Any Amount Will Do, Thank You!

“Humble my self-esteem for the suffering, remove the obstacles of embarrassment for those in desperation; raise your humility, extend your hand to take and give.”

24 November, 2013, the last day after where many volunteers pool their energy in a very busy shopping centre, Empire Subang in Shah Alam, begging for donations from shoppers for Philippines typhoon victims. In a few groups of three or four, we positioned ourselves in different places. While some of the volunteers had begun their admirable efforts from morning, my energy started at 4pm and relatively in oblivion. Chuckle, chuckle!

I was positioned in front of an escalator holding a big tin while my partner, a very young man, unabashedly reciting,

“Share your love with Philippines,

For typhoon victims,

Any amount will do,

Thank you!”

Continuously, while parents, children, budding couples and all came up or went down the elevators.

How much I admired my partner, Kiwi, his relentless, brave recitation with his soft and sincere voice. It was not neither brazen nor rude. It was a fainting voice but a big presence. I always believe one never stop learning. Soliciting donations in public from strangers is new and very embarrassing to my inner-self, even if my heart is full of love and compassion, and I was standing quietly just holding the donation box. Nearly an hour passed I felt heart to Kiwi when his stuttered in recitation, he was thirsty. He went for a drink and returned quickly to position.

He recited, “Share your with Philippines,”

I do not know what happen but I continued next, “From Malaysia to Philippines,”

He recited,”For typhoon victims,”

I recited, “Any amount will do?”

He finished, “Thank you”

Gone was embarrassment, not abashed anymore; soliciting more donations is everything we

can do for our neighboring fellows injured, in need. This went on till night in two different positions. This experience is invaluable. It will end that night. It will end till the end dawns upon me.

The respond and respondents were marvelous. They were from everywhere. Malay, Indian, Chinese and foreigners, everyone donated. It was most amazing moments to see children dropped donations into the box. It was most heartfelt to feel the donation became heavy. I volunteered for 5 hours and felt exhausted with a dry throat, but it was for a good cause. I admire, salute those volunteers who helped in many days and many hours. Many are much older than me and are permanent volunteers of Taiwan Buddhist Chi Tzu Foundation Malaysia (台灣佛教慈濟基金會馬來西亞). They may not know me but they have informed, showed the way to me, the Dharma way.