Sister Bianca, with her cheerful disposition, had brought much joy to the patients at the Hospice Day Care Centre. (Photo by Hoh Hoong Koan)
At 4.40pm on 30 Mar 2011, Sister Bianca Chau, Commissioner of Tzu Chi Singapore Branch, completed her present life journey at age 50, amid the recitation of the Buddha’s name. Her husband, Mr Ying, and several close Tzu Chi acquaintances were by her side when she passed on.
Sister Bianca was a core member of the Event Planning Team and a leader of the East Zone volunteers. Before she was laid down to rest on 30 Mar evening, about 150 Tzu Chi volunteers arrived from all around the island and dedicated an eight-hour recitation of the Buddha’s name to Sister Bianca, chanting right into midnight.
The next morning, volunteers decorated the memorial service hall at Mount Vernon Crematorium to receive Sister Bianca who was dressed in Tzu Chi commissioner dress. The engaging 'Praise of the Buddha' verse echoed in the air, with swaying candlelight reflecting the white roses on the photo frame, highlighting Sister Bianca’s endearing features and personable image.
The memorial service was held that same evening. Relatives and friends, including three close Tzu Chi volunteers, offered their condolences to Mr Ying and shared their eulogies with the attendees. Relishing the deep connection between Sister Bianca and the Tzu Chi family – all are guided by the same religious master, journeying on the same bodhisattva path with the same aspiration – the images of Sister Bianca in her various forms of giving left no one with dry eyes throughout the solemn yet heartwarming memorial. The 250-capacity hall was stretched to accommodate nearly 400 attendees, with walkways occupied by rows of Tzu Chi volunteers and spilling out onto the doorway.
On the morning of 1 Apr, the farewell ceremony commenced with soothing breeze blowing outside the service hall. With folded palms, hundreds of attendees, among them overseas buddies and friends from Tzu Chi, recited the Buddha’s name to offer their sincere blessings to Sister Bianca on her final journey.
In their gradual and orderly pace, eight pallbearers carried the casket and marched towards the hearse. The continuous music of the 'Praise of the Buddha' verse was like an unending send-off contingent. Upon arriving at the Mandai Crematorium, the procession offered another round of supportive chanting. As the casket was received into the cremation chamber, as much as everyone was reluctant to bid their last farewell, they continued to recite the Buddha’s name wishing for Sister Bianca to go well and by the strength of her vows, be reunited time and again with all her dharma relatives in the relay of love on the Tzu Chi’s path.
Accepting and understanding suffering
It would be impossible to wipe away her beaming smile from one’s memory. The Chinatown elderly who participated in Tzu Chi’s Elderly Care Day would enquire about their favourite host, Sister Bianca, and send their regards to her whenever they came across other Tzu Chi volunteers. Her genuine care for these early settlers who came to Nanyang to eke out a living had blossomed into a sustained relationship. Sister Bianca, who hailed from Hong Kong, was able to draw them closer to her with her comforting Cantonese accent which was familiar to these seniors.
During those times when there were not that many volunteers, Sister Bianca undertook multiple volunteering responsibilities, from home visits, institutional care, to Tzu Chi Youth camp, Jing Si book fair, charity fair and charity gala, not to mention her numerous participation as supporting volunteer in the medical outreach to Jakarta and the islands in Indonesia.
At the end of year 2000, Tzu Chi Singapore Branch decided to extend its care to the Hospice Day Care Centre and Sister Bianca was strongly encouraged to undertake the work. As she was just recovering from cancer, Sister Bianca was hesitant: “I still have to cope with many mixed emotions, I was hoping to start afresh and not to be reminded of my past cancer experience.”
Even so, one month later, she decided to face it and participated in the visits, only to discover that the experience was not as frightful as she had thought.
The torment of ill health, however, had been a great challenge for the petite volunteer.
Sister Bianca was born Chau Chi Ting in the 1960s in Hong Kong as the youngest daughter among seven children. Her father died early and her widowed mother struggled to keep the family afloat. Sister Bianca migrated to Singapore a few years after her marriage. In 1996, she visited her family in Hong Kong and discovered that her mother and elder sister were both sick. Not only did she have to take care of both of them, she was physically and mentally burnt out, having to keep the illness of both from each other. Deep within, she was reflecting on the impermanence of life and her future directions.
“How can humans be liberated from worldly sufferings?” In her pursuit for an answer and to comfort her family members, she turned to Buddhism. In 1998, just when their health improved, Sister Bianca herself was diagnosed with cancer and was required to undergo surgery immediately. Shattered, she cried inconsolably in the arms of her husband that night she received the devastating news. For the following half of the year, supported by her husband and friends, particularly with the encouragement from Sister Olivia Chuang and Sister Lu Chuanqing who was then undergoing cancer treatment, Sister Bianca endured the torment of chemotherapy and transformed her mindset, treating her illness as an ‘uninvited teacher’ appointed to educate her on the lessons of life. As she developed the insight that “Love is the strength to liberate sufferings”, she was able to face up to her fate with deep gratitude.
“I felt I was immensely blessed.” As soon as she recovered, Sister Bianca committed wholeheartedly to the work in Tzu Chi. By 2004, she was certified as a Tzu Chi commissioner and found new direction in her life. She had since left indelible marks of her work with the Hospice Day Care Centre.
Setting the vows into motion, walking the bodhisattva path
Sister Bianca was ingenious and dexterous. Not only could she sing and dance, she was adept in impersonation, and made the perfect duo with TV director and producer, Sister Samantha Cheung, to lead the Event Planning team in coordinating various Tzu Chi activities.
The duo had facilitated many successful events, including the annual Year End Blessings, Buddha Day Ceremonies, Auspicious Seventh Lunar Month events and mega musical drama productions, counting the ‘Sutra of Filial Piety’ performances in 2004 and 2006 as well as the ‘Sutra on Innumerable Meanings’ performance in 2008. The two had formed deep connections with many Tzu Chi volunteers throughout the years.
In particular, Koo Lee Lian, a Tzu Chi Youth senior who shadowed Sister Bianca since the public performance in 2004, had experienced how she would see to the preparation unceasingly to ensure the best outcomes. Sister Bianca would frequently share with the young volunteer: “We are not working for a perfect performance but learning how to share the dharma competently. More important than the performance, we are learning how to form good affinity and work in harmony with every person.”
Under the nurturance of Sister Bianca and Sister Samantha, many youth members blossomed in their bodhisattva paths and were certified as commissioners.
In 2006, Sister Bianca was one of the pioneers to promote the 4-in-1 community structure; she worked and learnt alongside her team members from the Southeast district, forming deep camaraderie with them. Not only was she driven and energetic, she was versatile in her mental and social-emotional facets, always putting team harmony first and treating one and all with equanimity. Many volunteers held her in high esteem and always turned to her for advice and consolation.
As the 4-in-1 community structure grew in breadth and depth, Sister Bianca moved on to assume a bigger role in leading the East district. “She’s a magnet which draws everyone’s heart and mind together,” commented fellow cadre Sister Lim Lay Kheng.
“If it weren’t for the cancer, I might not have stayed on as long on Tzu Chi’s path. I might have just come in to take a look and left sooner,” Sister Bianca once remarked. As she delved deeper into Master Cheng Yen’s teaching and philosophy, she had a deeper realization that “a human life, the opportunity to learn dharma, and to meet a great mentor were all so difficult to come by”. Although the human life is limited, the wisdom life is ceaseless.
“The Great Love and teachings as expounded by Master Cheng Yen are the source of my wisdom life.”
Embracing the Dharma and walking the path in Great Faith
In July 2009, the doctor confirmed that Sister Bianca suffered a relapse. Although she was not as terrified as the initial diagnosis, she was nevertheless feeling a sense of loss. Yet it did not take her long to accept the lesson from impermanence. The following day, she made her vow in front of the Buddha mural at Jing Si Hall to promote Tzu Chi’s work till her last breathe.
Unlike her first brush with cancer, the conditions of the relapse were relatively less stable. The wait for every test result was an internal battle – a tug of war between the ‘cancer cells’ and the ‘loving cells’, as coined by Sister Bianca herself. Watching every thought in an endless endurance of pain and suffering was indeed challenging. To her comfort, the Book of Blessings filled with well-wishes from numerous East district volunteers was always there to remind her not to let everyone down.
When news of her relapse was made known, many volunteers sent food and health products, text messages of care and encouragement, dedicating their daily prayers practically every day to the beloved Tzu Chi veteran. In November the same year, Mr David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, made special arrangements for Sister Bianca and her husband to join him on a trip to meet Master Cheng Yen at the Jing Si Abode in Hualien, Taiwan. She would not forget the Master’s words:
“The best medicine for your illness is to keep your body and mind happy. Face your illness graciously. Plan you daily routine well and continue to draw out the hands and heart of each Tzu Chi volunteer to share the work together.”
Sister Bianca lived out her mentor's words with action. With a wrapped scalp, she continued to greet everyone in Tzu Chi’s activities and meetings with her signature smile and loving speech. For the fellow community volunteers, her presence was always a source of assurance.
Sister Bianca had not uttered a word about her anguish throughout the 23 sessions of chemotherapy. Her loss of hair, darkened limbs, pain piercing through the bone marrow and loss of voice and energy – she took trouble not to expose any of that to her dharma family. Every living moment, all she hoped for was to promote Tzu Chi’s work and to nurture the fellow volunteers with Love.
“The medication and injections robbed her of her energy. But whenever she receives calls from the volunteers, she would summon her strength to speak in order not to worry them,” Sister Samantha recalled. “All that she could do was to seize the moment while her body can still function as her vehicle of cultivation.”
Sister Bianca had great faith in the law of karma and abided by the teachings. “The Master has taught us that gratitude is the best medicine for every matter,” she shared. Without fail, she would listen to the teachings of “The Great Repentance” and “The Repentance with Compassion”. Although she has got weaker by the day in the recent half year, she made sure she would not miss any important meetings and activities of Tzu Chi.
Fleeting life, eternal wisdom
On 21 Mar 2011, Mr Ying informed Tzu Chi’s volunteers that Sister Bianca was in critical condition; the doctor had indicated that she would pass on within the week. On the evening of 24 Mar, Brother David Liu visited Sister Bianca to encourage her to maintain her positive thoughts and to discuss funeral arrangements with Mr Ying. In the face of Life and Death, Sister Bianca remained open-minded and courageous. She was apologetic that she could not further promote Tzu Chi’s work. Brother David assured her that her contributions over the years and her spirit would be a guiding model for the Tzu Chi family.
Sister Bianca had expressed her aspiration to be born into a Tzu Chi family so that she could immediately "start work", unlike her current life when she waited for more than thirty years before meeting Tzu Chi. Before parting with the volunteers, Sister Bianca handed a $1000 cash donation as contribution towards the Buddha Day Ceremony, which she was hoping to be part of this May.
In the morning of 25 Mar, Brother David personally surveyed the site for holding the wake and memorial at Mount Vernon Crematorium before meeting up with Mr Ying at his residence in the evening.
Despite lying in bed, Sister Bianca was concerned about the street fundraising event for Japan’s 3-11 disaster. The Singapore branch had mobilized all its members to prime districts like Orchard for the entire day of 27 Mar to pledge donations from the public.
Mr Ying was fully aware of Sister Bianca’s intentions, so he drove her around Orchard, cruising the streets for her to get a glimpse of the busy volunteers from afar, offering a gesture of acknowledgement. Following that, both of them returned to Jing Si Hall to prostrate to the Buddha. They have come to bid farewell to their dharma family too, leaving behind many reddened eyes as they departed.
On 28 Mar, Sister Bianca's condition deteriorated and was admitted to Mt Elizabeth Hospital for terminal care. The news came on the same evening that she was in a critical stage. Arrangement was then made for volunteers to offer supportive chanting until the noon of 29 Mar. In the afternoon of 30 Mar, Sister Bianca passed away peacefully.
After the cremation, Mr Ying carried out Sister Bianca’s wishes to spread half of her ashes into the sea and the other half to be deposited in Hong Kong, her place of birth.
At the memorial, Mr Ying delivered a moving eulogy and shared his deep appreciation towards all relatives and Tzu Chi friends who have supported him and his wife throughout the period. He was especially grateful to Master Cheng Yen who through a monastic member sent a message to him and Sister Bianca, enabling both of them to unreservedly let go.
“I believe my wife has 'arrived' at Hualien and is being taken care of by the Master now, hence I am at peace,” Mr Ying remarked.
Mr Ying indicated that the past 11 years that Sister Bianca spent in Tzu Chi was the most valuable time in her life.
On the final evening of the wake, when most of the mourners have left, several younger volunteers surrounded the casket and dedicate the song “The Most Beautiful Smile” to Sister Bianca, whom they fondly referred to as their ‘Mummy’.
In the cycle of arising and ceasing lives, may Sister Bianca's smile lives on in our hearts, may the beacon of her wisdom continue to be passed on in our relay of Great Love.
A multi-talented Sister Bianca with Sister Samantha (right); they formed the best partnership for the planning of many Tzu Chi activities. Picture shows the duo hosting the Elderly Care Day event. (Photo by Vicky Yeoh)
Despite a relapse, Sister Bianca continued to attend Tzu Chi’s activities and meetings. She is seen here promoting recycled products to members of the public. (Photo by Lim Chee Wah)
Around 150 volunteers recited the Buddha’s name for eight hours till midnight before Sister Bianca was laid to rest. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
The memorial service, solemn and heartwarming, was held at a 250-capacity hall packed with more than 400 mourners. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Relatives and friends offered their condolences and share eulogies at the memorial service. Picture shows Sister Koo Lee Lian giving her eulogy. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Tzu Chi volunteers took turn to bid farewell to Sister Bianca, wishing her well and her return as a human bodhisattva. (Photo by Wong Twee Hee)
Several younger volunteers surrounded the casket to offer “The Most Beautiful Smile”, the song played in the memorial video, to Sister Bianca. (Photo by Hoh Hoong Koan)
A tranquil farewell led by eight pallbearers amidst the recitation of the Buddha’s name. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
The sending off contingent comprised 100 friends and Tzu Chi volunteers in rows of folded palms, offering their sincere wishes to Sister Bianca. (Photo by Hoh Hoong Koan)
Sister Bianca had built many positive relationships with Tzu Chi volunteers; many took a day off from work to send her during her final journey. (Photo by Law Sook Fong)
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