Treasure the present ~ Visit to the Hospice

On 21 December 2009, Venerable Abbess Manshin, Venerable Rulian and a few devotees visited one of the English Sub-Chapter members in the local Hospice who is in the last stage of kidney failure. She is a devoted Buddhist who regularly helps in the Temple Art Gallery and acts as a Temple Tour Guide. She is a nurse by profession and volunteered as a First Aider during the Buddha’s Day celebration.

On the day of this visit, she was full of fear and lost. Venerable Abbess Manshin held a prayer for her and recalled how dedicated she was as a volunteer in the Temple. The Abbess also gave her a Buddha pendant and a small musical loop player of Buddhist chanting.

On 22 December 2009, Venerable Miao Yu and a few English Chapter members visited her again. This time she was emotionally more peaceful and stable. They recited a “Prayer for the Sick” written by Venerable Master Hsing Yun which was very touching. She was comforted by the words of the prayers and the encouragement from the English Chapter members. She promised to be brave and positive and expressed a wish to visit the Temple again.

Her wish was fulfilled on 23 December 2009 as she was granted a few hours off from the Hospice to visit the Temple. Venerable Miao Yu took her around the Temple – which was so familiar and comforting to her.

Treasure the present ~ Impermanence is permanence.