My reflection about Life and Ch'an

Here is my sharing for this year's learning. This is the 3rd time I went back to Taiwan Fo Guang Shan. This year event is 2014 International Youth Seminar on Life and Chan where 1200 participants from 40 universities all over the world are selected to attend this seminar. I learned a lot each time I went back, I always feel recharged and feels great back home. According to Venerables, life and ch'an are inseparable. Before I come to this seminar, I ever wondered what is "Ch'an"? Some venerable's realisation, Ch'an is simplicity, natural, way of life. It is as simple as walking, dwelling, sitting, lying down, eating, all these activities are living in the present moment.

It is the alignment of our body, speech and mind, all in one. One of the Venerables mentioned that we are all disintegrated, such that when we are thinking about object A, our heart is thinking about object B and our mouth is speaking on object C. Hence, it is totally disintegrated and it affects us in the long run, clarity is lost. By living in the present moment, having the right mindfulness, we are very clear with what we do. Hence, we are focus and clarity is gained. All these come with daily practise and it helps to balance our body, speech and mind.

I like Venerable Master Hsing Yun's 5 Harmony. He encouraged everyone to maintain harmony within self, their homes, respect others, create harmony within society and to propagate world peace. I personally think that it is achievable and it always starts from ourselves. Dr. Ang also shared, "Life is like a series of exams as our wisdom increases, we will be able to overcome these life challenges." I totally agreed with her and through learning the Dharma, I benefited a lot, it is easier for me to overcome my own challenges, not only that I am able to make peace with myself and spreading happiness to the people around me.

I love the daily morning meditation class. It is simple and easy to follow, just need to focus on the breathing and free our mind.

Overall, there are many great learning points but I will choose these 3 as main key points
1) Breathing is a form of cultivation and it is a way of being
2) Clearly understood and focus on what we do
3) Cherish all conditions around us, be it people, space and time

Although there are small hipcups in this retreat but they are negligible. We are all imperfect, how can we expect everything to be perfect? It is simply amazing when I see all FGS Venerables and organisers put all their hearts into the event, everyone of us played a part in making the event a success, that is the moment where I felt we are one. what more can I say but to fill my heart with gratitude.

静语

还记得两年前的短期出家。我们时时刻刻要求静语。平时安静的我，竟然被一位法师抓去罚站。我告诉了姐姐这件事时，姐姐就捧腹大笑因为她知道我是一个不太愿意说话的人。

或许那时我是“代罪羔羊”，之后就没有人被罚站了。一个连十句话都说不上来的我竟然被交出去，回想起来还真的蛮好笑的。

往好的方面想，其实静语也是一种修行。静语让我们的心静下来。少了些妄语，多一些平静。未常不是件好事。

工作法语

昨天拿了公司的钥匙，就想问一下佛的法语。希望它能够带给我一点启发。还非常准喔！

法语：
丽天某日照寒空
风自西兮云自东
好把绳头牢争住
莫随流水任漂莲

【丽天某日照寒空】
每一个人都有真如自性，要时时自我关照，将真心发挥出来，就像在阳光的照耀下，万里的朗朗晴空，没有一点污染，任人逍遥自在地徜徉。

【风自西兮云自东】
对我们的外在的境遇是非，好坏，不要太在意，要乘持自己的本心，坚守自己的本分，以不变随缘，随缘不变应对。

【好把绳头牢争住，莫随流水任漂莲】
安安稳稳，把自己的心放在慈悲上，佛法上。

总结：
凡事要靠自己，把握自己，不随便动摇自己，才能成就志业

Letter for my family

Today, I attended Teacher Study Group. Ven. You Deng shares Ven. Jue Cheng's Family Letters to us. When I reflected on the letters, I realised Filial Piety is here and now. I also aware that how blessed I am to be with my family.

Blessings that I received from this family:
I am blessed to have a loving parents
I am blessed to have a caring sister
I am blessed that my family always did their best to care for my needs

From young, honestly I don't need to really look after my family. This has slowly made me a closed up and can't be bothered attitude. Perhaps I have taken my family for granted. There is a saying only when you lose it, you will cherished.

Thankfully, I do not need to lose my family to realise how blessed I am because ever since I "officially" become a buddhist, I learned more about myself and my relationship with people, especially with my family. I remembered my parents said that I treat this house, like a hotel. I used to be impatient towards my family because I couldn't feel their love. Perhaps, during that time friends are more important than family. However, I realised recently that family is more important than friends, they are the closest to me and I hurt them the most.

My dad is trustworthy and kind while my mum is loving and open and my sis is wise and caring. They are my 3 treasures that I didn't notice in the past. I wondered how much merits that I have accumulated to be born in this loving family. My family may not be wealthy but it gives me love and warmth. I am reciprocating their unconditional love. My family do not love me through words but through actions. Likewise, I will do the same thing so that they are able to feel my love as well. Love them the way they want to be loved. I wish my family healthy and happiness always.

Thanks for loving me all these years!