At the Year-End Blessing Ceremony held on 1 January 2024, 404 Tzu Chi certified volunteers came home to personally receive the Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom by Master Cheng Yen. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
"Every Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom represents the blessing from Master Cheng Yen. I always feel deeply moved when I receive the red packet every year," shared senior volunteer Nancy Chew, holding onto all those Red Packets of Blessing and Wisdom that she had received in the past years as she enthusiastically explained the profound meanings behind those red packets.
Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore) held its Year-End Blessing Ceremony for certified volunteers on 1 January 2024. The event at Jing Si Hall was attended by 404 Tzu Chi Faith Corps and Commissioners (a.k.a. Tzu Chi certified volunteers). During the sharing session, when four volunteers shared the meaning behind the Red Packets of Blessings and Wisdom, everyone began to recall their bittersweet experiences and became even more determined about their original aspirations.
(Photo by Bong Kian Hin)
The gift may be small, but the goodwill is deep
In every Year-End Blessing Ceremony, what Tzu Chi volunteers and members of the congregation look forward the most is to receive Master Cheng Yen's Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom. Each year, Master Cheng Yen turns the royalty proceeds from her book publications into blessings and distributes them to fellow volunteers and members.
Nancy Chew has been a Tzu Chi volunteer for 28 years. The first Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom she received can be traced back to 1995, and all of the red packets she received every year are well kept. She firmly believes in what Master Cheng Yen said: "As long as it is the right thing to do, just do it." She remains true to her original aspiration and always does what needs to be done diligently.
Nancy Chew opines that the Year-End Blessing Ceremony is meant for self-reflection and vigilance. One should also light up one's heart and remind oneself to take good care of one's thoughts, cherish the Tzu Chi's path that one walks on, and never lose one's direction.
Senior volunteer Nancy Chew (left) explaining the profound meanings behind those Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom with enthusiasm on stage. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Also sharing on stage were volunteers Chan Suet Fa, Liu Lin Yen and Yeong Mei Leng. Chan Suet Fa regarded the Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom as a family heirloom and said: "My parents have both passed away. Hence, Tzu Chi is my 'parent's home', and this Year-End Blessing Ceremony is like me going home to my family."
She also mentioned that other than receiving the Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom, the Year-End Blessing Ceremony is also a year-end reunion for Tzu Chi volunteers. On this day, everyone would review the footprints of compassion together, express gratitude and blessings to one another, and pray together for a better world. All of these make her feel the warmth and comfort she feels at home.
Having collected the Red Packet of Blessings and Wisdom for the past thirteen years, Liu Lin Yen also participated in the production of the red packets. During the process, she realised that she needed to learn to cultivate her mind to focus on the present moment and on anything she does. Being focused means to have ‘Samadhi’. She also remembered the saying, "Before attaining Buddhahood, we must first extensively forge good affinities with others." Therefore, she seized the affinities to do good deeds and bring blessings to others because no one owns life, but only the right to use it.
Yeong Mei Leng was deeply moved when she returned to Taiwan to become certified at the end of 2023. This was because she witnessed that every day, no matter how busy Master Cheng Yen was in dealing with worldly affairs, she made sure that her disciples were all well taken care of, and never once did they feel neglected by Master Cheng Yen as she always tries her best to perform every task wholeheartedly. After seeing all these, Yeong Mei Leng did some self-reflection and aspired to be a more attentive person.
With Yan Su Yuan (first from the right) as the host, four volunteers, Nancy Chew, Chan Suet Fa, Liu Lin Yen and Yeong Mei Leng share the meaning of Red Packets of Blessings and Wisdom on stage. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Volunteers make glutinous rice balls that signify family togetherness
This morning, laughter could be heard from the dining hall of Jing Si Hall as volunteers were getting ready to make ‘Tang Yuan’ (glutinous rice balls). Although everyone was wearing masks, their eyes were brimming with anticipation and joy.
Offsite Coordinator Ang Yong Kang said that he had arranged for all the certified volunteers to sit in a circle to have ‘Tang Yuan’ and interact with each other for this year’s Year-End Blessing Ceremony for certified volunteers. This was similar to the tradition in Taiwan where volunteers have steamboat together. However, due to space constraints in Singapore’s branch, the steamboat session was replaced with ‘Tang Yuan’. A group of community volunteers arrived at Jing Si Hall at nine o’clock in the morning to prepare the ‘Tang Yuan’, and they managed to make 4,000 glutinous rice balls in just one morning!
(Photo by Tew Yu Rui)
Although there was no filling inside the ‘Tang Yuan’, that did not affect the taste of it at all. On the contrary, when the certified volunteers had the ‘Tang Yuan’, they could feel the sweetness in their hearts as these ‘Tang Yuan’ were filled with love, and they would like to bring home the love they received. Ang Yong Kang mentioned that the fundamental of Tzu Chi is to unite everyone’s great love and compassion. It would save preparation time if frozen ‘Tang Yuan’ were served instead, but one could still feel the “coldness” in them. On the other hand, handmade ‘Tang Yuan’ contains human touch where such warmth can be felt by the Tzu Chi family members.
(Photo by Bong Kian Hin)
Volunteers reflect on the past and anticipate the future together
Tzu Chi commissioner Lim Siew Cheng lamented that time passes quickly every year. Today is the day when she reflects upon what she has done in the past year. She always questions herself whether her compassion is still as strong as before and whether she is still promoting Tzu Chi. Lim Siew Cheng also said that human beings can only be moved by human beings. Therefore, we should share with people the things we have done and also share about how good Tzu Chi is.
One volunteer empties his bamboo bank with his two sons at Jing Si Hall to help those in need. (Photo by Bong Kian Hin)
Faith Corp Kuok Hui Min from the Philippines attended the Year-End Blessing Ceremony with his two sons. He said that the Year-End Blessing Ceremony is a homecoming event to receive blessings, which is why he cherishes it. Whether in the Philippines or Singapore, he would seize the opportunity to participate in the event.
Kuok Hui Min is grateful to have Tzu Chi in his life, and Master Cheng Yen’s Dharma teachings nourish his heart and give him the courage to face life's challenges. In the coming new year, Kuok Hui Min hopes to commit himself more to Tzu Chi.
Everyone lights up the lotus lamps in their hands, symbolising the lighting up of their hearts to piously bless themselves and others. (Photo by Chua Zhen Jia)
Many certified volunteers brought their children along to the Year-End Blessing Ceremony. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
At the ceremony, all the Tzu Chi certified volunteers redetermined original aspirations of joining Tzu Chi. They vowed to never turn back on the path of Bodhisattva. “This is the first time that Tzu Chi held a Year-End Blessing Ceremony especially for certified volunteers. I am thrilled to see that more than 400 Tzu Chi certified volunteers have returned and filled up the Buddhist Hall.” Coordinator Lew Loon Keong said that the number of certified volunteers was small in the early days of Tzu Chi establishment, but now the team is growing by the day. He also acknowledged that the experienced volunteers are still very determined in their commitment to volunteer with Tzu Chi, setting an example for the middle-aged generation to pass on Tzu Chi’s practice from generation to generation.
(Photo by Tan Sam Ba)
Despite the rain outside, Jing Si Hall buzzed with positive energy. While these volunteers typically juggled various responsibilities—volunteer tasks, careers, and family matters, everyone gathered to have "Tang Yuan" on the round tables on this New Year's Day. They all expressed their gratitude as they reflected on the past and anticipated the future with warmth in their hearts.
(Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
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