The Inital Bamboo Bank Ceremony in Tzu Chi Hospital

Journalist : Anand Yahya, Photographer : Anand Yahya

CEO of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Liu Su Mei and President Director of Tzu Chi Hospital, dr. Gunawan Susanto together poured the bamboo banks onto the slides which then collected in the money basket. The clink sound slid across the bamboo slides.

The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia has again expanded its wings to spread the seeds of love at Tzu Chi Hospital. On December 30, 2021, Tzu Chi Hospital held a bamboo bank pouring ceremony for the first time, which took place in the main lobby of Tzu Chi Hospital.

The bamboo bank pouring ceremony is one of a series of SMAT (Introductory on Tzu Chi’s Mission of Charity) programs that are being promoted by Tzu Chi Indonesia volunteers to rally the hearts of many good people to do more good deeds.

Gunawan Susanto, President Director of Tzu Chi Hospital in his opening remarks said that the inaugural bamboo bank pouring ceremony at Tzu Chi Hospital will be marked as the closing the year of 2021, gathered by the great love from the directors, doctors, nurses, and all of the staff of Tzu Chi Hospital.

"We will be pouring the bamboo bank, this is one of Master Cheng Yen’s thought, for us to remember that spreading great love has to be done everyday. Donations are not measured by numbers, but by its kindness and love that is cultivated each day,” said Dr. Gunawan Susanto.

President Director of Tzu Chi Hospital, Dr. Gunawan Susanto hoped that all employees of Tzu Chi Hospital can participate in the bamboo bank pouring ceremony.

Gunawan Susanto hoped that all employees of Tzu Chi Hospital can participate in the bamboo bank pouring ceremony. "I hope that all employees of Tzu Chi Hospital can have the same thoughts and understanding of the values contained in bamboo bank," he hoped.

Hasan Basri, the staff of Tzu Chi Hospital who hosted the bamboo bank pouring ceremony, explained briefly about the Tzu Chi’s Mission of Charity. One of things he explained was the bamboo bank program to rally the hearts of many people to do more good deeds.

The collection of these love coins will later be used by the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia to help communities affected by disasters, distribute rice aid, support health social services, support for living expenses, and assistance in handling special patients.

Leni, one of the midwives at Tzu Chi Hospital, also invited her husband and children to save their money into a bamboo piggy bank every day. The activity has been carried out by Leni to cultivate a culture of giving, which is the embodiment of sincere love.

The same response was also expressed by Dr. Runi who has been educated by her parents to serve the community with love. Dr Runi was very moved by the Tzu Chi Hospital family who gave her many life lessons, especially the bamboo bank program.

“As a Buddhist, I understand Master Cheng Yen's teachings educate us to donate, to give, to do good deeds. By giving every day we don't have to worry with the amount, instead we apply our sense of contribution to others,” dr. Runi said.

One of the participants who participated in the bamboo bank pouring ceremony was Leni, one of the midwives at Tzu Chi Hospital. She also expressed her desire to save her coins into a bamboo piggy bank. Leni wanted to share with the underprivileged brothers and sisters.

“Will it affect my financial condition when I save my coins into a bamboo piggy bank? Not at all. In fact, by saving some coins into a bamboo piggy bank, it increases my luck and fortune," Leni said.

The atmosphere of the bamboo bank pouring ceremony in the main lobby of Tzu Chi Hospital which was attended by the medical team, staff, and volunteer observers of Tzu Chi Hospital.

Leni also invited her husband and children to save their money into a bamboo piggy bank every day. The activity has been carried out by Leni to cultivate a culture of giving, which is the embodiment of sincere love. "Hopefully the small donation that our family collects can be useful for others," she said.

The bamboo bank pouring ceremony took place in the main lobby of Tzu Chi Hospital. Before the pouring activity, the nurses, staff, and volunteer observers of Tzu Chi Hospital performed hand sign language with the theme of a bamboo bank. The clatter of coins that slid into the container added to the splendor of the bamboo bank pouring ceremony at Tzu Chi Hospital.

Participants who were also present in the bamboo bank pouring ceremony was the CEO of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Liu Su Mei and the volunteer observers of the hospital. They also poured their savings in their own bamboo banks. In addition, there were also some families of Tzu Chi Hospital patients who were moved to pour their savings in a bamboo banks.

The doctors, nurses, and staff of Tzu Chi Hospital had the opportunity to take pictures together after the bamboo bank pouring ceremony in the main lobby of Tzu Chi Hospital.

One of the patient’s family was Tan Lie Fin, who happened to be bringing his parents for medical treatment for stroke. Tan Lie Fin said the Tzu Chi’s bamboo bank program was admirable not only for himself but also exceptional for others.

“I truly believe in the law of karma. The law of karma tells what you sow is what you will reap. Giving is not only for ourselves but for all sentient beings in the world who are suffering,” Tan Lie Fin said.

At the end of the ceremony, the CEO of Tzu Chi Indonesia, Liu Su Mei together with the President Director of Tzu Chi Hospital, dr. Gunawan Susanto, General Director of Tzu Chi Hospital, Suriadi and Tzu Chi Hospital employees took a group photo in the lobby of Tzu Chi Hospital after the pouring was finished.

Translator : Vincent Salimputra (Tzu Chi Volunteers)