20th Anniversary of Jing-Si Yu--A Charitable Concert

On September 26, we all arrived Saturday morning at Regis College in Weston, MA to prepare for the Jing-Si Yu concert that evening. The concert aimed to raise funds to support the survivors of the Morakot typhoon. Everyone busied themselves with setting up the stage decorations. Also, several of us prepared the envelopes that were going to be taped to everyone’s seats to collect donations. Then right before lunchtime the Tzu Chi group from New York arrived and we greeted them with a welcome song before helping them unload all of the supplies from their bus.

Later, the performers arrived and everyone helped with the final preparations for the concert. I was able to speak with several of the dancers who said they would be performing several dances they knew and two that they just learned. They really hoped to make the audience feel happiness by performing. The audience started to filter into the lobby to buy their tickets to the show and browse the Tzu Chi merchandise on display.

The Tzu Chings and volunteers seated people in the auditorium as they came through, and then the show began with a “bang!” A group of drummers in costume put on an amazing performance that was very exciting and well choreographed. When they finished the leader of ceremonies introduced the concert and the man who first started publishing the Jing-Si Yu’s with his wife after being so inspired by the words of Master Chen Yen. He felt that each of these “still thoughts” held their own meaning and could bring meaning to others, which was the reason he wanted to publish and distribute them.

Next there was a singer who performed several of the Tzu Chi songs that speak of peace and love. She had a wonderful voice and was a powerful performer. Even though I only had a loose translation of the meanings of the songs, I was able to appreciate them for how beautiful they felt. After the singer five of the SG’s performed a song in sign language. They were amazingly coordinated and passionate in their motions. Several dancers accompanied them with billowing white streamer attached to Chinese fans which added a gentle air to the performance.

A very touching moment happened next where they showed a short video clip of the SG/SB visiting a man from Malaysia with third degree lung cancer in his house and taking care of his needs physically and emotionally. The speeches by the Tzu Chi volunteers and the man himself made you really appreciate what Tzu Chi is able to do to help the sick. Several other performances followed including a group of girls performing an aboriginal dance and a Taiwanese comedian.

Later in the night, the envelopes attached to everyone’s chairs were explained and the people who wished to donate or put their wishes on the leaf cutouts for the prayer tree did and handed their envelopes to the volunteers collecting them. As the envelopes were collected, they were brought back to volunteers who were sorting through and counting up the total donations made that night. The grand total from the night was approximately $31,750 to all go towards the survivors of the typhoon in Morakot, Taiwan.

I was able to interview Carl Nelson, the owner of ASC English Class, and his wife who were donating to Tzu Chi on behalf of the organization. They were there because they felt that Tzu Chi was doing so much to help others and it moved them to see so many people who cared and were so passionate about other people. They really enjoyed the show, especially the Taiwanese actor.

Another person I was able to interview was Jon McMillan, a Tzu Chi volunteer, who had been there all day setting up the show and then stayed to watch the performance. He is so involved in Tzu Chi because he believes in the cause and feels that Tzu Chi is really doing good things for people that are suffering. The part of the night that he said moved him the most was when the man with cancer shared his story. It was a real example of the work Tzu Chi does locally.

Overall the evening was a huge success with wonderful performances that were inspiring. It filled everyone’s hearts, especially knowing that they had all had a part helping those in Taiwan.


Article: Jane Karr
Photographs: Kevin Chien
UTube/Music: Victor Ying