“From 1400 to 1630, everyone rehearsed continuously without sitting down for a break. This might be the first time the villagers practiced so earnestly," observed Nepalese volunteer Kriti Gole. She watched over 100 fellow villagers repeatedly coordinate their movements with genuine dedication. While they may not fully understand the content of the performance (in Chinese), the sincerity and reverence they displayed were truly heartwarming.
On January 6, 2024, Tzu Chi volunteers in Singapore and Malaysia hosted a year-end blessing ceremony and winter distribution at Lumbini Buddhist University. Over the past year, Tzu Chi volunteers have invited women and villagers from their livelihood training classes to participate in a sign language performance. This journey has changed from bringing tangible earnings to intangible rewards of investing time in a sutra adaptation performance. Through this experience, villagers have come to know Tzu Chi, learned gratitude, and entered a new spiritual realm.
Bringing Hearts Together
On December 31, 2023, the volunteer team made an early morning visit to Lumbini Buddhist University in anticipation of the year-end blessing ceremony. They reviewed the location to finalize plans for the upcoming event. They rehearsed for the performance of "From Vow to Action," a song about not only making vows to relieve suffering but taking action and overcoming all obstacles to realize these vows.
A volunteer said: "Although knitting woolen hats is seasonal, volunteers have continued to care for the women even after the work has paused." Providing continued care, volunteers recruited these women to participate in the performance and also encouraged them to volunteer. The goal is to create a perpetual cycle of love and care within the community.
After the site visit, the team returned to the local Tzu Chi office. Due to time constraints, a meeting was promptly convened, with volunteer Wang Qi Zhen (王綺楨) providing explanations. When asked "where does the money for making the red packets come from?" the Nepali volunteers looked puzzled until Unish Khyaju answered: "The money for making the red packets come from royalties for Master Cheng Yen's books." He further explained that Master Cheng Yen never carried money, but instead used her earnings to make red packets, which serve as a token of blessings and wisdom to all those who have affinities with her.
"Let us not forget that we are the first generation of pioneers for Tzu Chi in Nepal, creating history in Lumbini," urged Wang Qi-zhen. She emphasized the preciousness of receiving blessings from Master Cheng Yen's red packets and reminded everyone of their responsibilities. The volunteers further hoped that, by taking part in the performances, the 90 local participants could learn about the compassion of the Buddha, the spirit of the bamboo bank era, and Tzu Chi’s missions.
In the afternoon, volunteers visited Manaora village to recruit women who knit woolen hats. As they entered the village, the sight of women diligently knitting hats in every household caught their attention.
At Taulan Prasad Yadav's house, volunteers gathered everyone in the front yard. Volunteer Baijnaath explained the purpose, initially causing confusion as women thought it was a dance event. Baijnaath clarified: "It's not a dance; it's about everyone coming together in unison to inspire goodness in others through the beauty of music and coordinated gestures.
"We need to practice three times at Lumbini Buddhist University, have one full rehearsal, and then perform on January 6," a volunteer explained in detail. Although the villagers had no concept of the performance, they were willing to try and encouraged each other, persuading neighbors to join. Volunteers welcomed participants of all ages and genders; that day twenty-nine women signed up on the spot. Those unable to participate in the performance were invited to attend the year-end blessing ceremony instead.
Naturally Talented
In addition to inviting villagers involved in knitting woolen hats, in the early morning on the first day of 2024, volunteer Li Li Hua (李麗華) and four Nepalese volunteers visited Tzu Chi’s three sewing groups to give out their monthly pay and invited them to sign up for the performance. It was then agreed that everyone would gather at Tzu Chi’s office the next day and take the bus to the university for practice.
To mobilize a large number of villagers, in the afternoon the volunteer team first invited about twenty participants, including volunteers working at the community center, sewing class students, women knitting hats at the center, volunteers from soup kitchen, and teachers from the Tzu Chi Teachers’ Association, to come together to learn sign language and become section leaders. The sign language team from the Malaysian branch led the training, and everyone listened carefully and learnt step by step.
"I was very worried and nervous because no one understands Mandarin and they are not familiar with the music. I wondered if they could keep up?" said sign language teacher Zhuang Ci Hong (莊賜虹) from Malaysia. It was indeed challenging at first. Therefore, she let everyone listen to the music, understand the melody and rhythm, and then deconstructed the movements.
Naturally musical, the Nepalese volunteers were able to grasp the music, sign language and body movements easily and gracefully. They even started teaching the latecomers! Their excellent progress dispelled the teacher's worries and filled everyone with joy and pride. Zhuang said: "Because everyone learns quickly, as long as you rehearse mindfully, you can present the beauty of the group and the solemnity of the performance."
"Sign language is excellent; it's not just a physical exercise but also a mental one. Although I can't understand the content yet, it feels good and enjoyable!" confidently said Jitendra, a teacher at Nepal Rastriya School. He expressed gratitude for this rare opportunity to practice sign language together with everyone.
Bringing a Hundred People Together
To enthusiastically recruit villagers to join the performance, on the morning of January 2 sign language volunteers visited Khambhe village for the first time. They demonstrated the performance and attracted locals to join in the afternoon practice session at Lumbini Buddhist University. The cheerful atmosphere attracted several women to eagerly express their interest to participate.
At 1330, a bus seating 40 arrived at Manaora village to take the villagers to the university for sign language practice. As the village lanes were narrow, the bus could only stop at the village entrance. Though around thirty people had registered two days before, the bus ended up taking on fifty-one adults and seven children. The bus was supposed to pick up ten more people from Tzu Chi’s office. But, since it was full, another vehicle had to be called to transport the volunteers to the university.
At 1400, all participants gathered in the university auditorium. The large group surprised the university staff, who initially thought only twenty or thirty people would be coming to rehearse. Eventually, with the help of volunteers Subani Shakya and Chen Xiu Zhen (陳秀珍), the school administration came to understand and allow the extra participants to enter.
Under the direction of the six sign language teachers, the participants were divided into four groups to begin practicing. Among them, the eighteen section leaders played a significant role in translating and demonstrating the gestures. With continuous repetition, everyone finally memorized the movements. When impatient children began to cry, mothers had to go comfort them, while still observing mindfully from the sidelines.
When accompanied by the music of "From Vow to Action," a gentle and solemn melody, everyone followed the sign language teachers -- raising hands, turning, kneeling—first mastering the music and rhythm. In this first group rehearsal, the teacher did not aim for uniform movements but focused on creating a heartfelt atmosphere and ensuring that the gestures were in place and expressing the dignity of the Dharma.
Witnessing the performance, the onlookers applauded enthusiastically. Volunteer Goh Lam Kia (吳南凱) was particularly moved, saying: "Seeing the performance with a hundred people on and off the stage, I am deeply touched. When everyone moves in unison and wears matching clothes, presenting scenes from the sutras, it will surely captivate the hearts of the audience."
Volunteer Lee Meow Hong (李妙紅), along with Taulan, prepared small gifts to distribute. They carried cloth bags sewn by women from the sewing station, containing cookies and a stainless-steel cup to reduce the use of disposable cups. They also introduced Taulan to Tzu Chi's environmental protection principles. He wholeheartedly agreed and pledged to advocate eco-friendly habits among the villagers. Volunteers seized every opportunity to promote environmental conservation, aiming to touch people's hearts through actions.
Spreading the True Dharma and Radiating Love
"In the beginning, it wasn't easy. Everyone was reluctant to stop weaving hats when they first tasted the sweetness of earning money," expressed Wang Qi Zhen, observing the dedication of the people before her. The villagers, who were originally sitting, standing, and chatting, became busier than ever with the woolen hat weaving. When they heard that participating in the sutra adaptation performance required a lot of time and yielded no income, many were discouraged.
Volunteer Baijnaath patiently explained: "Master Cheng Yen wants to send blessings to all kind-hearted people. Without the support of Tzu Chi volunteers from overseas, we wouldn't be here in Lumbini, meeting everyone, and have the opportunity to engage in the work of weaving woolen hats." He emphasized that overseas volunteers dedicate their time and money selflessly to help improve the lives of others. Everyone should learn to be grateful, and being able to give is a blessing.
"I dare not say yes; I'm afraid my husband won't allow it." "I'm worried about my father's disapproval!" At the beginning, there was not much enthusiasm to sign up, with various reasons given. However, the volunteers did not give up on any of the villagers.
"You all benefited from weaving hats, and we hope you can give back by contributing your time to participate in the performance. You will have a different experience, understand Tzu Chi and Master Cheng Yen, and why we are here," said the volunteers, encouraging the villagers to join the sutra adaptation performance.
Through the spirit of giving and inspiring hearts, the kind-hearted villagers set aside their reservations and willingly participated in the event. "We must take Master's words to heart. If reasoning doesn't work, we will use sign language to spread the true Dharma." Now, with such a positive response, Tzu Chi Teacher's Association member Huang Su Tao (黃嫊桃) confidently expressed the deep aspirations in the hearts of everyone. Finally, on January 6, the group took to the stage and performed the sutra adaptation, radiating love and touching the hearts of countless people.
From Vow to Action:
Click here to listen to the song.
Click here to watch the story.
2024/01/04| ◎ Goh Lam Kia , Wu Xiu-Ling
