Loving father, caring daughter
Today in our People's feature, we introduce you to a father-and-daughter pair, Tzu Chi volunteers Yang Huoyao and Yang Huifeng. In the young woman's eyes, her father is a stubborn mentor - and at times a little too uptight. However the old man says his daughter has yet grown into a full-blown, responsible volunteer. The genuine love they have bestowed on one another is nevertheless helping them advance down the bodhisattva path together.
Hearing impaired, but determined
Yang Huoyao's daughter, Yang Huifeng:"Usually when I speak with this volume, he can hear me. But if I turn around, he might not be able to hear me. He is severely impaired now. It was hereditary - it went from light, to medium, and now it's very severe. If he takes this off he can't hear me at all. I'm so grateful for the invention of hearing aid."
This hereditary disorder was once a big barrier to Yang Huoyao' journey along the Tzu Chi path.
Thoughtful daughter comes to the rescue
Fortunately, his thoughtful daughter came up with a way to help: she returned home to Nantou's Puli District to take care of her father. Acting as his guide, Yang Huifeng accompanies him to Tzu Chi events where she, too, has found solace in helping others.
Knowing there are limitations to Yang Huoyao's capabilities, the daughter has found a perfect volunteer job for him.
A befitting volunteer job
Yang Huoyao's daughter, Yang Huifeng:"When Master Cheng Yen began promoting recycling work, on how we could do it by just using our own two hands, I told him about it. He was already a Tzu Chi member, and after hearing about it, he was delighted. Now, not only does he go up to the mountains to collect recyclables, he has even incorporated it into his daily regime."
Back surgery impeded volunteer work
However, to correct his worsening scoliosis, Yang Huoyao had to undergo an operation. The surgery was a success; however, the doctor requested him to put aside all laborious work until he was fully recovered. Hence, the old man had to set aside his favorite activity: driving in the mountains to collect trash. As for his "green" garden, Yang Huoyao has passed it on to his daughter, while he himself becomes her mentor in maintaining it.
Yang Huoyao's daughter, Yang Huifeng:"It's very funny. One time in the vegetable garden, when he saw me doing a sloppy job. He kept on shaking his head. "
Tzu Chi volunteer, Yang Huoyao:"Before surgery, I used to maintain the garden with a weed trimmer. It cleans things up great."
Yang Huoyao's daughter, Yang Huifeng:"Whenever the weather gets cold, I would tell him to go in first, otherwise he would just stay here with me, accompanying me and correcting me whenever I do something wrong."
Recycling keeps the air fresh!
Tzu Chi volunteer, Yang Huoyao:"If you have a kind heart, and you do good deeds -- I feel that since I started to take up recycling work in 1994, the air I breathe in smells great - even now! Every breath is fresh, never once stinky!"
Yang Huoyao's daughter, Yang Huifeng:"My dad actually says his heart remains as youthful as in his thirties. We always felt he was full of energy - always leading the way and taking on more tasks."
Building a utopian kingdom
As for his dream? To one day build a utopia of his own.
Tzu Chi volunteer, Yang Huoyao:"See that area with the Chenin trees? Starting from that house, there's a bunch of fields; the trees go up to there. That's my house. Above it are some other lands. At the time, I bought it so the area could be preserved, to save it from being developed."
Once a tree-logging supporter
The zealous recycling guru betrays no signs of once being a zealous supporter of the logging industry.
Tzu Chi volunteer, Yang Huoyao:"I used to hire people to log trees. It is said that the leader is at fault when his army kills, right? So I wanted to plant these trees as penance for what I've done. If I can, I would buy up all the hills, and plant trees."
Compensation for past mistakes
Tree-logging was how this man made a living; now, Yang hopes to recover all the trees he can.
Tzu Chi volunteer, Yang Huoyao:"There were no roads before. They were all built by me. I've made these walls very safe."
Yang Huoyao's daughter, Yang Huifeng:"My younger brother and sister share the same vision as mine. We just want our father to be happy and healthy. This is our biggest wish. So, anything he likes to do, we won't stop him. We will only ask him to take care of his body, because our mother has passed away already, we want him to live a long life."
All that's left is Tzu Chi's work!
From tree-logging to planting forests, Yan Huoyao has come a long way, and soon he will realize his dream of becoming a warden of the planet.
Tzu Chi volunteer, Yang Huoyao:"Now what's left of my goal is to tend diligently to Tzu Chi's work."
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A tribute to my father and motherby Thomasbox1801,086 views
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