and Parent-child Bonding Class held at Tzu Chi KL & Selangor
Branch, and invited everyone to observe vegetarian diet and participate in the “Year-end Blessing Ceremony” activities.