Master's Dharma Talk: Safeguarding the Life and Health of Patients

Time passes by quickly. It’s been 31 years since the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital was established. Hualien is in eastern Taiwan; it is quite difficult to get medical staff to work here. We have been fortunate to have a group of people who are full of love and kindness to safeguard the life and health of patients in the hospital. On the stage, I see staff who have served for 30 years. I am truly touched from the bottom of my heart.

"Tzu Chi Hospital is 31 years old. We’ve worked here for 30 years. For the last 30 years, we’ve maintained true to the cause. Thank you everyone".

I am very grateful, not only to the staff who have served 30 years, but also to Auntie Lin, who has served for more than 31 years. She is in her 90s, yet she wants to continue serving. This is her commitment to Tzu Chi; she gives all of herself  and all that she knows to our medical mission. I remember, in the early years of our medical mission, we barely had resources and were going through difficulties.

But at that time, the medical care in Hualien was in desperate need. However, I was determined to build a hospital. I’m grateful to have the support of many people who shared my ideal. People raised funds very mindfully and gave of themselves to make this possible. There was truly a need for us to build a hospital in Hualien.

Now, we see that it’s not just a need because residents have come to rely on it. To have a Tzu Chi hospital in eastern Taiwan, we must be grateful to the medical staff and volunteers for their mindfulness and love in working together. The recent accreditation review proves that our hospital has solid foundations and excellent medical care. Before the review, everyone was very nervous, and was busy making preparations. I said to the staff that the items under review were what we do every day.

We have always cared for patients with the spirit of safeguarding life and health with love, continuously. I see our hospital volunteers serving as a bridge between the hospital staff and patients; they bring positive energy to the hospital, provide great help to the medical staff, and comfort patients. To help with the accreditation review, volunteers were mobilized to clean the hospital. I am very grateful to them.

Of course, the hospital staff also worked together with one heart and the same mission. I also see that our medical mission isn’t limited to medical care. Medical personnel also participate in charity work and make home visits to help the poor, the disabled, or the minority groups. The hospital superintendent and staff all participated in cleaning the house of poor families. They even cleaned the toilets. They were willing to do everything and contribute to serving others. This is quite touching.

Back to medical care, I am very grateful to the departments of general surgery and internal medicine for wholeheartedly taking care of patients. The hospital has Chinese and Western medicines, clinical services, division of dietetics and nutrition; it provides many treatments. We saw a patient, Mr. Wu, from Xincheng of Hualien. While he was staying in our ICU, our staff helped him fulfilled his wish. They discovered that his marriage was not registered at the Household Registration Office.

The hospital staff helped him and his wife to complete this final step of marriage, so that he may legally pass down his assets to his wife. I am grateful to the staff for helping them complete this life event. It is not easy. We also saw Sofyan (from Indonesia).

“Grandmaster, masters at the Abode, doctors, nurses, Tzu Chi aunties and uncles, we meet again. With a grateful heart, I thank you for accompanying me, so I have the courage to pursue my dreams. No matter what happens, I will cherish dearly what I have. Thank you. My family and I want to wish Tzu Chi Hospital. Happy Birthday!”

Sofyan’s story is very touching. His case was a collaborative effort between Indonesian volunteers and the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. In 2004, during a free clinic in Indonesia, volunteers found out about Sofyan. He was only 14 years old. Dr. Chiou successfully operated on him. At that time, Dr. Chiou said that his tumor has the tendency to grow again as he gets older.

As expected, a few years later, it grew back. So, Sofyan returned to the hospital for another operation. After he went back home, he studied very hard and graduated from university. He is now married. This is the result of volunteers’ support over the years. I am glad we established the medical mission. In carrying out charity work, we need the help of medical mission.

In addition to helping poor families financially, we can also treat their illnesses, so that they can live a stable life. We are able to provide well-rounded help to those in need. I am very grateful for this. Our medical mission is not only needed in eastern Taiwan, but it also serves as a true guardian for medical service internationally.

Dr. Lin, our superintendent, also has this wish to make our hospital known internationally. By doing this, people around the world will know of Taiwan’s high medical quality. They will come to Taiwan for good medical treatment and care. Indeed, Taiwan has excellent medical care. To accomplish this, the most important thing is to have a heart of sincerity.

With such sincerity, we give of ourselves to save lives. Everyone should emulate the Buddha’s heart and take my mission as their own, to safeguard life and health of patients with love. We have done this.

There are many things to be grateful for. I am grateful to the volunteers, the doctors and staff of all departments including our clinical, educational, and research teams, as well as the administrative staff. We need each and every department. Let us encourage one another. Thank you, and blessings to everyone.