Haiti, an impoverished country in the western hemisphere, was hit by a major earthquake on 13 Jan (Singapore time). Three days later on 16 Jan, some 100 businessmen gathered at Tzu Chi played the role of locomotive by kick-starting the fundraisers for the victims in Haiti. Many even drew inspiration from the evening session to contribute back to the society.

The event began with a song performed by Singapore Tzu Chi sign language team. The song lyrics were from Master Cheng Yen’s teaching after last year’s Aug 8 flood in Taiwan.

Brother Giam only understood why sign language is peculiar to Tzu Chi’s culture when he saw his daughter performing to a Tzu Chi filial piety song.

Brother Lv urged his fellow businessmen to help contribute not only in raising funds but also to get involved in the home visits so that to fully understand the real meaning of Tzu Chi’s bursary programme.

Brother Sim, being the overall coordinator for the first time, shared his learning from the trip to Taiwan. After seeing how Master gives herself selflessly to humanity, the volunteer is resolute to contribute more and is willing to hold more responsibilities.

CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, Brother David Liu, sharing on how to strive for life’s true wealth.

Many businessmen put their compassion into action, giving their well wishes by contributing funds to the Haiti earthquake relief fund.

Compassionate thoughts come from seeing suffering

On 16 Jan 2010, the entrepreneur group of Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore Branch) held the first dinner get-together for local entrepreneurs.  The purpose of the dinner for the 120 businessmen was not intended to the usual networking on discussing how to make money, or analysing which stocks would go up, or which real estate would rise, but to the common pursuit of life: a real path to riches, the Bodhisattva path.

The dinner started out with a song on “The Path of Compassion” and sign language performance by the Tzu Chi sign language team.  

“In the face of suffering, we must nurture greater compassion.
In the face of ever-changing circumstances, we must bring forth wisdom.”

The lyrics were a collection of Master Cheng Yen’s teaching after the August 8 flood disaster in Taiwan last year.  The song also reflected the situation of disaster-stricken Haiti as shown in Master Cheng Yen’s “Life Wisdom” programme. 

With disasters happening frequently around the world and the existing global warming crisis, everyone has a part to play. One important message during the dinner was that entrepreneurs were urged to use their influence to promote philanthropy and to call upon more people to contribute to mankind.

Rewarding trip to Tzu Chi’s birthplace

Last December, several entrepreneurs went on a trip to Hualien, the birthplace of Tzu Chi in Taiwan and this day, they are on stage sharing their learning experience.

Giam Meng Tuck, Senior Executive Editor of local press Lianhe Zaobao, commented, “I have been wondering why Tzu Chi emphasizes so much on its lyrical sign language.  Only after I saw my daughter performed to the filial piety song ‘Parable of the Kneeling Lamb’ that I realized we need to watch closely and listen attentively to both the song and sign language to be able to appreciate the perspective of ‘better silence than sonancy’.”

Brother Giam further concluded with his personal observance: “In Tzu Chi, we do not need to ask why we need to carry out certain task, we should just go ahead and do it, and we will find joy in doing it.”

Another member who also went to Taiwan, Lv Jin Xing, recalled that he came in contact with Tzu Chi while he was in Vancouver, but he was always dubious towards the organization until he discovered Tzu Chi’s Da Ai Satellite TV station. Only then he started to believe in Tzu Chi’s ideals, and even became a volunteer recently participating in Tzu Chi Singapore’s “Seeds of Hope” bursary programme.

“I did not know there are many underprivileged children of other races in this radiant nation until I paid home visits to the students’ families,” the entrepreneur expressed surprise.

Coming from a poor family when he was young, Lv knows the importance of education. “The emergence of terrorism has its root in the dissatisfaction and social discontent among the poor, so education [to empower them] is very important.”

Brother Lv also appealed to the fellow entrepreneurs that, in addition to provide funding for the “Seeds of Hope” programme, to be personally involved in the home visits is the best way to understand the meaning behind the initiative.

Men are kind in nature

Being the overall coordinator for that evening’s event was entrepreneur volunteer Sim Hee Chew who runs a multinational hydroelectric engineering business. The well established businessman seemed different that evening; he was panicky! Seeing him revealing a rare nervous side just showed how important the event is to him.

His anxious look caught some attention and some joked, “How adorable. He’s a big boss and yet he’s more tensed now as compared to taking care of his companies.”

Brother Sim then “defended” himself, "I heard from other brothers and sisters that being a coordinator is simple: I just need to liaise with different groups. At first, I thought a lot of things have already been taken care of but who knows there were last minute changes; fortunately everything went well, thanks to everyone’s effort. "

Brother Sim further recounted his observance while in Taiwan on how Master Cheng Yen gives selflessly to humanity and how he was deeply moved by her devotion to mankind. 

The experience struck him that as a businessman, he should start contributing and do his part for the society. Now he is willing to take on more responsibilities and does it with lots of joy. 

Many of his friends say he has changed and he now wears a ready smile. He responded with a laugh and explained it is because of the Tzu Chi's four spirituality soup (which is made from a blend of four “mind medicines”): contentment, gratitude, understanding and accommodation. At the age of 60 (one can hardly tell), Brother Sim is a living proof that even though one may retire from business one day, the Bodhisattva path is still a lifelong venue to work in.

“I just spoke with many entrepreneurs here,” added the agile volunteer, “and we all agreed that men must be born kind-hearted. Everyone has loving kindness. It’s just that they do not know how to proceed and there is no one to guide them.”

“Therefore, I tell them to come to Tzu Chi, to participate in activities. I tell them, ‘Watch the films and you will know what you can do to help’.”

The significance of a second

At the latter part of the evening, Brother David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, shared with the participants on the theme “What can you do with a second?”.

Explaining the concept of “A single good deed can withstand a thousand disasters”, which real meaning is “not a thousand good deeds are able to withstand the disaster”, but “to accumulate numerous single deed, and these deeds will help one withstand a particular crises”, he advised the entrepreneurs that they cannot bring fortune and fame with them when they leave this world and regardless how good their business acumen is, they cannot predict the ever changing, but they can prepare for the ever changing by doing good everyday and sowing good seeds for their future life.

One of the participants, Mr Frank Chew, said in retrospect: "After sitting here for two hours, I think I can draw the following conclusion: ‘Whether it is through thoughts or through hands, whether he is a rich or poor person, if everyone does a good deed in every second, the end result will be enormous’.”

Collective benevolent thoughts brings hope

Before the event came to a close, the congregation put their hands together and prayed solemnly for the suffering in Haiti.  After the event, the entrepreneurs immediately put their benevolent thoughts into action by giving their love and well wishes to the charity boxes. There were even some who decided to become Tzu Chi’s regular donating members on the spot.

On this evening, the Tzu Chi entrepreneurs have gathered the strength to play the role of a locomotive, leading their counterparts not only in fundraising, but also in reaching to the mass. We believe that we can bring together a larger force to bring hope to all existing dark corners in Singapore.