My Journey with Infinity Sutra Reemergence 2025

2025 wasn’t just another year for me—it was a turning point. Tzu Chi Johor Bahru celebrated its 30th anniversary, and Batu Pahat marked 25 years. To honor these milestones, we staged a musical adaptation of Infinity Sutra Reemergence at Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru. FOUR sessions over two days. The scale was breathtaking.

But for me, this wasn’t just a performance. It was a lifeline. A spiritual journey that carried impermanence, hope, and gratitude. After months of practice under Tzu Chi’s guidance, I realized this wasn’t only about art. It was about finding peace in a year that had shaken me to the core.

How It All Began: A Flashback to 2010

My bond with the Infinity Sutra musical goes back to 2010. I was part of Tzu Ching, the youth group, and joined the Infinity  Sutra during the Kuala Lumpur performance. Back then, life threw me a harsh lesson.

“My dad’ collapsed in Genting,” my best friend whispered over the phone. Her voice cracked. Seven days earlier, her father had suffered a stroke. I was working in KL then, running between the hospital and the office, stunned by how fragile life could be.

In the middle of that chaos, practicing hand gestures with Tzu Chi became my refuge. Every movement felt like a prayer. It was the only calm I could hold on to when everything else was falling apart.

Fast Forward to 2025: A Storm Within

Fifteen years later, life reminded me again how fragile it is. My parents’ health began to fail—my father needed a cornea transplant, and my mother could barely walk.

One night, I sat in silence after putting my kids to bed. “Please… let them recover,” I whispered, making a vow to go vegetarian. It felt like the only thing I could do.

After one and a half months of waiting, my father finally received a donor cornea. I was speechless. It felt like my prayer had been answered. Out of gratitude, I poured my heart into the hand gesture practice for the Johor Bahru musical. Every movement carried meaning. Every rehearsal felt like a silent thank-you.

The Practice Journey: From Skudai to Masai

Our journey began in September with weekly Thursday evening sessions at Tzu Chi Johor Bahru. By October, practices intensified at a large warehouse in Masai every weekend. Driving an hour from Skudai to Masai became routine.

The physical toll was real—especially after recovering from COVID twice, giving birth to two children, and enduring memory lapses. May to August had been my darkest period, marked by mild depression due to my kids’ health, my own struggles, PhD thesis stress, and my parents’ condition.

Yet, as I practiced, I realized these hardships were part of life. Impermanence wasn’t a curse—it was reality.

Scenes from Practice: Where Peace Found Me

I still remember the first big rehearsal in Masai. The hall was buzzing with energy. Volunteers arranged chairs, teachers adjusted microphones, and the scent of incense lingered faintly.

“Relax your shoulders,” Brother said gently, walking past me. “Every gesture is a blessing.”

I nodded, trying to steady my trembling hands. Around me, rows of performers moved in harmony, palms gliding like waves. For a moment, the noise in my head quieted.

What I Learned About Life

Through this practice, I embraced a simple truth: impermanence is normal. Life changes. People fall sick. Plans collapse. But that doesn’t mean we stop living. It means we live with more care, more gratitude.

Joining WorkingWisely by Cradle earlier in the year also helped. It taught me resilience and mindfulness in professional life. Slowly, the storm within me settled. My father regained vision, my mother walked better, my husband supported our children tirelessly, and I passed my PhD—now working on corrections. Life felt lighter, not because challenges disappeared, but because I learned to accept them.

Unexpected Skills Along the Way

This journey wasn’t just spiritual—it was practical too.

• Organizational Skills: Watching Tzu Chi plan every detail was inspiring. From rehearsal schedules to event logistics, everything ran like clockwork.
• Communication Skills: I learned to speak gently and clearly, a skill I now use in Metta Lodge Sunday Dhamma School.
• Makeup Skills: This was a surprise! Tzu Chi teachers offered a three-hour class, and my sister—who teased me for 30 years about makeup—became my coach. I practiced for a month, watched tutorials, and even helped fellow sisters on event day. It was a small but joyful achievement.

The Big Day: December 27 at Paradigm Mall

Paradigm Mall was alive with anticipation. Volunteers bustled backstage, performers whispered last-minute reminders, and the audience filled the hall.

“Ready?” Sister asked, her eyes warm.

I took a deep breath. “Ready.”

As the music began, we moved in perfect rhythm. Hands curved like lotus petals, bodies swayed like flowing water. Under the stage lights, I felt something shift inside me—a quiet strength, a deep gratitude.

When the final note faded, the hall erupted in applause. Tears blurred my vision. It wasn’t just a performance. It was a prayer answered. A journey completed.

Looking Ahead: What This Journey Means for Me

This experience didn’t end with the curtain call. It strengthened my commitment to Dharma and community. I now apply what I learned in Metta Lodge, teaching with patience and kindness. I’ve made new friends, shared laughter, and even dream of turning these memories into comics with Nano Banana—a creative way to preserve the joy and lessons of this experience.

Would I join similar Tzu Chi projects again? Absolutely. The benefits go beyond art; they touch the heart, mind, and soul.

Closing Gratitude

None of this would have been possible without support. I’m deeply grateful to:

• My parents, for their resilience.
• My husband, for caring for our children.
• My mother-in-law, for practicing alongside me.
• Tzu Chi teachers and team members, for their guidance and patience.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, for healing my backache.

If I could sum up this journey in one sentence, it would be:
“Through hand gesture practice with Tzu Chi, I rediscovered peace, gratitude, and the beauty of impermanence.”

Final Thoughts: Embracing Impermanence

Life is unpredictable. Health falters, relationships shift, and challenges arise. But within these uncertainties lies an opportunity—to grow, to serve, and to find peace. For me, the musical adaptation of Infinity Sutra Reemergence was that opportunity. It reminded me that while we can’t control impermanence, we can choose how we respond—with compassion, resilience, and gratitude.