上个礼拜当瑞莲师姑问我有没有空加入今晚的“爱洒”活动时，我高兴地同意了。不过惭愧的是我完全忘了此事，直到瑞莲师姑在晚上八点打电话给我。我们约好晚上七点半集合。幸好父亲刚好要出门，我赶上了顺风车，在晚上八点十五分到达慈济会所。
Last week, when Rui Lian SG asked me whether I am free to join the "Ai Sa" program this evening, I happily agreed. However, I totally forgot about this event until I got a call from Rui Lian SG at 8 pm, when I am supposed to meet them at 7.45 pm. Luckily my dad is going out and I managed to catch a ride from him, reaching Tzu Chi office at 8.15 pm.
“爱洒”是一项社区活动。慈济人挨家挨户，登门拜访，向会众介绍慈济，诚心邀约他们加入菩萨道的行列。
"Ai Sa" is an event where Tzu Chi volunteers introduce Tzu Chi to the community and invite them to join us. We went up to their door personally and knock, hoping to have a chance to explain Tzu Chi to them.
因为慈济举办的捐血运动即将到来，今晚的爱洒活动集中在会所附近的几座组屋。手拿着慈济月刊、捐血邀约卡、环保小册子和介绍慈济各项人文课程的传单，师姐和我开始向其中一座组屋爱洒。
Tonight event is concentrated on the few residential blocks beside our Tzu Chi office as our Blood Donation Drive is coming. Armed with our Tzu Chi magazine, Blood Donation invitation card, Recycling pamphlet and a handout introducing the various classes conducted by us, a SJ and I started combing a particular block.
这是十分有趣的经验和我观察了几项新加坡家庭的特点。首先，大部分的家庭在晚上九点后才到家，因为很多我们敲门都没回应。其次，师姐告诉我一些家庭其实透过门孔看见我们，但是决定视而不见。其三，我们对到话的家庭大多不认识慈济，但是知道有一间灰色的寺庙在高速公路旁。其四，大多数家庭同时使用英语和华语交谈，但是只能阅读英文。我注意到只有告诉他们月刊后有英文文章，他们才会接过月刊。
Last week, when Rui Lian SG asked me whether I am free to join the "Ai Sa" program this evening, I happily agreed. However, I totally forgot about this event until I got a call from Rui Lian SG at 8 pm, when I am supposed to meet them at 7.45 pm. Luckily my dad is going out and I managed to catch a ride from him, reaching Tzu Chi office at 8.15 pm.
“爱洒”是一项社区活动。慈济人挨家挨户，登门拜访，向会众介绍慈济，诚心邀约他们加入菩萨道的行列。
"Ai Sa" is an event where Tzu Chi volunteers introduce Tzu Chi to the community and invite them to join us. We went up to their door personally and knock, hoping to have a chance to explain Tzu Chi to them.
因为慈济举办的捐血运动即将到来，今晚的爱洒活动集中在会所附近的几座组屋。手拿着慈济月刊、捐血邀约卡、环保小册子和介绍慈济各项人文课程的传单，师姐和我开始向其中一座组屋爱洒。
Tonight event is concentrated on the few residential blocks beside our Tzu Chi office as our Blood Donation Drive is coming. Armed with our Tzu Chi magazine, Blood Donation invitation card, Recycling pamphlet and a handout introducing the various classes conducted by us, a SJ and I started combing a particular block.
这是十分有趣的经验和我观察了几项新加坡家庭的特点。首先，大部分的家庭在晚上九点后才到家，因为很多我们敲门都没回应。其次，师姐告诉我一些家庭其实透过门孔看见我们，但是决定视而不见。其三，我们对到话的家庭大多不认识慈济，但是知道有一间灰色的寺庙在高速公路旁。其四，大多数家庭同时使用英语和华语交谈，但是只能阅读英文。我注意到只有告诉他们月刊后有英文文章，他们才会接过月刊。
It was an interesting experience and I made several observations. Firstly, most of the families are not back home before 9 pm since many of the doors we knocked got no response. Secondly, SJ told me that some families actually peek through the door-hole and ignore us. Thirdly, the families that we spoke to mostly do not know about Tzu Chi but know that there is a grey temple beside the expressway. Fourthly, most families speak in both English and Mandarin but only read in English. I noticed that they will only take our magazine when I informed them that there are English articles behind.
我有两个有趣的经历。有一户家庭很认同我们正在做的事，尤其是环保的努力。她的孩子更是对解决全球暖化非常支持和充满积极性。我们聊了很久，向她解释慈济志业。她则向我们分享她对环保的看法和行善的经历。
我有两个有趣的经历。有一户家庭很认同我们正在做的事，尤其是环保的努力。她的孩子更是对解决全球暖化非常支持和充满积极性。我们聊了很久，向她解释慈济志业。她则向我们分享她对环保的看法和行善的经历。
There are two interesting encounters. There is one family who agreed with what we are doing, especially our recycling efforts. Her kids are highly supportive and filled with enthusiasm over global warming. We had a long chat with her, explaining to her what Tzu Chi does and she in turn telling us what she encounters regarding recycling and charities efforts.
我们与另一户家庭做了极短的交流。我们提起慈济后，他们以本身是基督徒为理由拒绝再交谈。其他师姑也遇到类似经验。这种反应没有什么不妥，尤其是我们总以“我们是慈济，在Elias Road旁的寺庙… …”开始交谈。我觉得我们应该强调慈济也是非政府组织和慈济人当中也有基督徒、穆斯林和其他宗教信仰。
Another short encounter is with a family, who told us that they are Christians and do not wish to hear further. Other SGs encounter similar experience. There is nothing wrong with that reaction, especially when we start the conversation with "We are Tzu Chi, the temple along Elias Road....". I feel that we should be emphasising the NGO aspect of Tzu Chi and the fact that we have volunteers who are Christians, Muslims and other religious beliefs.
晚上九点左右，大家回到会所分享各自的经验。到时刚好遇见执行长济雨师伯。济雨师伯问了问今晚爱洒的反应，是否有家庭邀请我们进家聊天。我认为我们需要更多的努力还能使这种情况发生。济雨师伯接着告诉我们“爱洒”不只是人间菩萨大招生，是培养缩小自己的好方法，也是体验二千五百多年前佛陀托钵的经历。
At around 9 pm, we met back at Tzu Chi office and shared among us our experience. We happen to meet Ji Yu SB, our CEO, who asked us how was tonight response. He asked whether any family invited us into the house for a chat. I think we need to put in a lot more effort to make that happen. Ji Yu SB further commented that the "Ai Sa" program is not only about introducing Tzu Chi to the community, but also for us to cultivate a sense of humbleness and experience what Buddha did 2500 years ago when he was out begging for food.
的确，我们如果不够谦虚，如何能缩小自己，小到能进入别人的门孔呢？
Indeed, if we are not humble enough, how are we able to enter the door-hole of families?
我们与另一户家庭做了极短的交流。我们提起慈济后，他们以本身是基督徒为理由拒绝再交谈。其他师姑也遇到类似经验。这种反应没有什么不妥，尤其是我们总以“我们是慈济，在Elias Road旁的寺庙… …”开始交谈。我觉得我们应该强调慈济也是非政府组织和慈济人当中也有基督徒、穆斯林和其他宗教信仰。
Another short encounter is with a family, who told us that they are Christians and do not wish to hear further. Other SGs encounter similar experience. There is nothing wrong with that reaction, especially when we start the conversation with "We are Tzu Chi, the temple along Elias Road....". I feel that we should be emphasising the NGO aspect of Tzu Chi and the fact that we have volunteers who are Christians, Muslims and other religious beliefs.
晚上九点左右，大家回到会所分享各自的经验。到时刚好遇见执行长济雨师伯。济雨师伯问了问今晚爱洒的反应，是否有家庭邀请我们进家聊天。我认为我们需要更多的努力还能使这种情况发生。济雨师伯接着告诉我们“爱洒”不只是人间菩萨大招生，是培养缩小自己的好方法，也是体验二千五百多年前佛陀托钵的经历。
At around 9 pm, we met back at Tzu Chi office and shared among us our experience. We happen to meet Ji Yu SB, our CEO, who asked us how was tonight response. He asked whether any family invited us into the house for a chat. I think we need to put in a lot more effort to make that happen. Ji Yu SB further commented that the "Ai Sa" program is not only about introducing Tzu Chi to the community, but also for us to cultivate a sense of humbleness and experience what Buddha did 2500 years ago when he was out begging for food.
的确，我们如果不够谦虚，如何能缩小自己，小到能进入别人的门孔呢？
Indeed, if we are not humble enough, how are we able to enter the door-hole of families?
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