I realise how mind can trick myself for believing into something I make up on my own due to my past experiences. For example, I received a sms from Alvin, who used to be bad tempered. He has changed but somehow his sms was "Please check your email." Immediately, my reflex starts to gear up and become very alert. Started to think what "bad" thing is going to happen. Silly me, starts to amplify the scenario that I did something very wrong and required a huge amount of effort. When I reached home, I immediately check the email. The change is very small and it is just a 5 min effort.
My mind just trick me into believing that something bad is about to happen, which is totally untrue. It could be due to past bad experience to trigger the "emergency" alert. It can be dangerous as my mind can be in deluded mode, unable to see things clearly as they are. That is why it is important to keep my mind in a grounded and calm state of mind.
Another story which I want to share is my friend's mother in law who is at her last stage of cancer. Doctor said that she only had 3 months to live. She started to have craving for food, although she can't eat at all. Shifu says that if her wish, just try to fulfill her as much as possible. Let her mind be at the state of calmness.
I start to think if one's desire and craving are so strong, one can likely fall into attachments and not be able to leave peacefully. It can affect our quality of rebirth. It is so important to train and keep our mind positive. It never comes to me that departing this world can be so challenging. However, all the more we should do our best to be reborn at Amitaba Buddha's Pureland to learn from him and progress from there.
Meanwhile, just do our best to keep our mind pure, calm and peaceful to our best ability.
29 October, 2014
16 October, 2014
The day has ended...
The day has ended... I feel like expressing it with a poem today!
AT THE END OF THE DAY
At the end of the day,
after all the work is done;
At the end of the day,
as my heart is filled with gratitude;
After all the trials,
and after all the uncertainties;
After all the learning,
to make it through the day;
I thank for peace and joy,
for the people I met and connected with;
I thank for the work that I have done,
for little accomplishments I did today;
For there is no blessing,
such as this I found so true:
It’s such a pleasure just walking home
at the end of the day with a grateful heart!
12 October, 2014
Winning in life
Today I watched Hong Kong Drama Series "非常老师". This episode caught my attention, one reporter asked how does this tuition teacher willing to give up his high salaries as a principal to setup his own tuition centre and gives free tuitions to low income students.
He mentioned that there is one student who changed his life. This student was expelled by him due to his poor results and his misbehavior. Many years later, he saw this student delivery goods at the carpark and he shared that,"No school wants me because of my poor results and misbehavior. I had no choice but to come out to work." He paused,"Principal, Am I such a bad student?"
This question ponders the principal and he reflects on his own actions, his value is to educate the students well but yet he chose to give up this student, due to the education system who only keeps the best students. Hence, he quit his job and specially trained the low income students and give them free education. He strongly believes that only through education, it could improve the quality of life.
Unfortunately, the tuition centre couldn't sustain and the landlord wants to increase 30% of the loan fee. Pressure given from his wife as she can't understand why his students are always put in his first place. She raised a divorce as she can't agree with him anymore as he has neglected her and his daughter, not only that he wanted to sell away his house, just to keep the tuition centre.
The next scene is teacher's daughter went missing because her friends laughs at her and found by the expelled student. The wife thanked the student for helping to find back her daughter. The student realized that the daughter is actually the principal's daughter and told the wife that the principal was his beneficiary because despite the principal had to work a couple of jobs, he still spend nights with him to give him free tuition, which pull him through into university. He was very grateful to the principal. The wife realized that how great her husband is and she and they also realised he is a great man.
Twists and turns, the principal's sister managed to find a china investor who is willing to invest in the tuition centre to sustain the centre. All end well eventually.
Reflection:
This is a good story to me. As I am a volunteer teacher, at times I need to handle misbehave child, but the question is should I outcast the student so that he will not distract other students? If I have done so, am I holding back his rights in learning and not be able to learn the proper values like other students? How can I teach better so that the students, including the misbehave child, will enjoy and like my class? These are the answers I need to find myself.
Fortunately, for this principal, he is willing to make up to the student. If not, his action would have ruins a person's life.
What every we do, there is a karma reaction. It can be good or bad consequences. Do no harm to people with words or actions, especially children.
Words can be a double edge sword, to condemn or to inspire. Because what are we say or do to them, they will take it to heart and it may takes years or a lifetime to remove/heal these words and actions, where the impacts have already done to the child.
He mentioned that there is one student who changed his life. This student was expelled by him due to his poor results and his misbehavior. Many years later, he saw this student delivery goods at the carpark and he shared that,"No school wants me because of my poor results and misbehavior. I had no choice but to come out to work." He paused,"Principal, Am I such a bad student?"
This question ponders the principal and he reflects on his own actions, his value is to educate the students well but yet he chose to give up this student, due to the education system who only keeps the best students. Hence, he quit his job and specially trained the low income students and give them free education. He strongly believes that only through education, it could improve the quality of life.
Unfortunately, the tuition centre couldn't sustain and the landlord wants to increase 30% of the loan fee. Pressure given from his wife as she can't understand why his students are always put in his first place. She raised a divorce as she can't agree with him anymore as he has neglected her and his daughter, not only that he wanted to sell away his house, just to keep the tuition centre.
The next scene is teacher's daughter went missing because her friends laughs at her and found by the expelled student. The wife thanked the student for helping to find back her daughter. The student realized that the daughter is actually the principal's daughter and told the wife that the principal was his beneficiary because despite the principal had to work a couple of jobs, he still spend nights with him to give him free tuition, which pull him through into university. He was very grateful to the principal. The wife realized that how great her husband is and she and they also realised he is a great man.
Twists and turns, the principal's sister managed to find a china investor who is willing to invest in the tuition centre to sustain the centre. All end well eventually.
Reflection:
This is a good story to me. As I am a volunteer teacher, at times I need to handle misbehave child, but the question is should I outcast the student so that he will not distract other students? If I have done so, am I holding back his rights in learning and not be able to learn the proper values like other students? How can I teach better so that the students, including the misbehave child, will enjoy and like my class? These are the answers I need to find myself.
Fortunately, for this principal, he is willing to make up to the student. If not, his action would have ruins a person's life.
What every we do, there is a karma reaction. It can be good or bad consequences. Do no harm to people with words or actions, especially children.
Words can be a double edge sword, to condemn or to inspire. Because what are we say or do to them, they will take it to heart and it may takes years or a lifetime to remove/heal these words and actions, where the impacts have already done to the child.
10 October, 2014
吉祥与我
佛光山有一只可爱的猫叫吉祥。第一次见到它时，她就躺在靠近电梯的地毯上。感觉它很慈祥。听一位师姐说它是一只流浪猫，有一天，它就走进了佛光山。师父们就收养了它，便帮它取名叫着吉祥，因为大家上上下下都祝贺大家吉祥。它几乎也接受自己的名字，每次叫它吉祥，它都会有回应。它不是普通的猫，因为自从住在佛光山，它开始吃素食。它应该已经习惯吃素，不然它应该早就离开佛光山了！
今天我叫Karen老师帮我找clip board。她很乐意帮我找，就当她看见吉祥时她就冷傻了眼。因为她非常怕猫，她让我想起了Fifi，因为我以前也是很怕猫。不懂何时我已经不怕猫了，或许是因为吉祥吧。它很慈祥的靠在我的脚，仿佛它告诉我它喜欢我，让我安心。我看见Karen老师那么害怕，就赶紧把吉祥带去B1，是它经常走动的地方。
回想起来，我才发现我不怕猫了。我已经把恐惧转为爱。我每天都祈求众生的平安快乐。或许每天的祝福，让我身边的人事物也随着改变。执着只会让人痛苦，不如放下才能让自己有更大的心，接受每一人事物。
我想为什么两年前，佛语就告诉了我不要执着，因为一切都会过去。终于开始了解佛要告诉我的事情。虽然是慢很多拍，但慢几拍，好过没领悟到任何东西。感谢佛陀的智慧，教导我如何以礼待人。没有100%的好人，也没有100%的坏人。因为每个人都在每天学习，走向成佛之道。
今天我叫Karen老师帮我找clip board。她很乐意帮我找，就当她看见吉祥时她就冷傻了眼。因为她非常怕猫，她让我想起了Fifi，因为我以前也是很怕猫。不懂何时我已经不怕猫了，或许是因为吉祥吧。它很慈祥的靠在我的脚，仿佛它告诉我它喜欢我，让我安心。我看见Karen老师那么害怕，就赶紧把吉祥带去B1，是它经常走动的地方。
回想起来，我才发现我不怕猫了。我已经把恐惧转为爱。我每天都祈求众生的平安快乐。或许每天的祝福，让我身边的人事物也随着改变。执着只会让人痛苦，不如放下才能让自己有更大的心，接受每一人事物。
我想为什么两年前，佛语就告诉了我不要执着，因为一切都会过去。终于开始了解佛要告诉我的事情。虽然是慢很多拍，但慢几拍，好过没领悟到任何东西。感谢佛陀的智慧，教导我如何以礼待人。没有100%的好人，也没有100%的坏人。因为每个人都在每天学习，走向成佛之道。
贪变穷，慷慨变富裕
隔了两个星期，我已经平复自己的心情。财已失去，就要面对现实。今天刚巧电视播了《绳之于法》，播了三个人被不同的Cyber Scams，被犯罪的人有机可乘，还好有一位女孩的妈妈提高警惕，没让罪犯得逞。方佛告诉我，钱财要看紧，不要太轻易的相信人。毕竟这世间有三毒：贪，嗔，痴。虽然害人之心不可有，防人之心不可无。我们不可以害人，但我们要防备别人对我们有不良的企图。
虽然钱财已失，师父和朋友给我法布施，安慰我钱财身外物，钱财会再回来我身边。不要太在意。妈妈也告诉我贪变穷，慷慨变富裕。
我就想起佛陀的故事：迦旃延在阿盘提国宣化后，想回到舍卫国听闻佛陀说法的途中，见到一位妇人手持水瓶，坐在河边大声的啼哭，尊者一见，不觉油然的生起同情的怜悯心，他怕这个妇人因失意的事想不开，而投水自杀。
因此，他就向前问道：
“妇人！什么事情使你伤心，为什么在这里啼哭呢？”
“不要你管，告诉你有什么用？”妇人哭的声音更大了。
“妇人！告诉我，我是佛陀的弟子，我可以帮助你解决苦难的问题。”
“你是没有办法的，你看世间这么不公平，贫富如此悬殊，我是一个苦命的穷人，一生都受苦，我被贫穷的苦折磨得实在不想活了！”
妇人说后，像要往水中跳的样子，迦旃延赶快上前一把拉住她，非常慈悲和同情的开导她道：
“妇人！你不要伤心，世间上的穷人很多，不仅是你一人。同时，穷人并不一定是苦或不幸，富人不一定就是快乐。你看那些拥有奴婢和田宅的富人，他们仍然天天为贪欲瞋恚的烦恼所苦。为人只要平安的生活就好，贫穷值得这么悲伤吗？”
妇人不耐烦的挣扎着说道：
“你是一位出家的沙门，你能看得开世情而我们不能。你要知道，我是这里大富豪的奴隶，我穷年累日的做着奴隶，衣食不周，没有自由，而我那黑心的主人，悭贪暴恶，没有丝毫慈心。我们做事，稍有差池，便打骂交加，叫我们求生不能，求死不得，想到这些痛苦都是由于我的贫穷所致，怎么不叫人为穷苦悲伤呢？”
“妇人！既然如此，你不要悲伤，我告诉你一个解脱贫穷和发财的方法。”
“是什么方法？”妇人把眼泪揩拭一下，望着迦旃延。
“方法很简单，你既然为贫穷而受苦，那你可以把贫穷卖给别人！”
“贫穷可以卖给别人？”妇人惊叫起来：“你不要乱说，如果贫穷可以卖给人，那世间上就没有穷人了。有什么人肯买贫穷呢？”
“卖给我，我肯买！”迦旃延回答。
“贫穷可以卖，而且也有你买，不过世人不懂出卖贫穷的方法。”
“要布施！”尊者开示道：“你要知道人生的贫富各有因缘，贫穷的人所以贫穷，是前生没有布施和修福；富贵的人所以富贵，是前生肯布施和修福。因此布施和修福是卖穷买富的最好方法。”
妇人听后，智能开朗，她到今天才明白了致富之道。但她随后就又苦着脸问道：
“尊者！你说得不错，我确实明白了发财的方法。不过我极其贫困，我是一无所有的人，就是我手中的水瓶，还是我那爱财如命的主人所有，你叫我怎么好布施呢？”
迦旃延把自己的钵交给女人，说道：
“布施不一定要用钱，对别人布施欢喜也可以。现在你持此钵盛水给我，作为你对我的布施！”
妇人此刻才真正明白布施的意义，当即依教奉行，后来她以供水功德，得生忉利天享乐。
迦旃延具有说法的方便，所谓论议第一，在比丘中的确是名不虚传！
虽然钱财已失，师父和朋友给我法布施，安慰我钱财身外物，钱财会再回来我身边。不要太在意。妈妈也告诉我贪变穷，慷慨变富裕。
我就想起佛陀的故事：迦旃延在阿盘提国宣化后，想回到舍卫国听闻佛陀说法的途中，见到一位妇人手持水瓶，坐在河边大声的啼哭，尊者一见，不觉油然的生起同情的怜悯心，他怕这个妇人因失意的事想不开，而投水自杀。
因此，他就向前问道：
“妇人！什么事情使你伤心，为什么在这里啼哭呢？”
“不要你管，告诉你有什么用？”妇人哭的声音更大了。
“妇人！告诉我，我是佛陀的弟子，我可以帮助你解决苦难的问题。”
“你是没有办法的，你看世间这么不公平，贫富如此悬殊，我是一个苦命的穷人，一生都受苦，我被贫穷的苦折磨得实在不想活了！”
妇人说后，像要往水中跳的样子，迦旃延赶快上前一把拉住她，非常慈悲和同情的开导她道：
“妇人！你不要伤心，世间上的穷人很多，不仅是你一人。同时，穷人并不一定是苦或不幸，富人不一定就是快乐。你看那些拥有奴婢和田宅的富人，他们仍然天天为贪欲瞋恚的烦恼所苦。为人只要平安的生活就好，贫穷值得这么悲伤吗？”
妇人不耐烦的挣扎着说道：
“你是一位出家的沙门，你能看得开世情而我们不能。你要知道，我是这里大富豪的奴隶，我穷年累日的做着奴隶，衣食不周，没有自由，而我那黑心的主人，悭贪暴恶，没有丝毫慈心。我们做事，稍有差池，便打骂交加，叫我们求生不能，求死不得，想到这些痛苦都是由于我的贫穷所致，怎么不叫人为穷苦悲伤呢？”
“妇人！既然如此，你不要悲伤，我告诉你一个解脱贫穷和发财的方法。”
“是什么方法？”妇人把眼泪揩拭一下，望着迦旃延。
“方法很简单，你既然为贫穷而受苦，那你可以把贫穷卖给别人！”
“贫穷可以卖给别人？”妇人惊叫起来：“你不要乱说，如果贫穷可以卖给人，那世间上就没有穷人了。有什么人肯买贫穷呢？”
“卖给我，我肯买！”迦旃延回答。
“贫穷可以卖，而且也有你买，不过世人不懂出卖贫穷的方法。”
“要布施！”尊者开示道：“你要知道人生的贫富各有因缘，贫穷的人所以贫穷，是前生没有布施和修福；富贵的人所以富贵，是前生肯布施和修福。因此布施和修福是卖穷买富的最好方法。”
妇人听后，智能开朗，她到今天才明白了致富之道。但她随后就又苦着脸问道：
“尊者！你说得不错，我确实明白了发财的方法。不过我极其贫困，我是一无所有的人，就是我手中的水瓶，还是我那爱财如命的主人所有，你叫我怎么好布施呢？”
迦旃延把自己的钵交给女人，说道：
“布施不一定要用钱，对别人布施欢喜也可以。现在你持此钵盛水给我，作为你对我的布施！”
妇人此刻才真正明白布施的意义，当即依教奉行，后来她以供水功德，得生忉利天享乐。
迦旃延具有说法的方便，所谓论议第一，在比丘中的确是名不虚传！
09 October, 2014
07 October, 2014
Happy Birthday to myself
There is my lovely po piah birthday "cake", first time invention by me hehe :D. Though the wordings are not clearly seen, but it is still my own creations :) Thanks for the beautiful decor and yummy food. It is hilarious whenever I am with this group of friends. I think it is because they are simple at heart and always feel comfortable with them.
Today, I met Pey yng and her son for lunch. She is a vegetarian now and she told me she does it for her family. I didn't feel much joy within her so I share my experience with her at 8 precepts retreat. She starts to feel a bit happier. Then she said she wants to go to the famous guan yin temple to pray. I went with her and it has been a long time since I stepped in that temple. I give thanks to the gods and bodhisattvas who may have helped me in the past. I told them that I have taken refuge with 3 Triple Gems: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. I will continue to practice the Buddhist way and tell them that I am happier since I taken the 3 Triple Gems Refuge.
Before I end my day, I shared Venerable Master Hsing Yun's 5 Harmony with Pey Yng. The 5 harmony is:
1) Be Happy Within Ourselves
2) Be Harmony and Peace within Family
3) Be Respectful with People
4) Be Harmony with Society
5) World Peace
I am still practicing each day now I have harmony within myself lol :D Gambatte! Happy Birthday to myself, working towards a better self :)
04 October, 2014
8 Precepts Retreat
Today is my first time attending 8 Precepts Retreat at Bright Hill Temple. It is an enjoyable day. About 350+ of us took the 8 precepts for 1 day & 1 night. The 8 precepts are no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no intoxicant, no high bed, no perfumes, music or luxury pleasures and no meal after lunch.
I find it meaningful as this retreat is relaxing and I enjoy Venerables' talks. We did chanting, sitting mediation and walking mediation. It is all about mindfulness in eating, talking, sitting and walking. Feeling grateful that a number of helpers attended to our needs, they gave us blankets as the weather was raining in the morning, as the sun came out, they lower the temp. Our body just changes to adapt the weather.
Some of the key things that Venerables have mentioned:
1) Walking, standing, sitting and lying down are the basic actions as a human being.
2) Living in the present = Mindfulness
Be mindful about little things in life, it could means a lot.
3) 把自己的心按住在清静的心境上
4）当我们不开心时 -> 心要学习调整 -> 烦恼不见了！ Red Carpet Analogy
5) 多看，多了解自己的内心世界，多观察自己
不开心时，沉淀自己的情绪
不要在那个点上，要继续往前走
Self-Manage our own emotions, if we are not in control, others will control us.
6）Criticism and Compliments are just sounds, be unaffected by these sounds and circumstances.
7) When someone is angry, when we are able to see he is suffering, hence our bodhicitta arises. Listen with empathy and help within our own means. Don't be affected by his circumstances.
8) 要学习新的事物，不断的提升自己，Bodhisattvas have completed 6 parimitas perfections. It is a long journey to cultivate bodhisattvas path. Let me master the 5 precepts first. 戒，定，慧 3 levels of learnings.
What I like most in this retreat is walking mediation, keeping myself mindful as I walk. I like one of 普贤菩萨 chant, mentioning the time is short, every moment is precious. I made 3 vows today, to be more caring towards my parents, to be more diligent in my practice and bless people to be well and happy.
I will take one step at a time. These are very good reminders for me as I can be really forgetful at times!
I find it meaningful as this retreat is relaxing and I enjoy Venerables' talks. We did chanting, sitting mediation and walking mediation. It is all about mindfulness in eating, talking, sitting and walking. Feeling grateful that a number of helpers attended to our needs, they gave us blankets as the weather was raining in the morning, as the sun came out, they lower the temp. Our body just changes to adapt the weather.
Some of the key things that Venerables have mentioned:
1) Walking, standing, sitting and lying down are the basic actions as a human being.
2) Living in the present = Mindfulness
Be mindful about little things in life, it could means a lot.
3) 把自己的心按住在清静的心境上
4）当我们不开心时 -> 心要学习调整 -> 烦恼不见了！ Red Carpet Analogy
5) 多看，多了解自己的内心世界，多观察自己
不开心时，沉淀自己的情绪
不要在那个点上，要继续往前走
Self-Manage our own emotions, if we are not in control, others will control us.
6）Criticism and Compliments are just sounds, be unaffected by these sounds and circumstances.
7) When someone is angry, when we are able to see he is suffering, hence our bodhicitta arises. Listen with empathy and help within our own means. Don't be affected by his circumstances.
8) 要学习新的事物，不断的提升自己，Bodhisattvas have completed 6 parimitas perfections. It is a long journey to cultivate bodhisattvas path. Let me master the 5 precepts first. 戒，定，慧 3 levels of learnings.
What I like most in this retreat is walking mediation, keeping myself mindful as I walk. I like one of 普贤菩萨 chant, mentioning the time is short, every moment is precious. I made 3 vows today, to be more caring towards my parents, to be more diligent in my practice and bless people to be well and happy.
I will take one step at a time. These are very good reminders for me as I can be really forgetful at times!
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