Some described Tzu Chi commissioner Chua Hwee Pheng (second from left) as a lion, always courageous and diligent in her work and practice. (Photo by Lim Beng Chai)
Tzu Chi commissioner Chua Hwee Pheng (Dharma name, Yi An) passed away on November 12, 2022, at the age of 44. Her family and friends-in-dharma were greatly saddened by the loss. On the evening of the 13th, Tzu Chi held a memorial service for her where a total of 280 friends-in-dharma gathered physically at her wake as well as online to mourn for her. Dharma Master De Ge from Taiwan's Jing Si Abode also attended the memorial service.
Courageous and Fearless in Completing the Mission
Yanti, a Tzu Chi environmental protection team leader for North District, aptly described Ms Chua as having a "lion-like courage".
Sin Yuen Fook, Tzu Chi environmental protection team leader for East District, recalled that five years ago at Tzu Chi Recycling Day (now called "Tzu Chi Environmental Sustainability Day) was when he first met Ms Chua. She was not yet a Tzu Chi volunteer but was already very diligent in sorting the recyclables. Noticing that Ms Chua had a strong interest in environmental protection, Mr Sin went with her to participate in various Tzu Chi's environmental protection events and activities.
Mr Sin described the new volunteer Ms Chua as "problematic" because she had a myriad of questions about environmental protection, such as knowledge and methods. She frequently called Susan Tan, an eco-protection team leader at the now-closed Eco-Awareness Centre, to ask her questions, often lasting an hour or more. Because she was vigorous and conscientious, she progressed very swiftly. Although Ms Chua was only a junior volunteer at that time donning a grey uniform, she was tasked to undertake large-scale environmental protection events.
"Whenever there was an event, she would take the initiative to volunteer. It was very reassuring to have her as a partner," Mr Sin said gratefully.
The most touching and unforgettable event was the launch of Singapore’s first session of the “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge”, recalled Mr Sin. At that time, the organising committee could not decide between disposable lunch boxes or eco-friendly reusable lunch boxes. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown in many difficult considerations, one of which was the possibility of the spread of the virus via reusable lunch boxes. But Ms Chua stepped forward and said to Mr Sin: "Let me try to convince the committee. I will not give up until the last minute.”
Besides persistently and unfalteringly persuading the committee, Ms Chua and the environmental protection team also tried their best to resolve the organising committee’s concerns including sourcing for suitable reusable lunch boxes, funding, etc. Finally, she managed to persuade the committee to use reusable lunch boxes for the challenge. Ms Chua was very determined because she was awestruck by Master Cheng Yen’s steadfast persistence in not using disposable wares even during disaster relief.
Volunteer Yanti thereby saw in Ms Chua the courage of a lion. She encouraged everyone: "As long as our direction is clear, keep to our cause, there will be no fear nor difficulty that cannot be overcome.”
As of to date, the “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge” has been held for seven seasons with about 600 participants. Around 25,000 meals had all been served using reusable lunch boxes.
In the various Tzu Chi's environmental protection activities, one can always catch the sight of Chua Hwee Pheng, who became an environmental protection team leader later on. (Photo by Tan Cheng Hwa)
In early 2021, Ms Chua was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. In April, she underwent an operation to remove the tumour, which was very aggressive and rare. In fact, it was the only reported case in Singapore, and there were only six similar cases worldwide. Since the diagnosis, the medical team at the Singapore General Hospital had been trying their best to provide treatment, research and collaborate with medical teams from other countries in the hope of giving her better treatment.
Less than three months after the operation, Ms Chua resumed her usual active duties. Even when fatigue set in, she insisted on completing her work. The environmental protection team was extremely concerned about her health and only managed to coax her to rest after tremendous effort.
At a sharing session, ill-stricken Ms Chua said: "I don't know if it will be too cliché, but 'as long as it is the right thing, just do it!' because there may not necessarily be a second chance.”
She said that when she has decided on something, she would give it her very best so that she had no regrets: "When we give without asking for any return, we gain the most.”
Sadly, Ms Chua’s condition gradually deteriorated. And in the weeks up to her death, she started to have mobility issues, and her conditions started to affect her vision and memory. Despite all these, she still remembered Tzu Chi and knew that she was a disciple of Master Cheng Yen.
On the evening of November 13, 2022, a total of 280 friends-in-dharma gathered physically at the wake in Bedok as well as online to attend the memorial service. (Photo by Yaw Huey Xin)
Ms Chua was certified as a Tzu Chi commissioner in 2020 and Master Cheng Yen bestowed her with the Dharma name “Yi An”. Although she was unable to return to Taiwan to personally receive the name tag by Master Cheng Yen due to the pandemic, a group of caring dharma fellows managed to arrange the certification ceremony for her more than a month ago.
Ms Chua’s commissioner name tag was separately arranged to be posted by Tzu Chi Taiwan and pinned onto her clothes during the half-day volunteering event on the 9th of October this year by Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) Deputy Executive Director Lo Hsu Hsueh Yu at Ms Chua’s home. The scene was also broadcasted live at the Jing Si Hall in Singapore and it was a very warm and touching moment.
Dharma in Action
From handling and managing various events, Ms Chua gradually realised that "Many a time while we were in the process of busy completing certain tasks in hand, as part of the team members or as organisers, we must not keep on completing the tasks without reflecting upon ourselves the actual meaning of the whole event. I don’t think Master Cheng Yen expects us to do a lot, but we must at least do it with compassion.”
During last year's global four-in-one volunteer camp, Ms Chua said that she wanted to be a caring disciple and pass on the dharma lineage with sincerity. She also said, "We can't personally serve Master Cheng Yen, so we must be a caring disciple and use our utmost sincerity to pass on the dharma lineage.”
Chua Hwee Pheng (first from the right, front row) was happy to contribute and she was often seen happily undertaking any kind of Tzu Chi events. (Photo provided by community volunteers)
Ms Chua always reminded herself that Tzu Chi uniforms are not just worn on the outside, but also in one’s heart. She always remembered the teachings from Master Cheng Yen that we should always forge good affinity with others. Even when she encountered unpleasant matters during her stay in the hospital, she constantly reminded herself to forge a good affinity with people and everything went smoothly afterwards. Everyone in the hospital including the patients in the next bed, and the medical team, treated her very well.
Master Cheng Yen always reminds her disciples to be more mindful. Ms Chua constantly stayed vigilant and reminded herself that while battling her illness, she must "fix" her mind on the "Dharma" and slowly learn to take care of her mind. At the memorial hall, having to face the departure of Ms Chua, her friends, relatives and dharma fellow family members were all reluctant to part with her. However, they still gave her their blessings. Her way of dealing with others while she was alive has become a role model for everyone.
"In the past five years, she had never been idle even for a second as she had always taken steady steps in all she did.” If she took stock of her life, she had performed exceedingly well."
Lim Chwee Lian, the group leader of the Eastern District Team, praised: "In the past five years, we saw how she achieved the ‘Faith, Vow, Action’. She was a caring disciple of Master Cheng Yen and was also very positive and good at taking care of others."
Recalling the "Dharma Incense Permeation" session attended together with Ms Chua in the past, Ms Lim said: "Hwee Pheng's Chinese was not very good and at the same time, she also couldn’t understand Hokkien as well. But every time during the “Dharma Incense Permeation” session, she would take notes diligently and even draw pictures. Sometimes, she would raise questions to discuss with everyone and the questions she raised inspired us a lot.”
An illness changed Chua Hwee Pheng's life drastically. Whether she was staying in the hospital or at home after being discharged, she always maintained the habit of getting up in the morning to diffuse incense. (Photo provided by Chua Hwee Pheng)
Tan Qiao Lian, the leader of the Cooperation team, said regretfully: "She (Chua Hwee Pheng) was very good at taking care of people. Whenever we needed to go to faraway places like the "Dharma Incense Permeation" session or the Eco-Awareness Centre, she always took the initiative to ask everyone to check if anyone needed to take a ride in her private vehicle and she also often invited volunteers for delicious vegetarian meals.”
In the eyes of her good friend Hsu Xiao Ping, Ms Chua was passionate about life. She loved her family, friends and students. She was also a loving and hardworking teacher.
Suppressing her grief as she choked with sobs during the memorial service, Ms Hsu said: "I know that Tzu Chi is her second life, and it is Tzu Chi that gave her the opportunity to unleash her great love, diligence, and fearless spirit. I want to thank everyone in Tzu Chi who accompanied her through her last journey. Something that we could not do for her even though we have been her friends for thirty years."
Ms Hsu also reminded everyone to cherish the present and leave no regrets: "We should cherish what we have, but unfortunately, what Hwee Pheng did not have was a healthy body. If you still have any regrets today, then just do something to fulfil it, don’t live your life with regrets."
Chua Hwee Pheng (right) was a teacher and a member of the Tzu Chi Teachers’ Association in Singapore. She was awarded the “Excellent Teacher Award”. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
Although Ms Chua could not return to Jing Si Abode in Taiwan due to her illness, the memorial service went online in Taiwan that night. Master De Ge was also online to commemorate her.
Master De Ge said: "Hwee Pheng had lived a very valuable life. She made good use of her body and exerted enormous positive energy in her life. Although her affinity with Tzu Chi was very short, I feel that her fate with Tzu Chi will last for many lifetimes. I believe she will be back very soon. She would be reborn riding on her vows.”
Master De Ge said that from the point of view of Buddhism, death starts after birth, while birth is the starting point of death, and birth and death are natural laws. She reminded everyone that while one is still alive, one should live free from worries and make the most of life. When life comes to an end, you should leave freely and move on to the next journey.
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