Students from the graduating class of Guzheng played the famous Chinese folk song “笑傲江湖” (The Smiling, Proud Wanderer) at the graduation ceremony. The energetic and sonorous piece won tremendous applause from the audience. (Photo by Tan Paik Hui)
When the petals and leaves wither, they fall back onto the earth and nourish the soil; or maybe they would be lucky enough to be picked up by Sister Koe Lie Tjen.
“As long as it could be used for my pressed flower artwork, I would bring it home,” said Sister Koe. “We can actually produce the pressed materials ourselves (instead of buying them). Things that seemed useless could end up being a useful piece of material.” Indeed, even the dried skin of the tree bark could also contribute its role in Sister Koe’s pressed flower art piece.
On 22 May, Tzu Chi Continuing Education Centre (Singapore) showcased the artworks of its graduating students from the first term of 2011, displaying masterpieces ranging from photography, patchwork & quilting, calligraphy, coloured Chinese painting, to pressed flower art class etc at the lobby of Jing Si Hall.
Sister Koe, in fact, has a couple of art pieces on display, particularly the Jing Si Abode which was completed with rich details formed by flowers and leaves picked by her personally. This was the piece which Sister Koe has spent the most time and effort on, sometimes even working till the wee hours without her realizing.
As a perfectionist, Sister Koe strives for perfection in whatever she does. Solely on the rooftop of the Abode, she redid it four times until a fellow classmate suggested her to use the coconut fibre, which did eventually make the roof tiles look more distinctive. For the interior of the Abode, Sister Koe carved the niche for the Buddha statue and the Buddha statue itself out from paper. While she was carving the Buddha statue, she did it with full respect and care. Albeit the completed art work was deemed the most satisfactory piece, Sister Koe, with her high expectation for perfection, still felt that it does not resemble the Abode enough.
Passionate about arts, Sister Koe had attended various art classes in different places, but it was still the most heartfelt at the Tzu Chi Continuing Education Centre simply because each session here comes with a sharing of Jing Si Aphorism (wise words of Tzu Chi’s founder, Master Cheng Yen), of which each calms her heart and serves as a reminder to her that once the heart is calm, no matter how challenging a situation one may be in, one will still be able to face it with a smile.
Besides the exhibit, there was also a graduation ceremony which commenced with 11 students from the Guzheng Class performing the famous Chinese folk song “笑傲江湖” (The Smiling, Proud Wanderer) using techniques of press (An), slide (Hua), quiver (Chan) and knead (Rou). The energetic and sonorous performance won tremendous applause from the audience.
Thereafter students from Yang’s Tai Ji, Calligraphy, Sign Language, Yoga, Erhu, Coloured Chinese Painting and Flower Arrangement classes respectively went up on stage to demonstrate the fruits of their labour. Their performance, sometimes dynamic and sometimes pleasant, had indeed made an impression among the guests and family members of the students.
Andrew Bogue from London is the family member of a student. Although not familiar with Mandarin, he was very attentive during the ceremony. After viewing the graduation performance, he could not help but admirably exclaimed: “It was great, I love the variety of different things that people do, and amazed that it was good!”
With a white top and black skirt, students from the Tzu Chi Sign Language Class walked up onto the stage. Each step and move of the performance displayed the soft aspect of Tzu Chi’s culture.
The four words from the performance song title “念纯心宽” (Keeping an Open and Simple Heart) have always been in the heart of new Tzu Chi volunteer Chong Chew Wah. Previously, she has attended several Tzu Chi activities and the sign language performance has always leaves the deepest impression on her.
Upon knowing that the Tzu Chi Sign Language Class is open for registration, she signed up with her sister without hesitation. And indeed every Tzu Chi song learnt from each session made her filled with contentment and fulfillment. Likewise, the four words “Keeping an Open and Simple Heart” has served as a reminder for herself whenever she met with challenges in office or when faced with interpersonal issues. These four words have helped spur her on so that she would remain optimistic when things do not go her way.
After participating in Tzu Chi Singapore’s “Sutra of Innumerable Meanings” musical drama in 2008, Sister Kuah Gek Heoh officially fell in love with Tzu Chi’s sign language. Sister Kuah shared that every lesson and every practice is a learning journey to immerse one in a “goodness and beauty” atmosphere which can eventually deepen one’s wisdom.
Thus, due to this reason, even though she had to arrive late for class due to work, and sometimes even when class would be ending in ten minutes, she would still rush over not wanting to let any opportunity to learn to slip by.
From the song “感恩.尊重.爱” (Gratitude, Respect and Love), there is a verse which says, “Cherishing our life is the way to repay our parents' grace and giving of ourselves is the way to express our gratitude”. With this verse, Sister Kuah reminded herself that she has to be grateful to her parents and even though she might not be able to provide a wealthy environment for her parents, showing selfless care for them is the best way of being grateful to them.
In this term, there was a new Vegetarian Cooking Class which teaches students how to prepare delicious yet healthy vegetarian food. Students arrived at Jing Si Hall early in the morning to prepare hearty vegetarian dishes for the guests to try after the ceremony.
Both student Teo Siew Chern and her mother Ngo Se Luan were invited to share their gains on stage before the ceremony ended. It was the daughter who first learnt of how converting to a vegetarian diet could contribute to good health that she brought along her mother to attend the class. Initially, Ms Teo was worried that her mother may not be receptive, but after the first cooking lesson, her mother truly enjoyed herself and initiated to continue the class!
Ms Teo would accompany her wheelchair-bound mother to class every Friday afternoon. Attending these classes together have indeed bonded them and they now have one more common topic to share with. Both mother and daughter were diligent students and wanted to share what they have learnt at home. Previously their family members resent the idea of having vegetarian meals, but after cooking a few tasty dishes learnt from the class, they became receptive and enjoyed the dishes very much. They have now started to accept vegetarian dishes too!
“Learning yoga helps in softening our body, but is our heart softened at the same time? Have we learnt to humble ourselves too?” In his speech at the ceremony, Mr David Liu, the CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, poignantly pointed out the importance of mind cultivation throughout the learning journey of the continuing education courses.
The Tzu Chi Continuing Education Centre hopes that through the educational courses it offers, students can calm their thoughts amid their busy urban lifestyle and understand the deeper philosophy of life.
The dynamic and static performance has indeed allowed the guests and family members of the student to immerse in the beauty of Tzu Chi’s humanistic culture. (Photo by Huang Bi Ying)
Students from the first batch of the Erhu class, played the theme song of the Wong Fei Hung movies, “男儿当自强” , with poised. (Photo by Tan Paik Hui)
Every step and movement of the students from the sign language class demonstrated the gentle side of the Tzu Chi’s humanitarianism culture. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Teo Siew Chern and her mother from the Vegetarian Cooking Class were up on stage to share their feelings and thoughts during the “schooling” days, which have bonded them together. (Photo by Huang Bi Ying)/span>
Teachers from the Tzu Chi Sign Language Class complementing the flower arrangement demonstrations under soft music. (Photo by Huang Bi Ying)
Tzu Chi Singapore CEO David Liu awarding students with a Completion Certificate. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Sister Koe Lie Tjen with one the writers of this article at the pressed flower art section. (Photo by Tan Paik Hui)
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