PHILIPSBURG:---- Four volunteers from the Tzu Chi St. Maarten chapter experienced the spirit and compassion of the organisation at the Tzu Chi Spiritual Resource Retreat 2015 held at Tzu Chi USA Headquarters in San Dimas, Los Angeles, California from July 17 to 19.
Attending the retreat were volunteers Roger Yee Fong, Yamile Bastidas (commissioner), Hilda Guevara and Saskia Amatdawoed. The group departed St. Maarten on July 16 and returned on July 22. The retreat was held under the theme: Back to the Roots - Sincerity and Love.
During the retreat the four volunteers participated in a weekend of inspiration, sharing experiences and learning about Tzu Chi Founder Master Cheng Yen’s dharma and the Tzu Chi spirit. It was one of the few Tzu Chi retreats held in English.
The programme included activities and presentations on Tzu Chi’s history, spirit and philosophy, a peek into the English programmes in the different regions, insights about the activities of Tzu Chi’s Four Missions, discussions and sharings and a demo of the “Gratitude, Respect and Love” volunteer training programme that is being adopted around the US. The retreat also included a cultural feast with traditional vegetarian treats and entertainment.
Guevara said her experience at the retreat was “absolutely enriching joyfully and heart fulfilling.” She said the spirit of Tzu Chi goes far beyond an ordinary charity foundation.
Amongst other things, she learnt how easy persons can bring happiness to others by minimizing one’s ego. “By having compassion and love we can also experience and share how easy is to show respect to others,” she said.
Amatdawoed said her experience was very interesting. She said everyone was shown love and respect from the moment they arrived in Los Angeles. Amatdawoed recalled at one point during the retreat participants had to say to each other: “I deeply respect you.” Participants also had to carry themselves in a certain manner throughout the retreat. The way participants walked, sat and stood etc., had to be done in a uniformed Tzu Chi manner. Amatdawoed is truly grateful for the experience and the training she received at the retreat. She plans to apply what she has learnt here in St. Maarten.
The US team was so impressed with Amatdawoed’s performance that they recommended that she continue her training to become a Commissioner and offered to cover the expenses for her to go Taiwan to make this possible.
Fong said from the moment volunteers arrived in Los Angeles, they were treated like family. For Fong, the entire retreat was about self development and self realization. Everyone in the retreat was very compassionate and caring. He learnt a lot about himself.
Fong recommended that Tzu Chi St. Maarten link up with the various emergency disaster response groups on the island so that a core number of its volunteers can be trained in disaster response. These persons can then be available to assist Tzu Chi international in international disaster response if needed.
Another recommendation was for St. Maarten to broaden its mission with prison inmates and St. Martin’s Home clients. He said another Tzu Chi chapter not just visit inmates, but also visits the family members of inmates. When these volunteers follow up with their visit to inmates they are able to relate to the inmate that they had visited with their family members. This creates a closer bond with the inmate. Inmates are also allowed to write letters to Tzu Chi, which Tzu Chi responds to. Fong said such a connection can be made in St. Maarten. He said the St. Maarten team was small, but it made a good impression at the retreat.
Bastidas said the St. Maarten Tzu Chi chapter was given eight minutes to make a presentation during the retreat. The group used the opportunity to shine. Bastidas said each day in the retreat had been a new learning experience. She said it had been a learning process for her and she is grateful that she had the opportunity to experience the retreat.
There were 129 participants at the retreat and 425 volunteers assisted in bringing it all together including top CEOs and executives.
Tzu Chi St. Maarten Commissioner Sandra Cheung thanked the four volunteers for attending the retreat and for absorbing the information given. She urged them to apply what they have learnt in Tzu Chi as well as in their daily lives to create a blessing field in St. Maarten.
