Arising from the collaboration between the various Residential Committees and Tzu Chi Singapore, 362 residents from the various district zones island-wide heeded the invitation and attended the recycling volunteers gathering in Jing Si Hall on April 4, 2009. Highlight of the gathering is a sharing by ex-leprosy patient turned volunteer Lin Yeh who came from Taiwan to share her life experiences. Picture:The gathering, separated to two sessions to accommodate huge attendance, received a total 364 volunteers and friends.

The more Liu Ming Kwang  (picture) does recycling, the more  he could relate to the Buddhist definition on the form of material existence:  formation, existence, destruction and annihilation. The recycling volunteer is now able to discern between his “needs” and “wants” and has successfully curb unnecessary spending.

Sister Lin Yeh was joined by Brother Liu to stress on the spiritual health one should maintain throughout life.  The Taiwanese volunteer had given a spiritual talk well-received by the public the evening before.

Brother Liu encourages the audience to join as donating members and volunteers to support Tzu Chi’s charitable causes.

Each table was assigned with a volunteer to explain Tzu Chi’s culture to the audience.

Voting Earth in a different way: Many audiences got themselves a reusable dining set for takeaways and eat-outs to help reduce Styrofoam consumption.

“One should remain strong despite being stricken with diseases”, said 77 years old Tzu Chi volunteer Lin Yeh, from Taiwan.  An ex-leprosy patient, Lin Yeh spent 61 years in Lo-sheng Sanatorium, which is situated on a small hill secluded from the bustle of the city. Now, she travels over various places to share her life experience in many Tzu Chi activities.  

On April 4, 2009, at 10am and 3.30pm respectively, Lin Yeh shared her life experiences in the “Recycling Volunteers Gathering” organized by the branch.  A total of 362 people and 109 volunteers from the various communities island wide attended the gathering.

In her sharing, Lin Yeh emphasized that participating in recycling work should not be perceived as clearing heaps of rubbish. Instead, through recycling, spiritual cultivation can be achieved.

Perseverance, courage and confidence

It is hard to believe that an ex-leprosy patient like Lin Yeh has a profound understanding of life. Left alone to overcome the hurdles in life, Lin Yeh was still an infant after her mother passed away and her grandmother brought her up. She contracted leprosy around the age of five and stayed home until one day she overheard her stepmother urging her father to drive her out of the house. She was already 16 then.

The young Lin Yeh could not bear to see the break-up of her father and stepmother.  She thus persuaded her father to let her into Lo-sheng Sanatorium. In 1940s, leprosy was one of the most feared diseases in Taiwan and anyone who contracted the disease was considered unclean or sinful. The Lo-sheng Sanatorium was a sanctuary for leprosy patients to isolate themselves from their families and the public. 

After Lin Yeh was left in Lo-sheng Sanatorium, no one in her family had visited her. Without medication, the relapse of leprosy caused unbearable torment. The suicide rate in the sanatorium was extremely high. Lin Yeh, too, thought about committing suicide. Fortunately, the encouragement and solace of fellow patients pulled Lin Yeh through.

Encounters with Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi in 1970s changed her and the lives of others in the sanatorium.  Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi volunteers showed concerns and paid regular visits to Lin Yeh and fellow patients. Initially, the residents thought that Tzu Chi was a wealthy organization but only to realize that the financial reliefs received actually came from regular donations of many commoners. Inspired by the love showered on them by the Master and the volunteers, Lin Yeh and many others in the sanatorium sought Master Cheng Yen’s acknowledgment to donate their savings regularly to Tzu Chi. They have also requested to discontinue their financial subsidies and make further donation to support the building of Tzu Chi Hospital.

After Lin Yeh’s recovery 35 years ago, she volunteered to help poor working couples look after their children in the sanatorium whilst they were at work. Eventually, she was looking after 18 children. All her hard work and love to these children has earned the affections and respect from the children who now lovingly addressed her as their granny.   

Everyone has unlimited potential

When Lin Yeh was urged to share her experience in public, she admitted that she has her hesitation initially. However, after witnessing one of her companions in the sanatorium demonstrated on how he tied his shoe laces in public talks despite his disabilities, she realized that it is important for her to speak in public, in order to inspire others to lead a fulfilling life. During her sharing, Lin Yeh, set by example how one can achieve a meaningful life despite all odds.  Showing pictures of beautiful dresses that she sown for the children in her care, she has taught us that “everyone has unlimited potential”.

To the amaze of the audience, Lin Yeh told the audience that she is in fact grateful for having suffered from leprosy disease, for otherwise she would not have learned so much and cultivated many good affinities with people around her.

Mrs. Guo Ai Ping, who came to the gathering with her two teenage daughters, was very touched by Lin Yeh’s sharing.  Mrs. Guo, who is already a donating member, had been to the Tzu Chi’s recycling activities for the last three months. Her daughters Hui Min and Pei Si, who came to the gathering for the first time, were inspired and pledged to be Tzu Chi donors although they are still students.

Besides Lin Yeh’s sharing, five other Tzu Chi volunteers also shared their experiences in recycling activities. Volunteer from North West District, Tan Su Shan, recited that they worked under the sky without any shade in the past. The recyclables collected were under exposure of rain and sunlight. Tzu Chi volunteers had to go upstairs to approach residents in designated district for recyclable items. Now, she is happy to note that the residents will bring their recyclables downstairs and the activities were carried out at the void decks shield from the hot sun.

Another audience, Mrs. Li Cheng Lin was a keen supporter of Tzu Chi’s recycling activities. With a family

of five, Mrs. Li, nicknamed “Gran Zhang” by her family members, would sort and brought the recyclables by trolley to the monthly recycling activities in Toa Payoh. Having participated personally in Tzu Chi’s recycling activities, her family members began keeping their household recyclables to support Tzu Chi’s cause instead of selling them to karang-guni (rag-and-bone dealers).  

Other highlights of the gathering included sign language team’s lively performances entitled “Coloured Wings” and “Clean Earth”. Video on the catastrophes caused by global warming and pollutions was also shown. The gathering was concluded by the speech of CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, David Liu. Brother Liu quoted Lin Yeh’s sharing. “To cultivate morality, one must cultivate the mind under all circumstances, and in all places. Although Lin Ye was once a leprosy patient, inside her lies her wisdom that amassed from her adversities. She, indeed, is an education to all.”