After spending several days with the Dharma Masters from Jing Si Abode and speakers from Taiwan, the participants raise their hands and recite their vows loudly at the end of the camp. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
“Count on me to pass on the Dharma lineage. I am willing to take on the responsibility to promote the School of Buddhism!”
Tzu Chi volunteers in Singapore could be heard collectively making resounding vows to foster great love in the community and pass on the Dharma lineage in Singapore.
On 20 September 2024, local Jing Si Hall hosted a 4-in-1 Cadre Camp for 300 volunteers. A group of speakers from Taiwan, including Venerable Master Shih De Di, Venerable Master Shih De Tai, CEO of Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, Yan Bo-Wen, nine senior Tzu Chi volunteers from Taiwan Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan, arrived in Singapore to pass on the Dharma lineage and promote Tzu Chi’s School of Buddhism. The solemn yet heart-warming atmosphere filled the entire Jing Si Hall in Pasir Ris.
Approximately 300 Tzu Chi volunteers attended the 4-in-1 Cadre Camp held in Singapore. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
With great vow comes great strength
Our daily life is our practising ground
The theme for this 4-in-1 Cadre Camp was “Bringing Bodhisattvas Together to Guide and Uplift Others, Preserving the Dharma Lineage for the Benefit of All Beings”. Among the 300 participants, around 180 participants and staffs spent the night in Jing Si Hall. Coordinator Hsu Tun Ying admitted that setting up the venue for the camp was the greatest challenge they faced. She confessed, “The Jing Si auditorium had to be converted into a sleeping area by night. So, the logistics team had to constantly rearrange or remove the chairs. We felt very blessed indeed!”
Taiwanese speaker Chang Wen-Lang was very impressed with the arrangement. He said, “The schedule for the camp was packed. Given the limited event space, the Buddha Hall had to be converted into a sleeping area. The classes often ended very late and started very early the next day, hence it goes to show that there are many dedicated and responsible Singapore volunteers here. I am very touched!”
The space constraint of the event venue was the greatest challenge during the camp. Auditorium during the day and sleeping area by night, the logistics team had to constantly rearrange or remove the chairs and praying cushions. (Photo by Donn Tan)
The camp officially started at 7 o’clock in the evening. “The ambience at the start of the camp brought me back to my days attending the 4-in-1 Cadre Camp in Taiwan,” said Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore) Managing Director Low Swee Seh. He thanked the Dharma Masters from Jing Si Abode and the Taiwanese team who travelled for more than 3000km to take part in the event. He urged all the participants present to “listen carefully and to raise any question courageously.” He wished everyone a fruitful session.
Master De Di thanked the Taiwanese speakers for their commitment and contribution. She went on to remind the Singapore team of volunteers to kneel before and greet Master Cheng Yen thrice when they returned to the Jing Si Abode in Taiwan. She hoped that the volunteers from Singapore would stay humble, frequently praise one another, and learn from one another’s strength. Master De Di explained that all participants should treat the three-day 4-in-1 Cadre Camp as a “Three-day Buddhism mindfulness retreat”, where every minute of the time was an opportunity to listen to the Dharma and cultivate wisdom.
Master De Di (right) and Master De Tai (left) giving gentle reminders to local volunteers at the start of the camp. (Photo by Tan Sam Ba)
The two Dharma Masters leading and engaging 300 participants to join in an hour-long Dharma practise session. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
The camp programme was organised based on the schedule of the Jing Si Abode, allowing the participants to experience the life of a Dharma community while practising “humbling oneself” and “living mindfully in the present moment”. At 4:30am, when the bell rung, participants had to attend the Dharma Incense Permeation session at dawn to mark the start of a day of diligent learning.
On 21 September noontime, Master De Tai shared in the first class on the topic of “Master Cheng Yen’s perception of an ideal talent”. She reminded everyone to cultivate one’s heart when practising the Bodhisattva way by staying humble, preserving one’s moral integrity, and treating everyone equally. She also said that one needs to be mindful of their action and speech and make sure they carry themselves in a dignified manner. She also urged the participants to handle each task seriously and with an open-mind, place more importance on the basic principles behind each matter and not be critical over trivial matters.
Master De Tai stressed that Tzu Chi still needed many talents, and these talents must have the responsibility and willingness to undertake tasks. She said, “The more one refuses to accept responsibility, the more stressful they become”. Master De Tai encouraged everyone to be courageous in taking up tasks and aspire to be Master Cheng Yen’s ideal talent.
Overcoming the stress of shouldering responsibility through making vows
The speakers from Taiwan shared their individual experiences and journey, the cases they have handled and their experience in contributing to their community. They proceeded to share tips on becoming the core team members, and explained in detail the Four Methods and Four-in-One Volunteer Structure, namely working together in unity, harmony, mutual love and concerted effort.
The sessions were filled with laughter, applause, and tears. Every sharing was a testament of these senior Taiwanese Tzu Chi volunteers’ courage to take on responsibility and dedication to Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi.
Taiwanese volunteer Huang Hui shared the challenges she experienced one year after becoming a certified Tzu Chi volunteer. She revealed that she would often gaze at Master Cheng Yen’s portrait while pouring out her heart, and seek comfort from reading Master Cheng Yen’s Jing Si Dharma lineage series before going to bed. She said determinedly, “The Bodhisattva path is about persevering despite great challenges to be a thoughtful disciple of Master Cheng Yen.”
Taiwanese speaker Huang Hui (middle) sharing about the challenges she experienced a year after becoming a certified Tzu Chi volunteer. She said determinedly, “The Bodhisattva’s path is about persevering despite great challenges to be a thoughtful disciple of Master Cheng Yen.” (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Harmony team leader, Chung Neng-Chin, who was previously from the military, suffered from multiple health conditions during the peak of his career. However, he learnt to “face them, accept them, resolve them, and let them go”, which helped him overcome the challenges and strengthened his faith.
How does one balance their family commitment and Tzu Chi vocation? Volunteer Chen Hui-Fang spoke about how she managed to balance her family commitment and Tzu Chi vocation with determination and wisdom. Another speaker, Hsu Xiao Qi, recounted her early days as a Tzu Chi volunteer when she would sometimes behave arrogantly. She mentioned that she was once very upset during a Tzu Chi event due to differing opinion that she left the scene with anger. Hsu Xiao Qi confessed that during the process of taking on responsibility, it was easy for one to become obsessed with one’s opinion. Hence it is crucial for us to constantly remind ourselves the importance of forging good karmic relationships with others and having a spirit of teamwork.
“To break the ice, eat some ice cream!” Using several real-life case scenario and multiple humorous metaphors, Yu Tien-Chu encouraged everyone to be creative in finding ways to bond with their team members. He stressed the importance of both “companionship” and “guidance” and practising “gratitude, respect and love” to ensure that their teammates don’t feel lonely. One has to be clear about their direction, practise what was taught, and ensure everyone is assigned the position that is best suited to each individual’s strength.
“Have an ice cream to break the ice!” Through different examples and humorous analogies, Yu Tien-Chu encouraged everyone to use creative ways to cultivate stronger team spirit. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)
"Being a cadre can be stressful, especially when facing difficulties and setbacks, what do we do?” Chang Wen-Lang asked. Before leaving for Singapore, he learned that the volunteers in Singapore are mostly young working adults, which adds to the challenges of taking on the responsibility as a cadre.
Chang Wen-Lang remarked that his guiding compass is the Master. He would often ponder "How would the Master handle this?" to guide his actions. Thus, he encouraged everyone to seek meaningful touching points when serving others let go of attachment and misery in order to navigate complex interpersonal matters.
Reflecting on Tzu Chi’s 4-in-1 volunteer structure and collective decision-making process, Lin Chien-Yung emphasised, “Unity is cooperation, and cooperation is unity.” He highlighted that the core values of cooperation and collaboration embody the Buddhist practice of "compassion and equality".
Reflecting on Tzu Chi’s 4-in-1 volunteer structure and collective decision-making process, Lin Chien-Yung (third from the right) emphasised, “Unity is cooperation, and cooperation is unity.” (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
Lin Chien-Yung urged everyone to avoid having a mindset of superiority and condescension because there is no hierarchy within the Bodhisattva community. Lin Chien-Yung shared that to galvanise everyone toward a common goal, the key elements are listening, contemplating, and cultivating, as applying the four means of embracing: giving, kind words, practical actions and working together.
Lastly, Chen Pin Hong provided examples of using "practical actions" and "working together" from the Four Means of Embracing to bridge the gaps between functions and capability. By adopting the principle of "putting others first", he was able to guide, support, and forge good karmic connections. His interesting experience sharing had also resolved the conflicts that troubled the volunteer leaders.
300 participant were divided into groups for interactive sessions with Taiwanese speakers. This setup enabled the speakers to offer more tailored solutions and address their concerns and doubts more effectively. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
“Say what I do, do what I say”
“The unwavering and steadfast devotion of the Taiwanese team to go all out to do Tzu Chi charity work is truly inspiring!” said Student Tew Hao Zhen. He noted that the Taiwanese speakers frequently emphasised the Master’s strong wish for her disciples to carry out the various activities in congenial, supportive and cooperative manner. If conflicts and discontent arise among the volunteers, the activities cannot be considered successful.
Tew Hao Zhen added, "From the caring conduct of the Taiwanese speakers, I can sense that every speaker upholds the Dharma in their hearts. They embody their words through their actions, which is truly uplifting."
Journeying with the volunteers comes with many challenges. Although co-effort team leader, Tay Gek Choo is busy with her family and career, she strives to make the most of her time to support the volunteers and fulfill her responsibilities as a co-effort team leader. After listening to the talk by Chen Hui-Fang, Tay Gek Choo felt a sense of melancholy.
Tay Gek Choo praised Chen Hui-Fang for her ability to balance heavy family commitments and career demands with her wholehearted devotion to various responsibilities. She remarked, "Sister Hui Fang will always take on any position she is invited to. That is very courageous and truly worth learning from!"
Graduate Tzu Ching, Lee Wen Jie was most heartened by the class "Ideal Person in the Mind of Master Cheng Yen" and had been reflecting on himself these days. He reminded himself that after learning the Dharma, he should implement it in his daily life and vowed, "I must practice Dharma through practical actions."
Graduate Tzu Ching, Lee Wen Jie was most moved by the class titled "Ideal Person in the Mind of the Master", reminding himself that he should spend time practicing Dharma for others. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
Co-effort team leader Yin Qing Hua also weighed in that she benefitted greatly from the class and fully appreciated the need for extra care and affection when guiding new volunteers. It reminded her of her Mutual Love team leader who accompanied her in the past, giving her the confidence and courage to take on the responsibility. Yin Qing Hua exclaimed, “It is with this approach that the spirit of Tzu Chi can be passed down from generation to generation.”
Cindee Sim, an entrepreneur and Mutual Love team leader, drew inspiration from the unwavering resilience of the Taiwanese speakers, especially when facing life's uncertainties. Although her journey to certification had been full of twists and turns due to the pandemic, Cindee Sim firmly believed that saving one life is akin to saving an entire family. She emphasised that the true challenge lies in interpersonal interactions and hoped that every volunteer would benefit from the class, so they could share a common understanding when working together.
The team of speakers from Taiwan emphasised that adapting to local situations and customs is the best method. The team incorporated engaging interactive sessions into the training, creating a fun learning atmosphere and bringing everyone closer to each other. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)
Let go of the stubborn ego to attain the state of boundless greater self
In addition to the insightful talks by the speakers, the CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, Taiwan, Yan Bo-Wen made a special visit despite his hectic schedule. On the second day of the camp, he guided the students in an in-depth discussion on the topic of "Quality of Cadres: Sustainability of Tzu Chi".
Yan Bo-Wen compared the sustainability goals of large corporations and religious organisations, and shared his analysis of the eight major challenges and solutions currently facing Tzu Chi as an NGO. He guided everyone to reflect inwardly: Is the team functioning more harmoniously and collaboratively? Can the four major missions be more integrated into one great undertaking? Does the Dharma lineage embody the spirit of the dumpling twines (note)?
He also raised concerns pertaining to external factors: Should volunteer recruitment be increased? Is the global philanthropic footprint continuing to expand? Is there growing acceptance of the Dharma lineage?
Yan Bo-Wen cited the research of Herman B. Leonard, a professor at Harvard Business School, who pointed out that Tzu Chi volunteers are inspired by spiritual concepts rather than functional roles, and are driven by a sense of purpose, rather than relying on plans.
Despite his hectic schedule, the CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, Taiwan, Yan Bo-Wen made a special trip to Singapore to interact with Tzu Chi volunteers in Singapore. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
On the afternoon of 22 September, the 4-in-1 Cadre Camp held its final class, led by Master De Di. From harvesting turmeric, taking out the garbage, carrying out cleaning chores to washing vegetables, Master De Di shared the joys, sorrows and excitement of following Master Cheng Yen in spiritual cultivation. Master De Di shared that daily life and family responsibilities can present obstacles, but by adhering to one’s duties, making appropriate adjustments, and embracing challenges, one can accomplish goals and align with Tzu Chi’s direction.
Reflecting from her own experience, Master De Di encouraged the volunteers and cadres to embrace the concept of "one-fiftieth", which is to "let go of the persistent ego and achieve the boundless greater self". In the warm atmosphere under Dharma Master De Di's loving guidance, many in the audience sang along the song "Keeping You Safe". The moment was so poignant that it brought tears to their eyes.
As the song "Keeping You Safe" was played, many in the audience started to sing along. It brought up the longing for the Master and many could not help tearing. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
At the closing ceremony, CEO Yan Bo-Wen praised Singapore for its unique strengths in geographical location, economy, culture, and language. He encouraged Singaporean volunteers to seize this opportunity to expand Tzu Chi’s global influence through Singapore.
The 4-in-1 Cadre Camp was held again after an eight-year hiatus. Despite the tight preparation schedule, it concluded successfully through the concerted efforts of all the volunteers.
Note: The spirit of Dumpling Twines talks about the importance of remaining united in strength, without separating from the main knot that binds Tzu Chi volunteers together. This connection is anchored in the Jing Si Dharma lineage.
(Written by Yan Su Yan, Yaw Huey Xin, Foo Chai Chiwn, Wu Huei Ju, Ng Hock Soon, Yang Wen Ting, Tew Yu Rui)
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