(Photo by Ng Shey Ying)
On 22 April 2018, Tzu Shaos (students from the Tzu Chi Teenagers’ Class) and their parents arrived at the Jing Si Hall early in the morning to celebrate Parents’ Day. The youths and their parents were quickly ushered to the Buddha Hall, where they settled down to watch a touching video clip titled “The Kneeling Lamb”.
Following a briefing by the host, the Tzu Shaos were divided into two groups, which attended classes separately in two classrooms. The parents remained seated in the Hall to watch another video, which depicted the story, “A Chipped Cup”, narrated by Dharma Master Cheng Yen. The meaningful story reminded the parents that no child is perfect in this world and that everyone has their own flaws. It highlighted one of the Master’s teachings, i.e. “With a change in our perspective, we will be able to see people and things differently, and feel differently about them”.
“How I wish to hold your warm hands, just like before….”
This was a line from another video played to the parents. It talked about a young boy who could only remember his father holding his hand twice. The boy longed for his father to hold his hand more often, but the latter was always busy with his smartphone. The story struck a deep chord with the parents and touched their hearts, with some seen wiping tears from their eyes.
“The children are not the only ones who need to attend classes today. We (adults) need to attend classes as well. Hopefully, all of us adults are able to hear the inner voices of our children,” said the host, her voice quivering with emotion.
Meanwhile, one group of the Tzu Shaos were learning how to do a foot bath and massage in a separate room. The youths were taught how to bathe their parent’s feet with a grateful and respectful heart, under the patient guidance of their teachers. In another classroom, the second group of Tzu Shaos learned how to serve tea to their parents; practising hard and rehearsing a number of times before they became familiar with the steps. Twenty minutes later, the two groups swapped classrooms to learn the other set of skills in preparation for the upcoming activities for the celebration.
(Photo by Michelle Pong Lai Ping)
(Photo by Michelle Pong Lai Ping)
After attending the classes, the youths were guided to silently recall an incident that bothered or angered them a lot in the past. Their teacher gave them a few examples, such as being forbidden by their parents to do something they wanted to do, failing to receive acknowledgement from their parents for something they had done well and being scolded for being a busybody instead, or having yet to apologise to their parents for something they had done wrong.
The youths were given pieces of cards and encouraged to write out the feelings buried deeply in their hearts, which they wished to tell their parents. For those who did not feel comfortable putting their feelings in writing, their messages for their parents were recorded on smartphones by Tzu Ching seniors (i.e. former members of the Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association).
(Photo by Peter Andrew)
Meanwhile, the parents were busy doing the same in the Buddha Hall, writing their blessings and well-wishes for their beloved children on little cards, which they would personally give to them later.
(Photo by Ng Shey Ying)
The Tzu Ching seniors served as “postmen”, delivering all the cards with written messages to their recipients. As Mr. and Mrs. Tong Yong Wei (pictured below) read the card written by their child, tears began to flow down their cheeks.
“My kid has really grown up,” Mr. Tong remarked, trying hard to hold back his tears.
(Photo by Ng Shey Ying)
After a short break, the Tzu Shaos queued up and returned to the Buddha Hall. As the melodious background music was playing, the youths entered the hall in a slow and steady manner, bearing a tray containing steaming hot tea in their hands. They slowly made their way to where their parents were seated and knelt down to serve tea to them. The ambience was solemn and heartwarming; nobody was left untouched.
After the tea ceremony, the Tzu Shaos placed a basin at their parents’ feet and started bathing and massaging the latter’s feet under the guidance of the host. Some of the youths were spotted weeping as they served tea or bathed the feet of their parents. Their parents quickly took out their tissue paper and wiped off the tears on their faces, while being moved to tears themselves. The ceremony ended with the parents and children giving each other warm embraces, their hearts filled with gratitude and bliss for the close familial bonds they shared.
(Photo by Ng Shey Ying)
(Photo by Ng Shey Ying)
Tzu Shao Yuan Jia Hui was wiping off her tears while bathing her mother’s feet. She shared, “I don't usually have the opportunity to tell my mother that I love her. I will notice that she has aged each time I bathe her feet. When I think about this, my tears will start to fall.”
Yuan’s mother, Lin Ai Ming, said, “I enjoy the foot bathing moment very much. As I see my child gradually growing up, I realise that I’m growing older. Thanks to Tzu Chi for holding the annual Parents’ Day event, which allows us to enjoy family bliss.”
Tzu Shao Tong Zhi Jie, who had bathed his father’s feet a number of times in the past, jokingly said he noticed that his father’s feet were much cleaner than before. Tong’s father, Tong Yong Wei, touched his son’s head and said, “I feel very happy and comforted to see that my son has become so mature and sensible, and am really grateful to be able to accompany him from the Parent-Child Bonding Class to the Teenagers’ Class. I really treasure the time I spend with him.”
Chen Xiu Qing, who had the opportunity to serve tea to her 80-year-old mother during Tzu Chi’s “Auspicious Seventh Lunar Month Prayer Ceremony” last year, was now being served tea by her own daughter, Chen Song Ling.
The young girl lovingly leaned by her mother’s side and said, “I’m thankful to my mother for taking such good care of me. I want to be filial to both my parents now, so that I won’t regret failing to do so when it’s too late.” At that moment, she suddenly remembered her late maternal grandfather and felt a pang of sadness, which caused her to tear up again.
The volunteer who coordinated the details of the event, Lim Teck Bang, said in his closing speech, “Actually, our children’s hearts are filled with love. It’s just that they do not know how to express their love, and there is no channel for them to express that love. This occasion provides an opportunity for them to express their heartfelt feelings, and this is also a day the parents look forward to each year.”
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