| That
is our song! |
 |
Translated by Peiying
Chou
February 14, 2002
Chinese
Version
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, U.S.A. - I wondered
why my daughter, who is usually shy, would be so brave as to
perform in front of a crowd. Was she moved by the melody of
the "Three No's"? Or has she found Great Love in her
little mind?
February 14 of this year was a very important and unforgettable
day for the Zhuyin class of the Tzu Chi Academy at Irvine, California.
The 24 children of the class, led by Miss Hui-hung Hsu, attended
the Chinese New Year celebration and the Lighting of the Heart
Lamp at Tzu Chi Still Thoughts Hall, and performed the "Three
No's" in sign language.
Children learn from group activities
On the night before the event, my daughter
kept reminding me, "I have to wear the new uniform tomorrow.
We're going to take a bus to the Still Thoughts Hall."
She was so sincere and excited. It seemed like she had realized
the importance of this event in her little mind. Group activities
are ways of training children to learn, to behave themselves
and to cooperate with others, and it is also a very important
process in their development.
All the children cleaned up and changed their
clothes after the class, and then rushed to the bus heading
for the Still Thoughts Hall. Seeing the children arriving at
the Hall, the volunteers all came up to welcome them. Their
sincere smiles and peaceful expressions made me felt like I
was in a world with no hatred and greed, but full of love.
My daughter performed sign language in
public
I recalled that a week before the event, our
whole family went to a Hong Kong supermarket in Rowland Heights.
The supermarket was holding a Chinese New Year celebration activity
at the time. My daughter suddenly started yelling, "That's
our song! Our song! Miss Hsu taught us that song!" I stopped
to listen and realized it was the melody of the "Three
No's." We looked around and found the Tzu Chi stall not
far away. My daughter immediately ran up to the stall and told
a volunteer that she knew how to sing the "Three No's"
and could even do it in sign language. She then started to perform
in public, and some volunteers also joined her.
I stood beside her shocked, almost in tears.
I wondered why my daughter, who is usually shy, would be so
brave performing in front of a crowd. Was she moved by the melody
of the "Three No's"? Or has she found Great Love in
her little mind?
Children were joyful and happy after the
event
After lighting the Heart Lamps, the children
visited the Still Thoughts Hall and collected their presents
from the teachers and the traditional red envelopes of money,
symbolizing blessings and wisdom. Then they enjoyed fried rice
and rice dumplings prepared by the volunteers. Their joy and
happiness could be seen clearly on their faces. After a whole
day of activities, the children fell asleep on the bus on the
way home. As I watched these children sleeping, I could not
help but recite the lyrics of the "Three No's": May
this Great Love fill the world through all of time¡K
