Duration | 2:42
Organisation | Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore)
Lumbini's First Mega Book Club Talks About Creating Blessings to Reap Happiness
Using only three days to prepare, Tzu Chi volunteers invited villagers from Laxmipur village to participate in a book club at Gyan Prabha School, where the school's principal, Moti, guided the reading of the book titled “Still Thoughts Volume 2”. This is also the book that Modi has been translating to give him more insights into Tzu Chi’s philosophy and sharing it with the villagers. The first large-scale book club was attended by 99 villagers. Through the reading session, Dharma was brought back to the Buddha's homeland and everyone was encouraged to cherish and create blessings to enrich themselves spiritually.
Volunteers meticulously cleaned and decorated the venue to welcome the villagers. The villagers came to Gyan Prabha School not for a parent-teacher conference, but to read a book guided by the school's principal, Moti.
Principal of Gyan Prabha School, Moti Lal Yadav
Today we discussed and focused on blessings, the blessings of our current life. Blessing is like the cultivation of a farm. If they can cultivate little by little, drop by drop like water, and move in the direction become a huge river
However, it is not easy to organize a large-scale book club. In the beginning, the volunteers wanted to hold a mini book club in Lumbini. However, it could not be carried out due to the poor English literacy of local residents. Later, they found Moti and commissioned him to translate the book titled “Still Thoughts Volume 2", which also let him know more about Tzu Chi.
Principal of Gyan Prabha School, Moti Lal Yadav
It was very nice that people get the opportunity to listen to (Master’s) teaching. I hope they will apply (it to their life). So, I am very happy to play a part in translating the book.
Tzu Chi Malaysia Volunteer, Michelle Lee
He helped us with translation a while ago. When we were distributing the eco-friendly bowls on Wednesday, we suddenly had the idea of (holding a book club) at Moti’s school. In just a short period of four days, the book club was organised. So the volunteers sprang into action and everyone joined forces to make the first Lumbini book club a success.
Interesting drama coupled with group discussions, 99 villagers came together to interact and share their experiences, encouraging everyone to cherish and create blessings.
Villager , Bhupendra Yadav
Today I learned that we should do good. If we have money we should help the poor, and don’t do bad things. If anyone faces a problem, we should help them
Member of Tzu Chi Teachers’ Association, Deependra
I asked them what are the good things they have done, but a lot of people can’t say they have done any good things, but they promised that they will try their best to do good things from today.
After the reading session, villagers enjoyed a breakfast prepared by volunteers and learned to use and wash eco-friendly bowls to strengthen their concept of hygiene and environmental protection. Transcending racial, religious, and language barriers, the book club brought back the Dharma to the Buddha's homeland and enriched the hearts of the local residents.
