Written by: Ding Bi-Hui Photographed by: Lin Jia-Ru Translated by: Grace Wang
Senior Commissioner Wang Tsai Mei-Lian hopes that the special gift will spread the love of the local Taiwan volunteers to all attendees.
“Jie Yuan Pin”- a gift hoping to connect affinities, is a special surprise that the staff of 2019 TIMA Annual Convention prepared for the inbound Tzu Chi family members from around the world. All together 600 porcelain cups with ‘2019 TIMA Annual Convention’ printed on them were prepared, each with a cover bag hand-sewn by local volunteers. A tiny refined fork came with the cup, the portable set was given to each of the participants so they could use throughout the convention. Not only hoping to create good affinities with all, this special gift has a metaphor; the pronunciation of porcelain cup in Mandarin is “Ci Bei”, the same as the Mandarin for “Compassion”, hoping the ones who received the gift will always be reminded to have a compassionate heart when seeing the token.
Senior Commissioner Wang Tsai Mei-Lian packed the “Jie Yuan Pin” gifts with the team, welcoming all the doctors and senior commissioners from abroad. Smiling all the way, she was really happy to see so many coming back to Hualien, the spiritual home to all. She understands how far and sometimes even difficult for some members to come all the way to Taiwan, therefore hoping that the porcelain cup gift set will effectively send the love of the local volunteers to those who received it.
Volunteer Chen Ming-Fen, director of the Tzu Chi Sabah Chapter Malaysia, accompanied local doctors back to Taiwan to attend the convention. Receiving the gift set, she couldn’t wait to open it. Holding the cup and fork and looking closely, she discussed with her fellow members. It is easy to tell that she is very fond of the gift set.
After the staff explaining the special underlying metaphor for sending the “Ci Bei” porcelain cup, she was touched from the bottom of her heart. She said her first impression was ‘what a beautiful gift!’ and seeing the cup, she thought ‘it is perfect for a cup of coffee.’ After knowing the implied meaning, she sensed the strong compassionate will of Master Chen Yen and the thoughtfulness of the local Taiwan volunteers.
Dr. Ahmed Majeed, a cardiologist from Jordan, holding the cup, carefully rolled it around and checked it out closely. The team leader of the group explained the implied meaning of “Ci Bei” for porcelain cup and compassion for him. He was surprised and said it was indeed a very special cup. He said that whenever he uses the cup in the future, he will always be reminded of the implied meaning and the special warmth it is trying to send and reach out.
A cover bag hand-sewn by local volunteers, in it a porcelain cup printed with “2019 TIMA Annual Convention”, plus another tiny refined fork. The token not only is eco-friendly but “Ci Bei” porcelain cup also means compassion.
600 porcelain cups were prepared as “Jie Yuan Pin”- a gift hoping to connect good affinities with all the participants. The cup and fork can also be carried around and used throughout the convention.
It is far and hard for the members to come home to Hua Lien from abroad. The gift hopes to act as a token to send the love from local Taiwan volunteers to all.
After the staff explaining the special underlying metaphor for sending the “Ci Bei” porcelain cup, Volunteer Chen Ming-Fen was touched from the bottom of her heart. She said the cup made her sensed the strong compassionate will of Master Chen Yen and the thoughtfulness of the local Taiwan volunteers.
Dr. Ahmed Majeed, a cardiologist from Jordan, said the cup is a very special one and that whenever he uses it in the future, he will always be reminded of the implied meaning and the special warmth it is trying to send and reach out.
Volunteers packing carefully, hoping the inbound Tzu Chi family members can feel being warmly welcomed.