On 2 Nov 2008, the Tzu Chi Foundation organized a special gathering for its Friends of the Heart Lotus. A total of 82 beneficiaries, with the company of 62 volunteers, come together under the big roof of Tzu Chi family and spent an enjoyable as well as heartwarming Sunday together. Picture:Touched by the atmosphere of the gathering, Madam Zhang was in tears during several occasions and was comforted by CEO brother David Liu.

With the bimonthly gathering, it is hoped that the volunteers could extend deeper care and concern as well as lessening the emotional burden of the Friends of the Heart Lotus.

Sign language performance “There is Love in this world” and “Thankful to the Heaven and Earth” by the Unity sign language team.

After sisters from the sign language team explained the meanings behind the sign language and demonstrate it personally, the guests cheerfully raise their hand to participate, liven up the atmosphere instantaneously.

Home visit volunteer sister Kang Mei Jiao sharing words of encouragement, praying sincerely for friends of the heart lotus to walk out of their own predicament, brush off their inferiority and face everyday with renewed determination.

Home visit volunteer brother Cai Rong Fu who visits Mohammed (name changed) regularly, giving Mohammed courage and support while he shared his experience with everybody.

The patients and their family learned a lot from the encouraging activities while tea and lunch made them feel just like home.

Home visit volunteers listening to the difficulties facing friends of the heart lotus, counseling them to recognize the value of life, encouraging them to continue to soldier on with courage.

On 2 Nov 2008, Tzu Chi Singapore branch organized a special gathering for the Friends of the Heart Lotus (alternative name for AIDS patients under its care). A total of 82 beneficiaries, with the company of 62 volunteers, come together under the big roof of Tzu Chi family and spent an enjoyable as well as heartwarming Sunday together.

AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is known as the terminal illness of the century caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The HIV virus breaks down the patient’s immune system, leading to life-threatening infections. Presently there are no cures for the disease, but with long-term medication to strengthen their immune systems, patients can maintain basic capabilities and continue to lead a normal life.

However, most patients are ashamed of sharing the news of their infection. To make matters worse, their failing health cause them to be incapable of working, plunging their life into distress. Not only that, public misunderstanding of the illness causes much discrimination, rendering them outcasts of our society. 

Tzu Chi volunteers, holding firm to Buddha’s principle of “Great compassion to strangers and great mercy for all”, offer their helping hands to the patients referred to Tzu Chi by the Singapore Communicable Disease Centre (CDC). By subsidizing their medical costs to prevent disruption of their long-term medication, these patients can regain their health, working capability and eventually their dignity.

Tzu Chi first came into contact with a patient in 1998. Ever since, the Foundation has become the main organization providing assistance to the patients. To date, the medical subsidies had helped more than 200 cases. In addition to that, Tzu Chi also provided living subsidies to the patients’ family. Currently, the relief assistance to this group of beneficiary amounts to more than S$20,000 per month.

In 2002, other than medical subsidy and regular home visits, the Foundation also arranged “Friends of the Heart Lotus Gathering”, inviting the Aids patients under its care to the branch location, giving them an opportunity to interact, encourage and support one another. However, due to the small number of participants, the gathering session was later abolished and friends of the lotus were invited to the Relief Distribution Day for Tzu Chi beneficiaries instead. 

This year, with the increase in cases received, the CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore branch, brother David Liu decided to resume the “Gathering for friends of Heart Lotus” session. With the bimonthly gathering, it is hoped that the volunteers could extend deeper care and concern as well as lessening the emotional burden of the Friends of the Heart Lotus.

Living life to the fullest

Today is a joyous day with the gathering for the Friends of the Heart Lotus and the graduating exhibition of Tzu Chi Continuing Education Centre taking place at the same time at Jing Si Hall.

Early in the morning, everybody gathered inside the level 1 cultural hall, enjoying the exhibit of flower arrangements and calligraphy works. Sister Kang Mei Jiao was seen explaining a particular flower arrangement to the special guests: “A single plant standing alone is very lonely, hence we get another plant and some small flowers and shrubs to accompanying it. Look at the flower arrangement, isn’t it like a happy family complete with father, mother and a bunch of children?” Indeed, everyone under the sky is one big family.

After everybody arrived and are comfortably introduced, the gathering started off with a sign language performance of “There is Love in this world” and “Thankful to the Heaven and Earth”. As there were several guests of various races, the sisters from the sign language team specially explained the meanings behind the sign language and demonstrate it personally before inviting the guests to try it out themselves.

The guests were embarrassed initially due to the unfamiliar environment. However, they overcame their emotional defense eventually and raised their hand to participate. With everybody smiling cheerfully and performing the sign language at the same time, the atmosphere became lively instantaneously.

After the sign language performance, the video of “The Story of Hsieh Kun-shan” was shown. In his prime, Hsieh lost his arms, right leg and right eye after an industrial accident. To one’s surprise, the accident did not dampen his spirit and caused him to give up hope. On the contrary, he faces everyday with fresh determination. He learned to support himself by painting using his mouth and foot. He even got married and started a family, living his life to his fullest.

A series of mindfully planned program filled with Tzu Chi humanity came up one after another, giving everybody his or her own unique experience.

The light shining upon their darkest hours

Mohammad and his wife, both Indian Muslims, felt that the story of Hsieh Kun-shan had made them realized that it is not important on how others view them. What matters most is how they view themselves. They believe that they too can have a fulfilling life. Although there are still certain amounts of discrimination by the society, causing Mohammad to be distress and worried at times, he is happy that Tzu Chi volunteers are by his side, like the early morning dew calming and refreshing his inner soul which enabled him to forget his troubles.

During the middle of the sign language performance, Madam Wu had already shed tears several times. After viewing the story of Hsieh Kun-shan, Madam Wu was touched beyond words. She felt that her own misfortune is nothing compared to what Hsieh went through. She looked up to him as an excellent role model, encouraging her to face everyday with a positive attitude. Madam Wu wished that when her health and time permits, she could help out in Tzu Chi recycling activities as a form of gratitude for the years of company. 

Sister Wu Yu Chin with her husband Cai Rong Fu are both home visit volunteers. They were both present to accompany the beneficiaries on the day.

Sister Yu Chin commented that medical knowledge proved that there is no risk of infection during common interaction with friends of the heart lotus. Hence, even in her ninth month of pregnancy, she continues to conduct home visits. The mother-to-be hopes that her personal involvements can break the common misconceptions of facing AIDS patients. Hopefully, more volunteers can come forward and work together to give hope to this group of beneficiaries.

At the end of the gathering, many guests felt very touched. They felt they learned a lot from the encouraging activities while tea and lunch made them feel just like home. Many replied with enthusiasm that they would come back for future sessions.

All men are brothers

In order for the AIDS patients to become part of our society and lead a normal life, we prayed that the community would be more accommodating and less discriminating, liken to the song of “We are one family”. At the same time, we hope that all friends of the lotus can be like Madam Wu who vows to walk out of her own predicament, brush off her inferiority and face everyday with renewed determination.