At the “filial piety zone,”volunteers prepared tea in an area set aside for people who wished to serve tea to their parents to show their gratitude. (Photo by Chua See Siew)
A cup of tea can express gratitude; an embrace can show care and concern between people. Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) presented the “Profound Parental Love” musical on 20 and 21 September 2014 at the Nanyang Technological University’s auditorium. The three performances over two days was attended by 4,250 members of the public. Tzu Chi volunteers created a “filial piety zone”in the lobby area of the auditorium which was a picture of warmth and harmony. Attendees had the fortuituous opportunity to serve tea to their parents, write a postcard to them if they were not present, and even take family pictures.
Bonds Grow Stronger amidst Tears and Laughter
The “filial piety zone” was decked out in traditional style with bonsai and wooden partitions, and a “kneeling lamb” poster took pride of place in the centre of the lobby outside the auditorium.
On the encouragement of volunteers, different age groups of parents and their children streamed into the area and touching scenes of filial piety unfolded as the children bowed respectfully to their parents and presented them tea. As they awkwardly extended their hands to embrace each other, shy “I love you”s were uttered. Amidst tears and smiles, gratitude was expressed and familial bonds were strengthened.
Some had never presented tea to their parents before and their hands trembled as they made the offering hesitantly. Others shared that they were excited and moved as this was only the second time that they had offered tea to their parents; the first time they had done so was during the tea ceremony at their wedding. The faces of parents whose little children invited them to have tea in their childish voices broke into smiles and joyful laughter, while adolescents who hesitated for a long time and were too shy to tell their parents how much they loved them caused plenty of anxiety to the volunteers. Then there were the elderly and white haired sons and daughters who respectfully bowed when presenting tea to their parents because their knees would not allow for flexibility in kneeling.
Grandma Kang Ya Mei was the oldest member of the audience at 92 years old. Not only did her 72 year old daughter Madam Hong Yu Lan who sported a head of white hair, bow and serve her tea, she also told Grandma Kang that she loved her and thanked her for bringing her up.
As they embraced, Madam Hong planted a kiss on her mother’s wrinkled features. Her 68 year old brother and his 69 year old wife also followed suit. Grandma Kang was delighted at being served three cups of tea and was all smiles.
Madam Hong said that though they often visited their mother, they were very reserved in expressing their love. Over the past 50 years, they had never once taken the initiative to hug or kiss her. After watching the musical that day, they realized that filial piety cannot wait and grasped the opportunity to bravely express what they felt.
As the volunteers manning the zone smilingly explain:“Gratitude must be expressed in a timely manner. We all feel awkward serving tea (to our parents) and embracing (them) as we seldom engage in expressive gestures on a daily basis. With this activity, we hope to remind everyone that filial piety cannot wait, we must bravely express our feelings for our parents so that they have the opportunity to bask in the love of their children. If we do this frequently, we will get used to (showing our love).”
Vast and Boundless Parental Love
“Mummy, please have some tea.”When 13 year old Gong Zi Yi knelt in front of her mother to present the tea, Madam Wang Rong was moved to tears before she had even taken a sip.
Lovable and well-behaved, Zi Yi is a Down’s syndrome child. Though her learning abilities lag behind other children, her mother showers her with meticulous care. Her family had settled down in Singapore two years ago so that they could provide her with a better standard of special needs education, hoping that she would grow and develop just like other children.
As she recalled the past 13 years, Madam Wang says that she had had to make huge sacrifices but had not given up on her child. When Zi Yi’s grandmother passed away, her biggest concern was for her grandchild. Having just watched the “Profound Parental Love” musical, Madam Wang was reminded of her own mother and could not help but feel sad. At the conclusion of the event, Zi Yi told her mother: “When you are old, I will take care of you; I will accompany you all the way into your golden years.”
Madam Wang emotionally explains that tears rolled down uncontrollably when she was served tea by Zi Yi as her daughter’s maturity and understanding had moved her. Her greatest wish is to see her daughter don a wedding dress, and though Madam Wang acknowledges tearily that this may just be a dream, she will nevertheless wait for this day every single day of her life. She says that no matter how hard life is, just a few words of concern from Zi Yi is the best reward she ever wishes for; these words make her feel that being a parent is worthwhile.
Then there is 68 year old Madam Lin who has been tirelessly accompanying her 46 year old son Lin Yong Ping back and forth from the dialysis centre for his treatment over the past year. Though Madam Lin has reached retirement age and ought to take life easy, she not only patiently waits a few hours for him to complete his treatment at every session, she has even moved in with him to take care of his daily needs.
After watching the presentation together, Lin knelt and offered tea to his mother. As she wiped away her tears, Madam Lin says resolutely, “In taking care of my son, no matter how hard it gets, I will always be by his side.”
The Sweetest Tea Ever
A total of 135 presenters took part in the“Profound Parental Love” musical. The majority of them were Tzu Chings who were still studying or who had already graduated. They invited their parents to watch the musical and also served them tea. Seeing how their sons and daughters had matured, the parents felt comforted.
Zheng Shi Hui a Psychology major who graduated from the NTU last year, took on the challenge of a major role in the production. She remembers that when she was a child, she had a great relationship with her father. However after she had graduated from secondary school, her father would quarrel with her mother over the slightest instance as he was troubled over financial and other daily matters. A rift gradually developed between Zheng and her father and it widened over the years.
Though Zheng’s resentment towards her father did somewhat decrease over time, she still blamed him for his inability to manage his finances, and for his inability to take care of himself. This went on till she started attending the study sessions held in the run up to the“Profound Parental Love” musical; it was then that Zheng gradually started to understand the pains that parents take in bringing up their children.
Though Zheng’s father was initially reluctant when she invited him to attend the musical, he eventually showed up as the whole family wanted to go. After the production, seeing how his daughter was both filial and understanding, he expressed that whatever his child had learnt from her involvement with Tzu Chi, including ethics, filial piety and treating others with kindness, these would be of benefit to her all her life.
Before they left the venue, Zheng and her sisters too, served tea to their parents on bended knees. Shedding tears of joy, Mr and Mrs Zheng partook of the sweetest tea they had ever tasted.
Zhang Jun Xiang had invited her parents attend the study sessions and even got them to join Tzu Chi. She showed them over to the “filial piety zone” together with her aunty, and served them tea as an expression of gratitude.
Zhang’s mother, Madam Fang De Hui relates how she was told by her daughter that filial piety and doing good are both acts that should not be delayed. In the past, she was under the misconception that her social status was not high enough to be involved in charity work and hence never thought of becoming a volunteer. However the last few months has proved to her that as long as one was sincere, one would be able to contribute.
Both Zhang’s parents are very supportive of her involvement in Tzu Chi. In particular, as her grandfather had passed away this year, her father Mr Zhang felt regretful that he had spent very little time with his family due to work commitments. He feels that the production that night was extremely moving and there was a need for such productions as the younger generation tend to be lacking in filial piety.
A Postcard of Filial Piety
A small teacup can express a child’s deepest gratitude to his parents. As such, a special area was set aside where free postcards were provided for those whose parents were not able to attend the musical, to write down their feelings.
The long table was crowded with those eager to pen down their feelings; some stood upright, others were bent over while writing, and there were even those who knelt on the floor to do so. Every postcard was crammed with words: “Dad and Mom, I love you.” “I’m grateful that you brought me up.” “I know I’ve erred countless times, please forgive me.” There were more than 400 postcards written out, and Tzu Chi volunteers mailed out every single one of them to their rightful recipients.
By making tea and postcards available, many were able to express their gratitude to their parents. Yet, regardless of whether such a debt of gratitude can be repaid, a parent’s love is forever.
During the two day presentation of the musical, volunteers took pains to set up a “filial piety zone”as well as areas displaying Tzu Chi’s posters and Jing Si products for the benefit of 4,250 attendees. (Photo by Chua See Siew)
Zhang Jun Xiang (left) took the opportunity to invite her parents to attend the “Profound Parental Love” study sessions and join the ranks of Tzu Chi. (Photo by Cai Yue Guo)
Wang Rong was moved to tears as her daughter Gong Z Yi, who has Down’s syndrome, served her tea. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
Members of the audience transform emotions stirred up by the musical into actions by penning down a postcard of love to their parents at the “filial piety zone.” Volunteers later help to mail them to the respective recipients. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
Grandma Kang Ya Mei (left, first row) at 92 years old, is the oldest attending member of the audience. She happily drank three cups of tea offered by her children and later took a family picture at the photography zone. (Photo by Zeng Mei Zhen)
Share 
