A heavy responsibility

Although Yang is a Catholic, he was not asked to convert to Buddhism upon joining Tzu Chi. Master Cheng Yen encouraged him to keep up his good work in purifying people's hearts and act as a good Catholic.

Last year, Yang was certified as a Tzu Chi commissioner by the Master. "When I was commissioned, 1 felt like a great responsibility was bestowed upon me. However, the ribbon given to me was emblazoned with the words, 'Let us take the Buddha's compassion as our own and the Master's commitment as our own,' and this message has continued to be a guiding light for me. I understand where the heavy responsibility comes from." The more deeply Yang understands the Master's ideas and the more support he gets from his teammates in Zamboanga, the more carefree and self-possessed he feels.

In his five years as a Tzu Chi member, Yang has had a stable clientele in his veterinarian clinic. His career has not been affected by his activities in Tzu Chi. After ten years of marriage, he finally got the thrilling news that he was to become a father. "The estimated arrival date was June 2004, but there were signs that it would be a premature delivery. Although the doctor gave my wife medicine to delay the arrival, the baby was still born on the date of Tzu Chi's 38th anniversary!"

Yang went on to share with us the ensuing drama of his wife's delivery. Because it would be a premature birth, the doctor decided to perform a cesarean section. The surgery could only be performed on the condition that there were ten packs of blood. While Yang was ask­ing people to donate blood for his wife, he saw a group of anxious people waiting in the hos­pital building. He approached them and learned that they had come to donate their blood for a friend's father who was about to have an operation, but none of their blood types matched his. Yang happened to have that blood type, so he volunteered then and there to donate his blood.

Later, when Yang returned to his wife, the hospital notified him that the blood needed for his wife's operation was ready. He wondered where it had come from and was told that the group of people that he had just helped had donated their blood for his wife. He said happi­ly, "I had only donated mv blood, but in return ten people donated theirs. Isn't this a great example of the teaching, 'Good-heartedness often meets with recompense?'"

When it comes to planning for the future support of Zamboanga, Yang believes that the free clinics, relief work, and goods distribu­tions are only the initial stages. His real hopes lie in education, as he believes that people can be taught to truly purify their hearts. Through education, Yang explains, children can have a positive influence on their families, and in turn these families will have a fundamental influ­ence on society.