The 2017 Year-End Blessing Ceremony: Called to Fathom the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings

Tzu Chi Indonesia held the 2017 Year-End Blessing in Jing Si Hall, Tzu Chi Center on Saturday, 27 January 2018.

This year’s blessing theme is Chiming in love to create a world full of compassion. Step by Step Expanding the Road to Protect the Earth. Master Cheng Yen hopes that every person shares the spirit of compassion, loves all beings, loves the earth, and creates peaceful society. Thus, the earth is disaster-free.

The Year-End Blessing commenced with the beating of the Drums of Blessings performed by ten students from Sekolah Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi, Cengkareng. The rumbling sound of the drums filled the hall, encouraging the spectators to spread more benevolence. The Drums of Blessings contain the hopes that all people are surrounded by blessings, kindness, and happiness. It was then followed by the sign language performance, sharing by the newly inaugurated volunteer committee, sharing about the house reconstruction in Jagabita Village, and Master Cheng Yen’s red packet distribution.

The Year-End Blessing commenced with the beating of the Drums of Blessings performed by ten students from Sekolah Cinta Kasih Tzu Chi, Cengkareng, West Jakarta.

Left to right, The President of Tzu Chi Indonesia Liu Su Mei, Vice Presidents of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Franky Oesman Widjaja and Sugianto Kusuma delivering the message of love.

Unlike the previous Year-End Blessing which focused more about The Sutra of Profound Gratitude to Parents, this year’s event focused on the the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings. In the 25^th year, Tzu Chi Indonesia encourages the volunteers to learn more about the the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings. This Sutra learning can be done through reading, trainings, as well as all activities in Tzu Chi’s four main missions.

The Vice President of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Franky Oesman was grateful for the journey of Tzu Chi Indonesia which has entered the age of 25. “I am thoroughly grateful that Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation could be established in Indonesia  and grateful to Mrs. Liu Su Mei (President of Tzu Chi Indonesia) who, for 25 years, has guided those us who have the power, thought, and fund to be the catalysts for helping those in needs with pure love,” he said.

Red Packets of Rememberance

The Year-End Blessing has always been encouraging for the volunteers, including Poppy (middle, with eye-glasses).

This Year-End Blessing was held in three sessions. The first session was attended by staffs, mission departments, and volunteers. There were novewer than 1,712 people filling Jing Si Hall 4^th floor, Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta.

Poppy Juliana Tanaka, a Kindergarten Mandarin teacher in Tzu Chi School Indonesia, has attended the Year-End Blessing for five years. She admitted that she is always blessed with new spirit each time she attends this event. One thing that is always memorable for her is the red packet from Master Cheng Yen. She keeps the packet year by year with hope that she is always blessed with health to enable her to educate her students well.

“I am determined to teach better and do more good deeds,” promised Poppy, who is not only a teacher, but also an active volunteer in the education of the children in Tzu Chi’s Cinta Kasih Housing in Muara Angke, North Jakarta.

Another volunteer, Sri Suwantini (78), has attended the Year-End Blessing ten times. “I am truly grateful and happy to be able to join the year-end blessing and I hope I remain healthy to continue doing the environment conservancy,” she said.

The volunteers, staffs, and mission departments enjoying the sign language performance by students of Tzu Chi School Indonesia. The Tzu Chi’s journey flashback was also shown. Donors are able to witness the use of the fund they have donated.

The same joy was also felt by Lim Kiong (52) who has been a the Tzu Chi volunteer since 2012. He felt glad to attend the year-end blessing with hope that he lives his life with peace.

“I am very happy listening to the sharing from the volunteer committee today because they are role models for me. After watching the video about the saddening wars in Syria and the struggle they face to survive in the middle of the wars where they live without homes leaving them freezing in the coldness, I have learnt to be more grateful that I live in very safe and peaceful environment,” he stated.

Translated by Ryan P Wijaya (Tzu Chi School)