![The Year-End Blessing Ceremony is not merely a time of reflection; it is a solemn assembly to reaffirm our initial aspiration — to relieve suffering and guide all beings towards the shore of liberation. [Photo by Loke Han Ting]](/images/Articles/RW/2025/KL20251227a_lht03_045.jpg "The Year-End Blessing Ceremony is not merely a time of reflection; it is a solemn assembly to reaffirm our initial aspiration — to relieve suffering and guide all beings towards the shore of liberation. [Photo by Loke Han Ting]")
The annual Year-End Blessing Ceremony (YEB) is a cherished tradition for Tzu Chi volunteers. This year’s theme — "May we never forget the initial spirit of the bamboo bank. May we always remember the great vow of the Tzu Chi path." — served as a gentle reminder of the values that have guided Tzu Chi since its inception.
In 2025, the annual Year-End Blessing Ceremony (YEB) was held on both 27 and 28 December, accommodating a total of 3,823 attendees. On the morning of the first YEB, as dawn gently unfolded over Kepong, volunteers from Tzu Chi KL & Selangor gathered at the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall. Some arrived early, greeting one another with familiar smiles; others reunited after months of serving quietly in their respective communities. Yet the moment attendees stepped into the hall, individual footsteps seemed to merge into one collective rhythm — the rhythm of shared vows, shared memories, and shared purpose.
The Jing Si Hall, dignified and serene, was more than just a venue that day. It stood as a living reminder of what volunteers have built together over decades — not merely bricks and mortar, but a spiritual home sustained by sincerity, diligence, and care.
◎ The red envelope: Blessings seen and wisdom unseen
At the heart of the YEB lies Master Cheng Yen’s Red Envelope of Blessings and Wisdom — small in form, yet vast in meaning. The red envelope symbolises blessings; the teachings that accompany it represent wisdom, formless but enduring. Together, they reflect the dual cultivation every Tzu Chi volunteer aspires towards: nurturing blessings through action and deepening wisdom through reflection.
Even before the programme began, this understanding quietly settled into our hearts. We were reminded that while receiving the red envelope is a blessing, truly receiving its meaning requires us to live out its teachings — in how we speak, act, and serve others.
◎ Reaffirming our vows: Anthem and precepts
As the Tzu Chi anthem filled the hall, voices rose in unison — steady, grounded, and filled with purpose. This was followed by the solemn reading of the precepts, anchoring the gathering in mindfulness. These familiar words did not feel routine; instead, they arrived like gentle reminders, inviting each of us to reflect: Are we still walking this path with the same sincerity as when we first began?
As the year draws to a close, it became a timely moment to quietly take stock of our own hearts.
◎ From fifty cents to saving lives: How it all began
A deeply moving performance brought us back to Tzu Chi’s beginnings — to a single, piercing moment when Master Cheng Yen saw blood on the floor and learned that two lives were lost because a hospital deposit of NT$8,000 (approximately RM1,033) could not be raised in time for a pregnant mother. From this sorrow arose a simple yet transformative idea: if each disciple saved just fifty cents a day, lives could be saved.
The story unfolded on stage — how this idea spread through marketplaces, how housewives placed coins into bamboo banks, and how compassion, once stirred, travelled from heart to heart. Many in the audience blinked back tears, reminded that great compassion does not begin with abundance, but with a willing heart.
◎ A world in turmoil, a world needing love
The screen then lit up with a recap of global and regional events in 2025 — sobering, yet necessary.
January saw raging fires in California, devouring homes and forests alike. March brought a powerful earthquake to Myanmar, shaking lives to their core. In September, sudden floods in Hualien submerged streets and homes within moments, leaving behind thick mud and broken livelihoods.
Amid the devastation, Tzu Chi volunteers were there — delivering aid, deploying drones to transport medicine, cleaning mud-filled homes, and offering comfort. One volunteer teenager shared, “The mud is heavy, but not as heavy as the suffering of the victims.” Another student reflected that disaster response became a living classroom, teaching compassion far beyond textbooks.
These moments reminded us that while disasters expose the fragility of life, they also reveal humanity at its most luminous.
◎ Steadfast through the years: Volunteers who never stopped
A segment honouring volunteers with 25 to 35 years of service drew warm applause. Many of them spend their days quietly at recycling centres, sorting items with weathered hands and unwavering dedication. They shared a simple truth: being able to give is itself a blessing.
Recycling, we were reminded, is not secondary to donations. Plastic bottles are transformed into blankets that warm disaster survivors; discarded items are given new purpose — much like people guided by compassion. Later, one hundred elderly volunteers, some in their 80s, took the stage in a lively performance, singing in Taiwanese Hokkien and filling the hall with joy that felt contagious. Time, it seemed, had only deepened their spirit.
◎ Pulling, letting go, and steering the Dharma ship
One of the most visually striking performances depicted the Tzu Chi Dharma Ship. Through synchronised hand movements of pulling and releasing, volunteers illustrated the inner work required on this path — holding firmly to principles while easing attachments, steering steadily through turbulent waters with compassion as the compass.
It was a quiet yet powerful metaphor: the world may be unsettled, but when hearts move in harmony, the direction remains clear.
◎ Gratitude, affinity, and reconnection
Throughout the programme, the emcee gently reminded us that this gathering was not by chance. It was the result of affinity — causes and conditions converging. Gratitude flowed not only towards Master Cheng Yen, but towards one another. Every presence mattered; every effort carried meaning.
During breaks, volunteers shared a delightful spread of curries, fruits, local desserts, and pastries, accompanied by laughter and warm conversations. Old friends reconnected, new bonds formed. In these unassuming moments, the warmth of community became tangible — a reminder that cultivation also takes place in shared meals and sincere exchanges.
◎ Walking the Boddhisattva Path without regret
The sharing by CEO of Tzu Chi KL & Selangor, Sis Echo Chien, touched deeply on what it means to walk this path with a steady heart. She reminded us that Master Cheng Yen’s red envelope reaches everyone, whether or not we attend — yet choosing to be present reflects our sincerity.
Her words resonated with Sis Low Yoke Guan, who joined Tzu Chi in 2008. Though she had long listened to Master Cheng Yen’s teachings on impermanence through Da Ai TV, she once believed that volunteering could wait until retirement. The sudden passing of a colleague, however, awakened her to the truth that life offers no guarantees.
Since joining Tzu Chi, Sis Yoke Guan has undertaken every task within her ability with wholehearted commitment. As a community volunteer leader, she views nurturing fellow volunteers’ wisdom-life as her responsibility. Through listening to the Dharma and serving humanity, she has come to see that Buddhism is lived in daily actions. After hearing Sis Echo’s sharing, she shared with quiet conviction, “It is rare to be born human and to encounter the Dharma. Having encountered Master Cheng Yen, I believe that walking the Bodhisattva Path alongside her is something I will never regret.”
◎ Vigilance in a complex world
Sis Echo also spoke of present-day challenges — scams that exploit goodwill, some even using AI to impersonate Master Cheng Yen. With cases of Malaysian youths being deceived and trafficked, the reminder to remain clear-minded was urgent. Compassion must walk alongside discernment; sincerity must be protected by awareness.
◎ Health, compassion, and a plant-based awakening
The sharing by Sis Xiao Jing-wen, a Taiwanese volunteer, offered another layer of reflection. From prolonged illness and deep suffering, she arrived at an understanding that compassion begins with how we care for our bodies and all living beings. Choosing a plant-based life was not about denial, but recovery — physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Seated among the volunteers, Sis Lim Kwee Lian listened attentively, her thoughts returning to an experience more than three decades ago. She recalled hearing a monk say, “The human stomach should not be a place that bears the flesh and blood of sentient beings.” The words struck her deeply, and she gave up meat immediately.
The transition brought mild discomfort at first, but over time her health stabilised. Her body felt lighter, and frequent colds faded. Discovering the benefits of vegetarian living, she began cooking thoughtfully to suit her family’s tastes. Without pressure or insistence, their eating habits shifted naturally. She later shared with a gentle smile, “Unknowingly, they let go of meat and began enjoying vegetarian meals. Our dining table has since become a warm place for family bonding.”
◎ From living rooms to Jing Si Hall: A collective effort
The afternoon session traced the growth of Tzu Chi in Malaysia’s central region — from humble gatherings in living rooms to the establishment of the Jing Si Hall in 2014. Community centres, recycling points, and countless commitments followed. Each milestone was shaped not by individuals alone, but by shared effort.
Stories of Buddha Bathing ceremonies — from Kelana Jaya to Bukit Jalil — illustrated the strength of unity. Thousands attended, thousands volunteered, and order prevailed even amid vast crowds. These were not merely events; they were living expressions of the Dharma.
◎ Looking ahead: 60 years of compassion, and beyond
As Tzu Chi approaches its 60th anniversary and Master nears her 90th year, a gentle question was posed: What gifts shall we offer? The answer emerged through collective intention — to invite more hearts, nurture more Bodhisattvas, and continue this path together.
The upcoming launch of the myKindSeed app (targeted for 1 March 2026) was announced — a modern bamboo bank that carries giving and learning into daily life, sharing stories and teachings in accessible ways.
◎ One light, many lamps
As the programme drew to a close, the hall dimmed. Small lamps were lit one by one, until the space glowed softly. Surrounded by light, we sang the prayer song together. In that moment, it became clear: no single lamp illuminates the world, but together, countless small lights can dispel vast darkness.
The Year-End Blessing Ceremony was not merely a reflection on 2025. It was a renewal — of intention, purpose, and faith in humanity. As we step into 2026, may we carry this light forward: cultivating blessings, deepening wisdom, and responding — again and again — to the quiet calling to serve.
With gratitude, steady hearts, and shared direction, we will continue to walk this path together.
