![The drum performance brought by 12 volunteers from Tzu Chi Entrepreneurs' Group awakened the audience and directed their focus to the present. [Photo by Leong Chian Yee]](/images/Articles/RW/2023/KL20230108_lqy01_018.jpg "The drum performance brought by 12 volunteers from Tzu Chi Entrepreneurs' Group awakened the audience and directed their focus to the present. [Photo by Leong Chian Yee]")
Tzu Chi KL & Selangor held its Year-end Blessing Ceremonies on January 8 and February 12, 2023, to express gratitude to members of the public for their support towards Tzu Chi’s missions and welcome volunteers home for a reunion while receiving blessings from Master Cheng Yen.
The KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall welcomed over 5,600 attendees for four sessions of the Year-end Blessing Ceremony held over two days.
Every attendee received a red envelope of blessings and wisdom from Master Cheng Yen. [Photo by Lai Jih Chuan]
Festive cheer overflowed as visitors paused to snap photos of the attention-grabbing red characters at the entrance, which read “福满门、德传家” (bringing blessings aplenty and passing on virtues). The foyer was abuzz with stalls selling Chinese New Year goods and items for fundraising, as well as stalls promoting Jing-Si products and the Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge. There were also a bamboo bank corner, photo-worthy spots, a guzheng performance, a simple vegetarian reception, and more. The lively crowd boosted the joyful atmosphere.
The red characters at the entrance, which read “福满门、德传家” (bringing blessings aplenty and passing on virtues) caught the attention of many attendees who paused to take photos. [Photo by Chan Tuck Meng]
The foyer was abuzz with stalls selling Chinese New Year goods and other items. [Photo by Lee Kok Keong]
The Year-end Blessing Ceremony began with a resounding drum performance that awakened the audience and directed their focus to the present. The “Tzu Chi 2022 Year in Review” footage and the annual report of Tzu Chi KL & Selangor Chapter that ensued, moved many to tears as they witnessed the efforts of Tzu Chi volunteers providing aid, comfort, and support to disaster victims and needy people worldwide.
On stage, volunteer Sng Sok Chu shared her joy of walking the Tzu Chi path alongside her 16 family members from four generations. The family’s happiness testified to the saying that “A family that practises kindness is sure to receive bountiful blessings.” Another volunteer, Ng Siew Kwan, shared his personal journey of transformation after facing adversity. His story served as a reminder that life is precious and that we should live in the present moment.
Towards the end of the ceremony, the audience was treated to a video of Master Cheng Yen delivering a lecture on the theme for the year, “May we do good with compassion and bring blessings to all. May we conduct ourselves with wisdom and pass on virtue.”
◎ Echoes of the hearts
Julie Adiakalasamy, a former lecturer and single mother, suffered a stroke five years ago and was bedridden for about a year. That was when she realised her focus on material wealth was never-ending and ultimately unsatisfying. She was in awe of the solemnity of the Jing Si Hall and the gathering of compassionate individuals. She said, “The video footages touched my heart. I felt the effort of every volunteer. The story of Ng Siew Kwan also moved me to tears. I felt ashamed of my past complaints, especially when I had a stroke.”
Twenty-four-year-old Shamir was deeply affected by the scenes of animals being cruelly slaughtered and shedding tears. He spoke with conviction, saying, “Human beings kill animals just to satisfy their appetite, but Buddha taught us about the law of karma. If we do wholesome deeds, we will reap good karmic effects. So, I have decided to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle from this moment on.”
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The event concluded with a prayer for peace and harmony in the world, and everyone received a red envelope of blessings and wisdom from Master, bringing a sense of joy and happiness as they returned home.
