Caring for the Elderly on Vesak Day
MEDAN, Indonesia - Tzu Chi's
Medan branch held its first Vesak
Day celebration with a Buddha bathing ceremony. Vesak Day
celebrates the Buddha's birth and his subsequent enlightenment.
Vesak Day ceremonies center around the
tradition of bathing the statue of baby Siddharta (the given
name of the Buddha). This unique tradition has its origin
in the story of Prince Siddharta, where the heavens rained
nectar and flowers upon his birth in celebration and respect
of the joyous event. Today, the act of bathing a baby Siddharta
statue is a way for disciples to pay homage to the Buddha,
the Dharma (Buddhist teachings), and the Sangha (the community
of Buddhist monks and nuns). This also serves as a reminder
for us to cleanse ourselves of defilements and to purify our
minds.
Practicing the Teachings in a nursing
home
After the Buddha bathing ceremony, sixty
Tzu Chi volunteers visited a government nursing home, Panti
Abdi Dharma Asih Binjei, which is 2km away from town. They
were given a warm welcome from the staff and the residents
of the nursing home.
Tzu Chi volunteers presented their sign
language songs to break the ice. This was graced by the active
participation of the elderly residents at the nursing home.
Tzu
Chi volunteers then served the residents by cutting their
hair, clipping their nails, and trimming their beards. Meanwhile,
the medical staff gave health check-ups. Worried that the
residents might get hungry during the event, some new and
young Tzu Chi volunteers quickly brought meals to the residents
of the home. With their tender care and dedication, these
volunteers embodied the spirit of respecting life.
Tzu Chi volunteers did not forget the bed-ridden
elderly. The volunteers brought them presents and warmed their
hearts with gentle touches and comforting words. As they were
leaving, they even heard an elderly lady whisper, "Will
you guys visit again?"
On
this Vesak Day, we learned that life exists within the span
of a breath. Master Cheng Yen always reminds her volunteers
to "seize the moment. Don't wait to do good deeds or
practice filial piety."
