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Published: September 10th 2007
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Wonderful Sculptures at Buddhist Tzu Chi University
This one shows a frail old man, seeing the reflection of himself and his nurse in the mirror, and trying to touch the image of himself as a young man with his now-deceased wife. It is quite touching, and beautifully done. It’s starting to get cold again already, and it’s only early December. Today is a forecast high of only 26, and I have to wear long sleeves on the motorbike most of the time now. In fact, Lao-puo even put on the heater the other night.
Barring the fact that I spent this (Saturday) morning teaching a Buddhist nun to ride a motorcycle, my life is pretty normal over here. Nancy (the nun) is American, studying Chinese with Lao-puo at BTCU. I guess she can wear whatever she wants for her lesson, as long as she doesn’t make a habit of it. Nancy kind of broke the rules a bit, because she isn’t allowed to be seen in public with a man.
Lao-puo is delighted with her Chinese teacher, whose name is Yi-hua. “Happy Flower’ is a good name, I think. Even though it is a beginning class, the teacher does not speak English at all.
That’s it for this week. I’m taking a break, and Lao-puo is going to write the rest of this week’s report:
Hello everyone,
A lot has happened in the past 5 weeks since arriving here in the East Rift Valley.
The Hall of Still Thoughts
Buddhism is a very old belief system that has brought comfort and strength to untold generations. Some of its ideas (as practised) are an affront to modern thinking. In that respect, it is sort of like Christianity, once the fundamentalists are done with twisting it. Sister Nancy is a high level nun, ordained by a sister, but the ordination was not official until a man conducted the ceremony. With each new grade, the nun gets a burn on her arm from a lit incense stick. Sister Nancy has six. I'd be incensed if someone did that to me. Day by day, more things are falling into place. Last Monday, I began two hours of Chinese classes starting at 1:35 pm each day. All of a sudden, my days are flying by. In the past three days, Marie and Nancy have come into my life. We are all students of the Chinese language. Marie is a Japanese woman who lives in Australia but is here to become fluent in Mandarin. Neng tsu (as she prefers to be called) or Nancy is an American Buddhist nun. Nancy is the name she took on after becoming a nun ten years ago. She needs to learn Chinese for the work she wishes to do at a monastery in the U.S. She will also need to have a scooter to get around. I've invited her to visit Doug and me in Guangfu this Saturday. Doug is going to give her some instructions and practice on Elvis (my bike).
My language classes are small - only four of us (there is supposed to be a fifth person but he is stuck in Hong Kong. His visa ran out so he had to go to there to get it renewed but has run into
The Hall of Still Thoughts, From the Side
The Tzu Chi Foundation is world-renowned for its charitable work. a problem at that moment). This is really a good thing-- we get a lot more one-on-one time from the teacher (who’s excellent). She never speaks English, yet we understand (through her exaggerated gestures) what she’s trying to say. After just one lesson, we have already begun to speak in simple sentences - haltingly and poorly--but it’s a beginning. All of us have had at least some Chinese lessons in the past.
I will begin my volunteer work next Friday for Agape House. Last week Annie took me to one of the prisons for a ceremony, which recognized a number of individuals who work with the prisoners. We were entertained by two excellent Chinese singers (both of whom are inmates). They won first and third places in a singing contest held jointly by all the prisons in Taiwan). During the ceremony, an electronic keyboard was donated to Agape House. Annie will take me to one of the women’s prisons next Friday morning where I will, over time, try to make a difference in a few people’s lives. I think it will be a slow process at first, as I must build rapport and trust with each person. Slowly, over time, I hope to have really good, meaningful discussions with the inmates, and try to help them move forward with their lives in a positive, meaningful, productive, and happy way. There is a Christian orientation to the Agape program.
I have just discovered that there is a stray dog society in Hualien. I will try to find out where they are located and if anyone there speaks English. I would like to give some of my time to this very worthwhile cause, in addition to my Agape House work.
Nothing is perfect, but it's impossible to complain about my life over here. The local people are friendly and helpful. In fact, they often go out of their way to assist foreigners with whatever they need. The food is good, but a little repetitive in Guangfu. If we stay another year, we will move to Hualien City. It's only an hour each way for Doug to travel to Guangfu JHS, and Hualien offers so much more because of the greater population.
We live in a very large house but only have a few pieces of furniture in it. Next year, we'll ship over some of our household goods and find a smaller place in which to live. Hualien offers a vibrancy that a small town cannot offer. There is always something going on. There are movie theatres, night markets, restaurants of every ethnic choice, parks to wander through, bicycle paths, good shopping, Sushi Express, lots of people to become acquainted with, and gorgeous scenery. It also offers easy access to Taroko Gorge, the premium attraction on the Island. It's an attraction that is equivalent to Banff or Yosemite National Parks.
How would you like to have work that required you to travel through the equivalent of one of the Hawaiian Islands to get where you’re going each morning? I feel so privileged to be here. My train leaves Guangfu at 8:04am and travels north through the East Rift Valley to Hualien. The valley is farmland, with hibiscus flowers growing beside the tracks and palm trees in the distance. Glorious mountains, that would take your breath away, surround the valley.
When I arrive at the train station in Hualien, my first stop is at the 7/11 for a veggie drink. It’s hot and thirsty work traveling in this heat (currently mid-20’s+). Rather than taking a taxi to the university now, I just wave and smile to all the taxi drivers bordering the street hoping for my fare but I just keep walking because the streets are so interesting. It takes me 20 minutes or so to reach the school. There are numerous breakfast stalls along the way, bit I’ve already eaten at home. Look to your left and see a farmers market in full swing. Walk straight ahead, and a lady offers you a taste of a persimmon (which is delicious). There will be a street dog (unfortunately) here and there along the way (furiously scratching because of fleas). Many stores are just beginning to open at 9:00 a.m., but lots don’t open until 11:00a.m. Turn a corner to walk straight towards the school and the scene will stop you in your tracks. Looking across the main street, I see the mountains in the background. At one o'clock is The Hall of Still Thoughts. It's the spiritual Buddhist home for all followers of the Tzu Chi Buddhist philosophy. The architectural design is dramatic. Look to 11 o'clock and there is my university.
Tzu Chi University, The Hall of Still Thoughts, and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Hospital were all started by one person in 1966 with the establishment of the Tzu Chi Foundation. Over the years, they have flourished and expanded to over 4 million members today. Centres are located throughout the world. There is even one in Vancouver. They believe that love is the most important thing in life and to treat all people, creatures and things with love and that goodness will flow forth from that. To quote from the pamphlet: “Serving as the eyes and hands of Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, the commissioners seek out the sick and the poor to bring them the care of Tzu Chi”.
Needless to say, I am enjoying my new adventure in Taiwan. It is rich and full and happy. What more could I ask for in life?
Kind regards to all,
--
Suzanne
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