人生只是过程

一位法师曾说过， 我们来过这一生，是来过这个人生劫。 我们可以享有的，都是我们修来的福报。福报一完，我们要吃一口饭，都吃不下。

人生如梦，没有开始，没有结果。你还记得昨晚做的梦，从哪里开始？那里结束？有结果吗？

既然人生是个过程， 我们何必这么执着？

放下而需会更快乐。

Bodhisattvas Everywhere

I am on leave this week. Thus, I decided to do my health checkup and settled for a late breakfast.

Thought today would be another ordinary day. I was wrong. It proved that when I was mindful, the day was indeed full of surprises and lessons learnt.

Bodhisattva 1 - Chinese Cashier @ Coffee Shop
I wanted my dose of coffee so much that I decided to have my late breakfast @ an air-conditioned coffee shop. When I walked to the cashier, I saw a $10 note left on the counter. I asked the cashier at the counter who had left it. She was shocked and then quickly said must be the customer before me. She quickly kept the money and walked towards the Indian customers sitting at a corner of the shop. She casually asked them what they have forgotten and in the midst of conversation, she took the money out and passed to one of the guys. I felt glad. She taught me a lesson. Indeed, a valuable one. When she took the money and put in the pocket of her apron, my first thought was negative - she wanted to keep this money? I felt so ashamed of myself. When she took out the money and returned to the customer, I know my first thought was wrong and was really grateful that I saw the truth. She even thanked me when she returned to take my order. I felt so embarrassed of myself.

Bodhisattva 2 - Chinese uncle @ my car parking lot
I decided to send my old books to the Buddhist Lodge so that others could read if they are useful. When I was about to reach there, I couldn't find a parking lot @ the usual one I parked - the construction company has re-painted them to be normal road. Thus, in the midst of panicking, I found a parallel parking lot opposite the road I was travelling. For convenience sake, I parked my car quickly into the lot (opposite from all those cars parking along these lots). An uncle looked at me in amaze. Then when I open my door (actually to move to my destination by walking), he questioned me if I knew this way of parking is illegal and I could easily get a fine. I looked at him and said I never knew. He asked if I was parking here for the first time. I answered yes. Then, he re-emphasized that this is illegal and I could easily get a fine. He even suggested me to re-park in the right manner. Without hesitation, I did what he said. He drove off after I gestured to thank him.

Actually, it is not his business if I get a fine or not. but he did a bodhisattva act to remind me and warn me. I was really grateful to him. I didn't remember if the parking in opposite direction is illegal but I trusted he is right. Otherwise, I would be seeing a lot of cars doing such things. Also, I am glad that I had an open mind when he suggested to me. I took his advice instead of ignoring or thinking he was a busybody.

Bodhisattva 3 - Ex-colleague who couldn't make it for lunch 
Wanted to meet up a friend cum ex-colleague for lunch. Unfortunately, he messaged me in last minute saying he was ill. I was a bit disappointed and hoped he would recover soon. Because of this last minute changes in my plan, I decided to go to Buddhist Lodge and then KMSPKS. And of course, it gave me chances to meet the bodhisattva 2 and also managed to send the ring-caps to KMSPKS. I even bought something from the awareness place shop.

Thanks to all bodhisattvas who have appeared and hope more will be appearing.

May I be mindful always. May all be happy and well always.

Amituofo.

_/|\_

101th Post

Suddenly saw that I have 100 blogs already. This shall be the 101th one, just like the 101 in Taipei. Someone told me that my blogs were very encouraging to her in the past. I hope I can still write such things. I hope.

My reply to her is that things are meant to be beautiful from far. From far, you will not see the loopholes, the flaws and the imperfections. When we see from near, we have to learn to accept all those imperfections. Otherwise, we will not be happy.

So much is said but I am still learning.:)

Still Water

I always like to see the ocean , sea, or just a pond. The surface of the water is always moving. Is there anything like the "still water"? If we treat ourselves as a water molecule, indeed the water is always moving. If we see from a macro view, then the ocean, sea or just a pond is still.

Returning Home

Yes I have returned to blogging. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have returned to the secular world. Much have been experienced, much have been learnt.

I wonder if you miss me. Well, I have returned. :)

Blogging Stopped

Due to some reasons, I have stopped my blogging. :)

May everyone be well and happy always.

First week in Taiwan

Hey, I had a busy week in Taiwan. Actually we are not very busy the first few days. Except that ven MS asked me and HS to fetch JL from airport and taught her how to take the ride back to FGU. Ven MS was very nice that she offered to pay. But we rejected as the amount was affordable.

JL, HS and I had two good night rest before the excitement began. Yes, we have to be re-allocated again. My fortune is good this round. I am with two Chong-lins and one funny sister. They were cool and helped alot in cleaning the room. I am glad that I moved to face the green this round. I had good night rest. I told SY that I was a bit distracted sometimes by the scenery and always counted my blessings rather than just lie flat and sleep. All of us from Singapore got to face the green this round. Well, probably we can all sleep well :)

The sunday was a exciting one day trip for me. I was asked by Ven MS to go for a meeting @ KS FGS. it was a last min thing. She asked me to go on sat evening. I packed and then she said she got it all wrong. So it is changed to go in the sunday morning. I slept early on sat as I have to travel early on sun. I heard that YY and the m'sian classmates were back but I wasn't able to get up to visit them (cos' too sleepy :P). Glad that they were all back safely.

The trip on sunday started with YS giving me two buns for breakfast. I just took one as I really cannot eat buns recently. Then We had a good ride (driver ven MB). they talked a lot in the car but I was not able to join the chat as I have motion sickness. I travelled to taipei in kamala coach and took the high-speed train to KS. It was a good ride. Though this is not the first time I took high speed train but It is the first time I travelled alone in it. I had good sleep. Luckily FGS got transit bus from the station to the FGS. I had a good meal and bought a lot of things. Even have time to visit DA FO CHENG and WT. Cool, I am glad I was tasked to take this trip. The meeting is good. From it, I see that every youth is really committed in the FGS youth groups. Cool. I even saw mao-mao and the biscuit there. As the coach to taipei is full, I took the high-speed train back again. It is a blessing in disguise as the travel time would be very much lessened.

I decided to stay in summer holiday and hopefully go back to KS for some retreat or voluntary work. I think it is the path the buddha wants me to take for the time being as whatever I received from the vens in FGS, they are always about 7-days chanting etc.

the day ended well with I returned to FGU safely and passed all the presents to the classmates, or placed on their tables. Hope they like it although they are not very expensive. I have spent quite some times to choose. :)

Ok that's all for now. Time for lunch :D

P.S. toilet paper in taiwan is going to be more expensive next month. Also the rice and vegetables -> resolution - stock up toilet paper, use less; eat less :D