The husband-and-wife team of Bi Yu Kun and Chen Ya Ting deliver recyclables they have collected from their neighbours to their Tzu Chi recycling point on a monthly basis. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
“Work joyfully and willingly, and just do it.” This is what Tzu Chi volunteer Chen Ya Ting always says. Together with Bi Yu Kun, the husband-and-wife team from Shun Fu Road have been working diligently and contributing quietly since they became Tzu Chi volunteers in 1993. Many Tzu Chi volunteers are curious to know what keeps them going from the early days when Tzu Chi Singapore branch was first set up, till today.
Good Friends Lead the Way Into the World of Tzu Chi
Chen’s family is not well to do; when she was young she used to hold a few jobs concurrently, selling fried bee hoon (rice noodles) and babysitting for others in the morning, and distributing yogurt drinks to households in the evening. Bi too, earned a low income and both husband and wife had to work hard to make ends meet. The protracted tough life made the couple feel insecure and they would bicker over trivialities. When they encountered difficulties, they would go to temples to seek blessings and to rid themselves of their worries.
There was once when a good friend of many years, Lu Chuan Qin and her husband, Zhu Ming Ren introduced Tzu Chi and Master Cheng Yen to Chen. Chen was very much convinced by the philosophy of the Master and hence decided to join the ranks of Tzu Chi. Over a period of 22 years, Chen has remained dedicated to the teachings of the Master and the missions of Tzu Chi, while her role in life has also changed unnoticeably from an ordinary housewife to someone with a big heart and pure thoughts, committed to protecting the earth by making contributions quietly.
More than 20 years ago, Chen was introduced to Tzu Chi by her good friend, Lu Chuan Qing (second from right) and Lu’s husband, Zhu Ming Ren (first from right). (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Understanding Brings About Action
In the beginning, as Bi did not understand Tzu Chi well, he was not supportive of Chen spending too much time on its activities. He would complain that there was a lot of housework to do at home, and Chen would keep going out to attend the activities even though there was dirty laundry to be done. He even secretly followed Chen to see what she did at Tzu Chi.
Chen soon found out and tried to explain to Bi what Tzu Chi and its activities were all about, and even persuaded him to take part in the activities together with her a couple of times. Bi was deeply moved to see the total commitment of his wife, and he himself later joined the organization.
Upon the mention of Chen, her good friend Lu Chuan Qing, was full of praise, “Yating is really great, she will go wherever needs her without any hesitation. She takes pains to doing a task mindfully, I am very grateful to her and very happy to connect with her in the same Dharma family.”
In 2000, Lu and Chen together with their respective spouses, jointly set up the second Tzu Chi recycling point in Singapore—the Shun Fu Road Recycling Point. In the beginning when they visited households in the community to collect recyclables, they would be turned away or even subject to objections from others. On some other occasions, the recyclables they had collected were taken away by others. But Chen and her husband never gave up and tried their best to form good affinities with their neighbours.
As of today, the recycling point has been in operation for 15 years and under the inspiration of Chen’s walk-the-talk approach, many of her neighbours are now doing their part for the recycling initiative. Her neighbours now voluntarily bring their recyclables to the recycling point when Chen is too busy to collect them herself. Shop owners in the community will also take their own initiative to sort out the different types of recyclables and place them in an orderly manner.
Despite his health concerns, Bi continues to participate in recycling activities with high spirits. He even makes personal trips to collect recyclables from elderly who have mobility difficulties. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Bi and Chen have made many good friends in the community through recycling activities, with many of their neighbours who are now members of their recycling point. The couple are very popular and receive many greetings while walking around in the community. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
The Fruits of Labour
The couple started participating in Tzu Chi recycling work with much enthusiasm more than 10 years ago. Senior Tzu Chi recycling committee leader Shen Long Fa, who is experienced with recycling work, taught them how to classify the various recyclables, and gradually Chen and other volunteers set up the Shun Fu Road Recycling Point.
They have grown more mature spiritually through their efforts in recycling over the years, though it has been a bittersweet experience. The initial hardships that they went through included having to create their own handwritten posters, not having enough manpower, and being turned away rudely by some households. Fortunately, after many years of effort put in, their neighbours started to understand what environmental protectionism is about and have joined them in doing recycling. The hard work of the couple has eventually led to sweet fruition.
Chen indicated that she likes to do recycling work, and she cannot help but feel it is a pity to waste resources. “The Master says we have to protect the earth, I want to follow the path that Tzu Chi walks.” At the age of 64, she has already stepped down as the head of the recycling point and now her job is to prepare refreshments for volunteers at the recycling point. Her grey hair and incomplete set of teeth do not in any way affect the smile of joyful willingness on her face.
Staying Committed, Come Rain or Shine
Even if it rains on a recycling day, Chen is undeterred and gets on with her usual activities. Before participating in recycling work she used to suffer from backache, but her back pain has since miraculously disappeared. To her, doing recycling work is a very good form of exercise.
Compared to Chen, 68-year-old Bi has a weaker constitution. Having undergone a heart bypass surgery before, he is still very active in recycling activities and he even pays personal visits to elderly people having difficulties in walking, to collect recyclables from them. He shared, “I have even received phone calls in the middle of the night from neighbours requesting that we go to pick up their recyclables.” As the neighbours were going overseas the next day, they had made a special request to him. If some households are missed out on a recycling day, and after it has been brought to their attention, Bi or Chen will visit the households immediately to pick up their recyclables lest they are disposed off as rubbish.
As far as doing recycling work is concerned, Bi has always been a strong supporter of Chen. He helps his wife to bring back recyclables and to lock the door after she leaves the home, quietly supporting his wife with actions. Their furniture at home, such as chairs, dining table, beds and wardrobes are used items given to them by neighbours and friends. They reuse these items and extend their lifespan. Bi has also learnt how to repair fans thrown away as trash. Besides, he also saves used water from his washing machine to wash his toilet, and waters his potted plants with water used to wash rice.
While Bi was hospitalized, Chen purchased a Tzu Chi e-book for him in the hope that he would learn more of Master Cheng Yen’s teachings. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
After having become part of Tzu Chi, the couple say, “We have learned to live our lives without comparing ourselves with others and bickering over things.” Though the family is not rich, they are contented with what they have. Chen has bought her husband a Tzu Chi e-book to encourage him to keep up closely with Master Cheng Yen’s teachings. The couple also make efforts to remind each other not to lapse into their unwholesome habits.
Creating Affinity with All in the Community
With an always-smiling face, Chen has made good friends with many and among her friends is a chief chef with a club. Introduced to Tzu Chi by Chen, he now prepares food for Tzu Chi activities.
Fan Hui Lin, a Tzu Chi volunteer who has mobility issues, is Chen’s neighbor living in the next block. Suffering a stroke more than 10 years ago, he now walks with the aid of a walking stick. Chen brings him along to take part in Tzu Chi activities and sometimes he will help in waste paper classification. Fan is very grateful to Chen for her company and assistance all this while. Knowing that Fan has problem in walking, Chen helps him to lock his door or buy food. He said, “Sometimes she doesn’t even allow me to pay her for the food.”
Fan Hui Lin needs to walk with the assistance of a walking stick due to a stroke that struck him 20 years ago. He often helps out on Tzu Chi Recycling Day, doing waste paper classification. (Photo by Pan Lin)
A young resident in the community, Zender, has known Chen for more than 10 years. The 21-year-old student has been doing recycling work since Primary Five. Witnessing for himself how dedicated the couple are to environmentalism, Zender also invites his friends to help share the couple’s workload.
Another senior recycling committee member Liang Siang Xin who has been with the Shun Fu Road recycling point for 18 years, describes Bi and Chen as people who exemplify their dedication through actions and who have never looked back. Liang also commended these two “grassroots bodhisattvas” for their ability to mobilize many to take part in recycling despite not having prior strategies or processes.
In this couple who have been volunteering with Tzu Chi since their younger days, we witness fine examples of living bodhisattvas who steadfastly cultivate themselves. To Chen, the way to Buddhahood is as simple as what Master Cheng Yen often says, i.e. “just do what is right”, in other words, putting the sutras into practice.
A senior member of Tzu Chi recycling committee, Liang Xiang Xin (right), describes Bi and Chen as people who make contributions silently and walk the talk in remaining totally dedicated to protecting the earth. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Share 
