My heart in Kathmandu

Photo and text by Chang-Hong Lin

The home of Buddha, NAMASTE.
A walk to the medical station in the old city,
the air smells a faint odor.
Fallen walls, as far as eyes can see,
collapsed houses, old faces dulled.
Cars honking incessantly,
amidst the relief personnel the tourists’ shutters fire away,
echoing in the old streets, so surreal.
The statues by the door preserved only themselves,
the temples are left only with their exquisitely carved doors.
Alas, these streets of antiquity!

The kind people stood strong
in the face of calamity, smiling,
and the streets remains busy and tranquil.
It seems, a nation with faith,
is tough and resilient to hardship.
Bless them, NAMASTE! 

Photographer

Chang-Hong Lin, the attending anesthetist of Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, specializes in clinical anesthesia, sleeping disorders, trauma, and palliative care. He is currently studying at Tunghai University as a doctoral student in sociology. He was a national bridge player in college, an expert in music, has a wide range of interests and extremely self-demanding.

Lin believes that, everything is worth trying, no matter how difficult it may be, as long as it is the right thing to do. In terms of quality, the result is always zero is there is no attempts. Standing still is not acceptable. As long as one tried, even if the outcome is not 100%, it is still a progress towards the right direction.

Lin has hosted 13 lectures before. Even though he described himself as a poor speaker, Lin bravely shares his experience and observation in Nepal, and Tzu Chi’s commitment, to those who never had the chance to visit Nepal.

Through the participation in Nepal free clinics and personally delivered a twin, Lin witnessed the joy of birth on this devastated land. The courage to bear, he realized, reaps bountiful spiritual harvest.