This aphorism from Master Cheng Yen inspired Tzu Chi volunteers and dentists from Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) to further continue the mission of great love to all beings in every corner of the world including those people who were found to have committed acts against justice and the society.

On August 4, 2009, Tzu Chi brought its Mobile Dental Service in San Juan City Jail, benefiting a total of 58 male and female inmates who received dental services such as tooth extraction, cleaning and restoration (tooth filling) procedures. Tzu Chi and TIMA volunteers followed the dental service with another free clinic activity, where 32 inmates each received a set of high-quality dentures.

“We never expected that the Foundation will be interested in San Juan City Jail, it being a prison cell. When they said they’re going to give us free dentures, we never hoped too much because there were organizations that promised us the same thing but never fulfilled such promise. We proved that the Tzu Chi volunteers are true to their words because today we received our free dentures. Essentially, this is the first time in the history of San Juan City Jail that’s why we’re really blessed,” said Vicky (not her real name), who was incarcerated for seven years now because of selling prohibited drugs.

On Auguest 11, exactly a week after the free clinic in San Juan took place, 24 Tzu Chi volunteers and TIMA dentists headed to the Molave Youth Home (MYH) and rendered free dental treatments for juveniles under its care. MYH is a rehabilitation center for individuals under 18 years old who have conflicts with the law.

The free clinic has provided the aforementioned dental procedures to a total of 70 male and female juveniles.

According to one of the residents, Juan (not his real name), his tooth has been throbbing for three months and yet, he still needs to wait for the rule of court before his request for proper dental treatment outside of the center be approved. “If you (Tzu Chi volunteers) didn’t arrive, our dental problems wouldn’t be cured. May you continue to be blessed and may you have long lives so that you can help more people,” he expressed.

Besides dental treatment, Tzu Chi volunteers also gave newsletters and Jing Si Aphorisms booklets to the MYH residents and staff. After reading the booklet, 18-year old Abel (not his real name), read it and found an aphorism that moved him the most, “There are two things in life that cannot wait: fulfilling filial piety and doing good deeds.”

Abel, who has been in MYH for three months now because of theft, used the aphorism to reflect on his life and said “Before, I didn’t put much thought about my parents because I was happy with my peers. I was deeply regretful when I saw my mom crying incessantly when I was sent to jail. I learned to value them eventually. When I get out of the center, I would no longer do anything that will hurt my parents.”

As always, Tzu Chi’s mobile dental services often come along with sign language presentations and sharing of inspirational messages and teachings of Master Cheng Yen from the Tzu Chi volunteers. These simple presentations were reciprocated by heartwarming song numbers both from the inmates of San Juan City Jail and the juvenile delinquents from the Molave Youth Home.

As they headed back home from these missions, Tzu Chi volunteers were again thankful that they had a chance to meet and give service to another deprived sector of the society. They were happy that they were able to bring out the goodness of people from the jail and the rehabilitation center. They hope that the seeds of love they planted in the inmates’ hearts will blossom and that they will be able to share this love to their own family and friends the moment they are freed from jail.

As for the juveniles at the Molave Youth Home, the Tzu Chi volunteers are hopeful that when these youths finally completed their rehabilitation, they would walk the right path of life and find in their hearts the inspiration to give themselves to others and to the community.