Using hand signs, the teenagers’ class present a dignified and well-coordinated segment of the sutra adaptation to their parents. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
“The four evil karmas of speech are like sharp blades
Each cut draws blood and harms others……
I vow never to speak ill of others, neither will I slander
To speak good words gently, like lotuses emerging from the mouth……”
Is it possible to get a group of spirited and lively teenagers to learn the lyrics and accompanying hand signs of the “Dharma as Water”stage adaptation, and then have them apply the teachings to their daily life?
During the monthly Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class on 28 August 2013, 92 teens presented a segment from the “Dharma as Water” stage adaptation to their parents. A total of 83 parents turned up to watch a mini-presentation of the stage adaptation by their children, and apart from understanding what their children had learnt in class, it was hoped that the parents would take up the invitation to participate in the “Dharma as Water”stage adaptation which the organisation was currently preparing for.
Being the First to Apologise
On the morning of 25 August 2013, while students from the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class were busy with their final rehearsal, their parents were interacting with volunteers in the multi-purpose and flower arrangement rooms. They watched short clips and selected segments on Master Cheng Yen’s teachings to understand the philosophy behind the Jing Si Aphorisms (Tzu Chi’s Education Mission); additionally, volunteers also shared their personal experiences with them.
Mr Jiang Jin Chun and his wife, Madam Cai Li Li had accompanied their daughter Jiang Zi Qi to class that day. Since secondary one, Zi Qi had been attending the teenagers’ class, and over the two years, her transformation has brought much comfort to them. Her father spoke with emotion, recounting how in just a year, his daughter had changed for the better. Now, she would often text him with short messages, reminding him to ride his motorbike safely, especially on rainy days.
Madam Cai shared that Zi Qi has a strong character and would frequently get into disagreements with her when she was younger. In the past, Zi Qi had even cut up a classmate’s skirt, and had so agitated a teacher, that the teacher threw her schoolbag into a far corner in a fit of anger. Such incidences would trouble her parents greatly and there would be frequent quarrels in the family over such problems; the relationship between mother and daughter was also strained.
Since attending the teenagers’ class however, Zi Qi has slowly changed for the better. She has learnt how to be filial, and whenever disagreements flare up between mother and daughter, Zi Qi will be the first to request that they not continue to bicker. Madam Cai commented that in the past, it would be difficult even to extract an apology from her daughter, but now, she would be the first to apologise to her mother, even if she was right.
Zi Qi has also become more mature and thoughtful in behaviour. For example, knowing how important the presentation that day was, she had re-arranged her tuition schedule herself, so that she could have the Sunday free to participate in the sutra adaptation.
Reminding Others Not to Speak Abusively
At 11.00am in the morning, the parents started to stream into the auditorium, their hearts full of anticipation. Students of the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class lined themselves up neatly and did not disappoint, giving a rousing presentation of the segment on the four evil karmas of speech. Though they were young, their presentation was not wanting in sincerity and faith; amidst the warm applause, even their Tzu Ching senior, Zhang You Ping, from the sutra adaptation team, was moved.
“The sutra adaptation team started planning for the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class to participate in the sutra adaptation in March. After the conclusion of class, everyone would stay behind for a further 45 minutes just to practice for the segment. We had also set up a website for the students of the teenagers’ class, so that they could access the web at home to continue their learning. A leader was selected for every small group of students, giving them the opportunity to take on responsibilities”.
You Ping commented that the actual presentation was a great improvement over the previous practice sessions, and he saw with his own eyes how capable the teenagers were. He hoped that they would continue to engage themselves with worthwhile endeavours, and expressed confidence that they could continue to put up praiseworthy performances of the sutra adaptation.
A group leader from the teenagers’ class, Shen En Qi felt fortunate to be able to participate in the presentation in her first year of attending the class. She took her responsibilities very seriously, guiding her group members whenever they had some free time on hand. She frequently contacted them via telephone, voluntarily providing “tuition” to group mates who needed extra help.
En Qi and her mother both took part in last year’s sutra adaptation during the Year-end Blessing Ceremony. Her mother Madam Lin Shu Bing is now a Tzu Chi volunteer, and this year, both of them signed up for the “Dharma as Water” sutra adaptation in their own community. Mr Shen You Cheng, En Qi’s father, shared that in the past he was quick tempered and impatient, whenever he had disagreements with his wife, his daughter would stand by and remind them to beware of speaking abusive words. Under the encouragement of his wife and daughter, Mr Shen has signed up to join them in the sutra adaptation. Now that the whole family has a common topic to talk about, En Qi has become her father’s little instructor, experiencing the bliss that the joy of Dharma has brought to the family.
Persevering for the Sake of Good
Cai Shun Yu is 15-years-old this year and has a tall and burly physique. His mother, Cai Shen Ling is an optometrist, who had gotten to know of Tzu Chi due to a free clinic that was held in Sri Lanka. She had signed her son up for the teenagers’ class more than a year ago, in the hopes that her son would be able to cultivate a wholesome character.
Shun Yu quickly grew passionate about the hand signs used in the sutra adaptation, and often goes online to learn more about them. Madam Cai realized that her son had made much positive progress after attending the class; his temper had improved, he no longer needed her to worry over his daily activities, and had become more mature in handling matters. What stood out in her memory and warmed her heart, was an incident in which he offered to carry his mother up the stairs as she had a problem with her knee joints.
Shun Yu, who has taken on the responsibility as a coach to his fellow mates in the teenagers’class, shared that in the past, he would wound others with his words if he felt that his project mates were not cooperating during their school projects. He knew now that such abusive language was not to be condoned and gained a deeper understanding of the Chinese idiom that encourages one to practice forbearance :“If we exercise a moment of tolerance, tempestuous winds and waves will abate; if we step back and give some leeway, dark skies will clear.”
Apart from learning to be mindful of her words, 13-year-old Fang Qiao was also inspired to uphold a vegetarian diet after observing that her peers were vegetarian. At the beginning, her mother, Madam Fang Yu Lan, who was a vegetarian herself, was not very supportive as she was worried that her growing daughter would not be getting enough nutrients.
Fang Qiao would register her displeasure each time her mother returned from the market with meat. Madam Fang then started to prepare vegetarian lunchbox meals for her daughter at her insistence, much to the envy of her daughter’s classmates. Now, she has discovered that her daughter is no longer picky about food and eats all types of vegetables, and is now even healthier as compared to the past.
After taking part in the presentation, Fang Qiao shares her philosophical musings, “ If one physically injures oneself or others by accident, the wound will heal. But if one’s words has caused pain to others, there is a possibility that the hurt would not heal throughout their lifetime, so we must really attempt to be vigilant with our words.”
This year, Tzu Chi Singapore organized a “Dharma as Water – The Water Repentance Practice”study session in the hopes that all can gain a deeper appreciation of the teachings in the text, uphold vegetarianism, and break their negative habituations. Chen Zhao Yun, volunteer leader taking charge of the branch’s education mission said that the particular segment on the four evil karmas of speech was especially chosen because in our modern society, with technology so advanced, youths can easily get into arguments with others through the various technological platforms. Therefore, teaching our children about the evils of abusive language, lying, flattery and gossip is very important.
Master Cheng Yen once said that there are no children that cannot be taught, only parents that have not yet found a method to do so. Parents set the example for their children, so it is Tzu Chi’s hope that the parents can learn the teachings together with their children and participate in the sutra adaptation hand in hand. By doing so, family members will enjoy better relations with each other, leading to a more peaceful and harmonious society for Singapore.
During the month of August, 92 young teens from the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class presented a segment from the “Dharma as Water” stage adaptation on the four evil karmas of speech - abusive language, lying, flattery and gossip, to their parents. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
During a parental sharing session, Mr Jiang Jin Chun (far right) and his wife, Madam Cai Li Li (centre) tell attendees that their daughter, Jiang Zi Qi has become more thoughtful and filial after attending the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class, and this has brought much comfort to them. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
After taking part in the 2012 Tzu Chi Teenagers’Class learning camp, Cai Shun Yu (far left) has become passionate about hand signs and has taken on the responsibility of coaching his fellow mates in the teenagers’ class sutra adaptation presentation. (Photo by Mandy Pang Pei Wen)
Fang Qiao signed up to participate in the “Dharma as Water” sutra adaptation this year as a challenge to herself. After observing that her peers were vegetarian, she was also inspired to uphold a vegetarian diet since the beginning of the year. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
Shen En Qi and her parents share their experiences in attending the community group study sessions together as a family. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
Tzu Chings (members of the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association) enthusiastically thought of various ways to help the teenagers’ class in the learning process of the sutra adaptation. Zhang You Ping from the Tzu Ching sutra adaptation workgroup personally drew up a series of diagrams for the hands signs in the segment on the four evil karmas of speech. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
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