A college student in Hu-pei Province experienced spiritual rebirth after suffering a very bad burn. An explosion changed the fate of this 20-year-old girl and caused her physical suffering beyond endurance. "When faced with an unchangeable fact," she said, "the only thing one can do is to bravely accept it with happiness."

A Disaster From out of the Blue Sky

Yeh Cheng-chi, a freshman at Chung Nan Financial and Economics University in Wuhan, Hupei Province, was a sweet, good-looking girl who was dearly loved by her parents and four older brothers. In 1994, she went home to spend summer vacation with her family. On August 28th, her father got on his bicycle to mail a letter at the post office. Cheng-chi asked to go with him. In less than five minutes, disaster fell from the heavens. Her life was completely altered.

A handcart carrying black dynamite was passing by the post office. The dangerous material was to be used for catching fish. All of a sudden, the dynamite exploded. It was 9:30 in the morning and the streets were crowded with people. If not for a bus between the handcart and the pedestrians on the other side, there would have been more casualties.

Seriously wounded, Cheng-chi was immediately sent to the hospital in Wuhan City. Two other wounded who had been sent to the same hospital before her had already died. Because of the hot weather, Cheng-chi was wearing a light, short dress. The uncovered parts of her body, including head, face, arms and legs, were so badly scorched as to leave her completely unrecognizable. Between 60 and 70 percent of her body was burned, of which forty percent were second and third degree burns. Her body was swollen and she was close to death.

The man who caused the explosion had been killed on the spot. The company that he worked for, a manufacturer of marine products, was on the verge of bankruptcy. For moral reasons, it compensated the Yeh family RMB 20,000. The rest of Cheng-chi's hospitalization expenses had to be taken care of by the family itself.

The first and second phases of the treatment cost RMB 100,000. Cheng-chi's parents and brothers had to borrow money from their relatives, friends and the organizations they were associated with. However, the total amount they obtained was still far from what was needed.

Karma Spanning a Thousand Miles

Twenty is a wonderful age. The unexpected catastrophe destroyed Cheng-chi's hopes for the future. In addition, Cheng-chi suffered severe physical pain, and her family was burdened by the high costs of her medical treatment.

A patient in the hospital suggested that the family try to contact the Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation in Taiwan. Their letter arrived at Tzu Chi a month later. Master Cheng Yen was touched when she read the contents of the letter. She immediately contacted Chiu Yu-feng, a Tzu Chi commissioner in Shanghai, and asked her to handle the case. Sister Chiu wasted no time. First she flew to Wuhan, and then she made the 10-hour drive to Tsou-her Town.

Cheng-chi had already been moved back home, not being able to afford the hospital bills. "At the first sight of Cheng-chi, I had to control my trembling and astonishment. She could not close her mouth and eyes. Her limbs were deformed. On every part of her body, pink flesh was exposed. Twenty is the age when a young girl blossoms and has many sweet dreams of the future. Who would know that in one second fate could lead one to a completely different future? Life can be so unfortunate!" Those were Sister Chiu's sentiments when she saw the formerly attractive, healthy girl turned into this unrecognizable state. Sister Chiu felt such pain in her heart.

Cheng-chi's mother was a pious Buddhist. After the accident, she frequently prayed to Kuan Yin, the Great Compassion Bodhisattva. When Sister Chiu visited them on behalf of Tzu Chi, Mrs. Yeh was so moved that she prostrated herself to Master Cheng Yen from afar to express her gratitude and respect.

Mrs. Yeh said that her daughter could not find her psychological balance. She could not understand why such misfortune should have happened to her. When she thought of her disfigured features, she had no courage to live on. She had tried to kill herself several times. But after she began to chant "Amitabha," she calmed down a little bit.

Sister Chiu told Cheng-chi, "Master Cheng Yen said, 'Life is a stage.' When karma intervenes, you may find yourself in a play you never even thought of. We are often forced to play a role, whether we like it or not. When adversity comes, accept it with happiness, for luck will come eventually." She took off her chanting beads and put them on Cheng-chi's wrist.

Timely Aid From Tzu Chi

Upon her return to Shanghai, Sister Chiu immediately sent Tzu Chi publications and tapes to the family with the hope that they could find peace from listening to Master Cheng Yen's words. In February 1995, Sister Chiu went to Wuhan again with Master Cheng Yen's instructions: to find the best physicians and to charge all the medical expenses to Tzu Chi. Furthermore, Tzu Chi contacted the chief orthopedist in Wuhan Third Hospital to find out about a treatment plan and the overall cost. The treatment would be long and painful. More than 10 operations would be required.

Six months after the explosion, Cheng-chi could stand up and walk. She was still in the middle of a series of operations. When she could use a pen, she wrote a long letter to Master Cheng Yen. Using her crooked left hand, she reported on her current condition and her state of mind. It was a delightful letter, full of gratitude, faith and hope. Part of the letter is excerpted below.

Dear Master:

I saw your picture in "Tzu Chi Monthly." You look much thinner than before. I worry about you very much. In my heart, I can't help screaming, "Dear Master, for Tzu Chi's future missions, for the happiness of mankind and for all beings, please do take care of your health."

I made a vow to myself. After I recover, I will concentrate on studying Buddhism and medicine. If you do not forsake me, I will dedicate my life to the protection of your health and the health of many others. I will make every effort to become a doctor of Chinese medicine with love in my heart. I will join the great Tzu Chi organization with a brand-new image.

Dear Master, ever since I came back to Wuhan in May for hospitalization, many schoolmates have come to see me. Some of them complained about their problems in their work and the agony in their minds. I gave them your advice. I told them about Tzu Chi's spirit and view of life. When I saw them smile, I couldn't help but be thankful to you and to the other Tzu Chi members, for you have given me wisdom.

I have one great wish. I hope one day I can come to Hualien to see you and to take refuge in you. You saved my life. I hope I can repay you and all Tzu Chi people with my life.

Stroke by stroke, the smart girl engraved her most innocent and sincere hopes in her letter. I hope the bodhisattvas will hear her vow and her prayer, and give her more wisdom and courage. I hope everyone who hears or reads this story will pray together with her.

Amitabha!

Epilogue

In China, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is notoriously problematic. The relationship between Cheng-chi's mother and her daughter-in-law was continually filled with problems. It was very difficult for her son to be in the middle and please both. Fortunately, he and his wife lived in Wuhan and his parents in the countryside. They didn't see each other very often.

Cheng-chi's serious injury made the family members collaborate in their search for help. Unexpectedly, dealing with Cheng-chi's predicament thawed the icy relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. In February 1995, Cheng-chi's brother wrote Master Cheng Yen a letter, in which he said that after reading Tzu Chi publications, he and his wife had taken to heart the Master's instructive counsel, "To be filial to parents is to sow the field of good fortune." After the Spring Festival, they took their parents and Chengchi to their home in Wuhan to live with them. The brother wrote a letter to Master Cheng Yen.

He wrote: "We chat with one another, we read Tzu Chi publications, we share our feelings about learning Buddhism. We ask our parents' advice with modesty when we have problems, and together we take care of our injured sister, encouraging her in her battle.

"When Sister Chiu came here for the second time, my mother grabbed her hand and said, 'I thank Master Cheng Yen. Because of her instructions, my son, my daughter-in-law and my grandson are very filial to us. They look after us properly. Although it was very unfortunate that my daughter suffered such a serious injury, we are most lucky to get unselfish help from Tzu Chi. We are especially lucky that Master Cheng Yen's words lit a lamp in our hearts.'"