Vegetarian Recipe #1

Recently my family tried out a new combination of ingredients for dinner soup, and the outcome was not bad..Well I don't know what to call it, maybe just label it as winter melon soup.

The ingredients used include:

- Winter melon
- Black dried mushroom
- Red dates
- Chick peas (or otherwise known as garbanzo)

What surprised me most was that the soup tastes like chicken soup! Yes, i read in a vegetarian book before that using chick peas to boil soup gives the tangy taste of chicken soup, and its proven now. Make sure the chick peas are boiled till soft, then eat them together with pieces of winter melon and you'll notice the unique flavor!

Well, i guess they don't call chick peas 'chick peas' for nothing! Haha.. =D

三千佛法会

这个星期登彼岸举行三千佛法会， 好希望可以去！
去年参加了一次， 是一个忘不了的经验。
工作最近忙了起来，没办法。

法会到这个拜六，希望拜六可以去参加！

19th of 6th Lunar Month

19th of 6th Lunar Month.
Today is Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva or Gwan Yin Bodhisattva's attainment of the way day!
Peace and happiness to all! =)

Coming home

I don't know why but i'm really taken in with those two words lately. Coming home. It feels really comfortable and blissful saying that. It gives me a picture of walking this special path with this light guiding me until i've reached the most beautiful place ever.

I've been bogged down with assignments and frustrations in life for the past month. Sometimes it is during times like these that you feel like giving up for good, and yet there's an inner voice telling me to hold on. The Master's words rang through my head, "do not get too excited or highstrung, keep your mind calm and quiet", and i've tried to remember that at all times. Be the calming presense in the midst of chaos, just like the eye of the hurricane.

Sometimes we need to take time off for ourselves, to review everything. I was reading news on BuddhistChannel and Orlando Bloom did just that. Check it out here. I'm totally amazed that he chants everyday. Respects to him! I guess i should take some time off as well to just dwell in the stillness without a care - its weird but the outcome is that i will be able to see things in a bigger perspective after that.

Music in the Dharma has always been a source of inspiration to me. Especially the song 'She Carries Me' originally sung by Jennifer Berezan, but re-sung by Reverend Heng Sure. The lyrics are so meaningful that i never get bored of listening to it. The entire song is just an embodiment of great compassion.

These days, due to the many happenings around me, i've learnt to just dwell in the present and to let go of worries. I've learnt to just fully live in my Faith. It is a beautiful feeling. I have many dreams and aspirations - i wish to be able to contribute something, to share with people the joy of the Dharma, i wish to be able to compose praises and songs, and to travel to the sacred places of the world. These are part of my dreams list.

I feel like i've come home at last. When in quiet solitude and just playing a cd of praises in the name of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, i feel like i'm in the midst of a great big family. I feel that the void inside me has been filled. Just the thought of their great compassion and grace in saving living beings gives me strength in all that i do. I may have come home at last.

A Real-life Story: A Firsthand Experience With Fire-Breathing Dogs

This is a story which i will never forget, one which i have read over and over again. I've taken this article from the website of Gold Buddha Monastery, and its written by Terri Nicholson based on her own experiences. Thanks Terri!! =)

***************************************************************

My husband Alan and I have been disciples of the Venerable Master for over 25 years. This particular incident occurred in 1985 when our daughter, Marcelle, had just turned three years old. She has lived her entire life at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and took refuge with the Master at four months of age. Before she was born, the Master named her Wonderful Flower.

At the end of the summer of 1985 our family went to Mount Lassen National Park to spend some time with Alan's brother. Mount Lassen is an inactive volcano which last errupted in 1916. There are, however, still steaming pits and boiling mud in the park as well as caves created by the last volcano eruptions. Americans consider it a fascinating and unusual place to visit and are completely unaware that it is dangerous in any way. Unfortunately, at the time, my husband and I were equally ignorant.

From the time we arrived at the park we felt uncomfortable, mainly because a great deal of hunting and fishing was going on. At the lodge where we originally planned to stay, there was a pond where you could pick your own fish for lunch and penned deer whose mothers had been hunted and killed. Because we felt so uncomfortable, we decided to stay outside of the park. Marcelle was particularly ill at ease and asked several times to go home to see the Master and hear the Sutra lecture. Since we'd already made plans with Alan's brother, we stayed anyway. The rest of the week was uneventful except for a trip into one of the caves in the park where Marcelle became extremely frightened and upset.

For several months after we returned home, Marcelle complained of nightmares of wolves chasing and biting her. We encouraged her to recite Guanyin's name, but, at the time, did not realize how serious the problem was. In the beginning of January, soon after her fourth birthday, Marcelle woke up early one morning screaming in pain and saying that her legs hurt. Later that day she seemed fine, but the leg pain continued. After a few days we took her to the doctor, who assumed it was some sort of virus. As her symptoms grew more painful and severe, we became increasingly alarmed. The pain became so severe that she was unable to sit up or walk. We planned to meet the doctor at the hospital but as we were getting ready to go, Marcelle began to insist that she wanted Shifu (the Master). The assembly was eating lunch with the Master and so we stopped to see him on the way to the hospital. Strangely, though Marcelle had asked to see him, as soon as we drew near she cried that she wanted to leave. The Master told us, "A karmic obstacle has come." When we explained that we were on our way to see the doctor, the Master replied, "They won't find anything." And they didn't. Blood tests were done and two doctors, a pediatrician and an orthopedist, examined her and could find nothing. They finally diagnosed it as a viral inflamation of the joints, but Marcelle was not in pain while we were there.

That afternoon we received a call from the office of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas explaining that some sort of being had attached itself to Marcelle and was making her ill. We were instructed to recite Guanyin's name and the Great Compassion Mantra. However, Marcelle's condition worsened and she was in a great deal of pain. Normally a sweet- child, she developed a vicious temper and refused to cooperate in reciting at all. The only thing that calmed her was listening to a tape of the Master reciting Earth Treasury Bodhisattva's name.

Meanwhile the Master had gone to Vancouver. We became so alarmed at her worsening condition that we called there and asked for advice. The Master sternly exhorted us to recite more sincerely. He also said that Marcelle absolutely must not lose her temper and must recite Guanyin's name. With the help of friends we thought up every expedient device we could to help her. We gave her prizes for reciting, made books with her about getting better by reciting Guanyin's name and star charts to help her not get angry. She insisted that we add "not growling" to the chart, which later gained more significance. When the Master returned to the City, he came directly to our house to see Marcelle. After a long time he explained that volcanos are manifestations of hell on earth and that many hell-beings dwell there. (He first asked where we had taken her recently.) Residing at Mount Lassen was a fire-breathing dog and his retinue. These dogs are born inside the mountain in the lava and thrive on fire and anger. They have extremely cantankerous natures. When we visited Mt. Lassen, the leader was attracted to Marcelle's purity as a young disciple of the Master, and wished to make her part of his retinue. (This involved making her sick by biting her so that she was near death.) The Master said he'd convinced the leader to let her go, but that others in the retinue hadn't all agreed, so we had to continue to recite diligently. I cannot describe the pain we felt when we realized that we had "led her into the lion's den" and brought all this suffering upon her and trouble to the Master in our ignorance. We continued to recite and bow the Great Compassion Repentance and very gradually Marcelle's pain began to lessen and she was able to recite more. She would wake up screaming in pain, but if we could get her to recite Guanyin's name even for a few minutes she would fall into a more peaceful sleep.

I was moved also by Marcelle's young friends who lived at the City and who came each day to see her. Each gave her a gift of something they held precious and stayed to play by her bedside so she wouldn't be alone. They would also sit and recite Guanyin's name and try to get her to recite as well. Soon the pain went away completely and she was able to sit up and move around, though she was still unable to walk. The Master told us not to worry, that she would walk eventually.

Soon afterwards, Alan and I made a meal offering to the Sangha. At the beginning of the meal offering ceremony, Marcelle could walk only very awkwardly, but by the end of the meal she was walking around and playing with her friends. In the next few months Marcelle came down with an extremely high fever several times and I became frightened that she would get sick again. The Master compassionately explained that, yes, she had bumped into the fire-breathing dog again but that I shouldn't worry. If she got sick again he would help her get well. And so the three of us are eternally indebted to the Master for his great compassion not only in allowing us to bring up our child in this pure Way-place, but also in rescuing her from the jaws of death.

Which path are you walking on?

I suddenly had this inspiration to write a topic on the different religions of the world. Don't ask me why, just suddenly feel like posting some thoughts. Well i guess partly its due to this book titled "Open your eyes take a look at the world" which i have been reading lately as well.

I like to think of all religions as family members. As clouds of different sizes but composed of the same elements. As trees of different shapes and colours growing on the same patch of land. As paths in a forest, which upon walking, though through different routes, lead back to the same destination.

We're all heading for the same place, travelling the road in the same direction. In our Faith we find peace, we find solace. In it we find a sanctuary where no worries of the world can bother us, where frustrations are afar and only tranquility abides. We will then see our original nature, our very true selves, pure and bright.

Its interesting and always a joy to find similarities of teachings in between all the different religions. When we commit ourselves to our belief, our Faith, with one heart worshipping to the One we believe in, its an amazing experience.

Again, I was never one who's deeply involved on the spiritual side of life. But when the doors opened to me, and as i tread on this new and awe-filled path, i have finally found what i have been looking for since young. This 'thing' is not of materialistic value, it is not visible nor audible. It can only be felt deep inside us.

So what it is? It will only surface when one puts down every single thing - all troubles, worries, attachments, even the notion of a self. What is left is that 'thing'. A Light of pure joy, peace and serenity - an experience which is almost non-existent in our busy daily lives. =)

Quiet comtemplation

Lately i've been doing a lot of quiet contemplation on my own - just merely sitting there thinking over my daily life and letting the sounds of nature work its course. Its amazing how much lessons i can learn from just being quiet.

Somehow my room window is facing the opposite row of houses and behind these houses are tall pine trees. Each morning and evening, little swallows would fly around happily catching their meals. Such a picture of serenity. Sometimes when the wind blows, the pine trees sway in accordance with the wind. And the wind smells good.

I don't know why, but suddenly the verses of the Dhammapada came into my mind.

" Though little he recites the Sacred Texts, but acts in accordance with the teaching, forsaking lust, hatred and ignorance, truly knowing, with mind well freed, clinging to naught here and hereafter, he shares the fruits of the Holy life." 1:20 (The Pairs)

The part that got my attention was "with mind well freed, clinging to naught here and hereafter" - basically its just renouncing attachments. During the contemplation, i tried to let go of all things bothering me, all frustrations, even all feelings, and what i found was this indescribable peace and joy within me.

Often we get so tangled up in our own thoughts and emotions that we tend to act accordingly to what we feel. Maybe its due to our own selfishness. Maybe to greed. Maybe due to hatred or even stupidity. But once we let go - we'll truly find ourselves - our true nature.

"All conditioned dharmas are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble or a shadow, Like dew or like a lightning flash. Contemplate them thus."- The Buddha

Faith

I finished reading the book 'With One Heart Bowing to The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas' last month, it was a good read. It contains the writings of both DM Heng Sure and Heng Chau on their 3 steps one bow pilgrimage to CTTB. Very interesting. Especially the events that take place along the way. =)

Within this book Faith was mentioned many times. John, I promised to find out about the writings when i got home and here they are - i thought of posting it here so everyone could read them =) ohh and so sorry for the long delay!!

So what is Faith? The following verses are extracted from the above book.

"Faith is the source of the Path and the mother of merit and virtue. It nurtures and raises all wholesome dharmas. It cuts through the nets of doubts and leaves the flow of love. It opens up the highest road to Nirvana." - Avatamsaka Sutra, Chapter 12, Part 1

"Faith has no turbidity, no stain, it purifies the mind, it eradicates arrogance, it is the basis of respect...With faith one can give and the mind will not be stingy. With faith one can happily enter the Buddhadharma." - Avatamsaka Sutra, Chapter 12, Part 1

"Faith is strong and slowly it starts to thaw our frozen hearts and light up our cloudy minds. Faith's power is solid, nothing can destroy it."

Beautiful words. The Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Adornment Sutra) contains 39 chapters and it explains everything about life and the universe. One of the chapters is on the formation/coming of the world while another is on how we come into this world. Can't wait to get a copy of this sutra! =D

Patience

I was reviewing the events of the day and suddenly this verse of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua came into my head :-

"Patience is a priceless gem."

It is a 4-verse saying, but i can't remember the following 3 verses..please do pardon me haha..but anyway, the focus was on Patience. =)

Indeed it is a priceless gem. But how many of us know how to use it? Being accused for the wrong reasons. Hearing someone speak bad of you. Helping others with all your heart and yet those whom you've help out start picking on you. The list goes on and on..until one day, ka-boom! You can't take it any longer and finally exploded.

Its easy for our own feelings to take control of us, and very often they do when we do not realise it. However, before the oncoming of an 'eruption', we should try to keep ourselves in check, think again the consequences, and decide on the appropriate action.

Patience is knowing that when you're being accused, you can still stand through it all despite all the commotion, knowing in your heart that you did nothing wrong. Patience is realising that when people speak bad of us, they're only helping us to look at our own mistakes and shortcomings, thus making us better persons. Patience is also a teacher to us - to endure what others cannot endure, to take what others cannot take.

Indeed Patience is a great treasure! It can take us where we've never been to before! ;)

Full lotus position?

I forgot to write about this until last night when i was chatting to my sisters about sitting in the full lotus position.

It was on Chinese New Year's Eve - and we went to Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery for the 24-hour Great Compassion Mantra Recitation Session meant for protecting the country and eradicating disasters. This has sort of become a yearly event for us. When we first reached there we went to the canteen at the back to grab a bite since we were feeling a lil hungry - and boy, the variety of dishes there just made me drool all over the place! Ok, i was spoilt for choice! Met DM Heng Rong and she said -

"Check out the water dumplings there! They're really nice! And its not locally made - recipe specially flown in from China!"

Thats it. Got us so excited that it was quite obvious to DM Heng Rong that we are dumpling maniacs. Lol! She just laughed at us =D. We ordered the first plate of 12 pieces and before long - on came another plate! It was yummy-licious!

Ok ok, enough about food. After the small supper we went to the main Buddha Hall, bowed and join in the recitation session. It was the circumambulation time. After 20 minutes, we were back to sitting again - and this time i tried to sit in the full lotus position - left leg on right and then right over left - the sitting posture for meditation. And gosh, my legs were aching!

I remember reading that once you have bear through with the pain, the pain will just go away - and its true! After some time, the pain just simply vanished - and in fact it felt quite comfortable! I continued reciting the Great Compassion Mantra and there was one thing i noticed - the blood flow in my body felt different. No wonder we were encouraged to sit in full lotus! This position makes the blood flow to unreachable parts of the body.

After 20 minutes, we were to circumambulate again. The moment i undo the full lotus position, my legs ached like crazy!!! I had to force myself to stand up - and i almost tripped on the first few steps! Lol..i guess thats what happens when you don't practice full lotus position constantly haha.. =p

However, i soon found out one thing. Sitting in the full lotus position kept my mind more focused and alert - compared to sitting in half lotus. I guess i should practice more. Lol!

I've read in one of the books published by BTTS/DRBA that when sitting in full lotus, one resembles a golden pagoda and when in half lotus a silver pagoda. I should practice more. Haha..peace and happiness to all! ;D

Vegetarian Feast!!

To all readers in Malaysia, especially around Selangor and KL:

Interested in a vegetarian buffet? And its free! Do drop by the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery at Jalan Ampang on the 14th of April, 2007 for the first ever vegetarian buffet! If you think vegetarian is about eating flour-made mock products, or just plain vegetables, and that choices are limited, do come and experience for yourself the many varieties of food!

Everyone is welcome!! This is the first time the Way-place is holding such an event - with the purpose of clarifying the doubts of being a vegan as well as sharing the many benefits! There will also be cooking demonstrations and a talk by the Dharma Masters!

The buffet time is from 11am to 4pm. Do check it out! ;D Peace and happiness to all!

"Down in the valley to pray"

I was listening to Music in the Dharma- a production by Reverend Heng Sure, Alan Senauke, Betsy Rose as well as a few others guitar/banjo players and this song "Down in the valley to pray" was featured in the second section (Part 2). The file is available here - click on the link titled "Music in the Dharma - Part 2", and if you're there do check out Parts 1, 3 and 4 as well! The songs are relaxing, with beautiful guitar backgrounds, and not to mention a touch of humor here and there. =)

I felt compelled to do a lil writing on this song (as mentioned in the title) - its originally a Christian song, and Alan Senauke has taken it and did a lil change of words, he has given the song a beautiful meaning - one which i definitely will be reminded always whenever i heard this song. Part of the lyrics for this song goes like :-

"As I went down in the valley to pray,
Studying about that good old way,
And who shall wear the starry crown,
Good Lord show me the way,
Oh brothers, let's go down, let's go down, let's go down,
Don't you wanna come down,
Oh brothers, let's go down,
Down in the valley to pray."

Initially when i heard this song the only thought that occured to me was a simple one, but Alan's description has opened up a whole new different view to me. He said :- [extracted from Music in the Dharma and rephrased]

"This is where we have to go - inside ourselves, we have to go deep down to encounter ourselves. We have to go down into the valleys, down into the dark places, down into the places where we experience fear or hesitation, and then when we get there, we have to let go - we can let go with prayer, and we can let go with song. One has to go down into the valley, but one goes along with everybody, and one takes everybody with him, including all sentient beings."

Try this song! =) Its light, easygoing and has a touch of country to it. Heartlifting. ;D

A Nice Post

I came across this post on the 'The 84th Problem' posted on a Buddhist Community Blog and it definitely is a good read, an inspiration to us all when we are down in the dumps and overloaden with problems - this post teaches us not to run away from the problems, nor to find consolation for ourselves while the problem remains unsolved, but to find a solution to the problem.

The Buddha's words were very wise - it is not others who help us to solve our problems, but our very ownselves - are the best solutions.

Click here to read the post! Cheers!! =)

The impermanence of things

I've been thinking about this topic while driving back yesterday morning. Nothing can escape from this one single condition: impermanence. Lol sorry i know that sounded a lil depressing maybe, but when we really look at everything, its true.. And that is why we have to make the most out of every moment - cultivate goodness, do what we can to help others, even making a difference in another's life! =)

Let's look at it. Things come and go. A simple leaf, born from the branches of a tree, lives out its duration, turns brown and then falls to the ground. Then it is decomposed and its elements break up and return to the earth. The same applies to everything around us. When there is a cause for things to come into being, there is also a cause for things to return to the state before they come into being.

Change is inevitable. In objects, in the environment, and even sometimes in ourselves - our very own nature. But one thing we have to make sure is that the change is always headed in one direction, and that is for the better.. ;)

A simple message...

This is just a simple message from the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, just 4 lines, but how much truer can it be? Let this be a reminder to us all in our lives! =D

"Everything is a test,
To see what you will do.
If you do not recognise what's in front of you,
Then you'll have to start anew."

Words of wisdom from a great teacher!

A treasure within us, and yet we don't see it

I fetched my sisters to their former secondary school this morning as they wanted to collect some certificates and the yearbook, and while waiting for them i sat in the small hut and read a book about the bowing pilgrimage of DM Heng Sure and Heng Chau. Indeed inspirational.

I learnt a number of things today after reading that book. First of all, i learnt to 'really' live in the present, without being bothered by thoughts of the past nor the future. And i discovered that by doing so, there's an inner sanctuary that i can retreat to where i find peace. Not only that, i noticed things around me which i've never noticed before! I saw the little fat sparrow sitting on a rock few meters away from me studying my actions. I finally found the bird that made that melodious call - the magpie! Just sitting there taking in the breeze, the sunshine and the smells around me is a wonderful experience.

The other thing i learnt today is that within each of us we have this compassionate and kind heart, but its hidden in a very remote corner, deep down inside us. Why do i say so? Ever notice how our compassion becomes obscured by things and happenings around us that we have become blinded to the calls of this little heart? It suddenly dawned upon me today, this little heart of ours. And it surfaced when i was just quietly comtemplating the things around me, suddenly feeling this compassion arising in me for everything. Now i finally see how caught up we are with worldly affairs!

Wonder what lesson will i learn next time? Till then! =)

Taking refuge in the Triple Jewel

The day i took refuge with the Triple Jewel was the 3rd of September, 2006.

Missed the time when Rev. Heng Sure came down to Malaysia for the grand opening ceremony of the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery in KL and the taking refuge session, so had to go for the second one during my summer holidays.

And what does taking refuge mean? It means to return and rely on the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, which sums up as the Triple Jewel.

I still remember the day when i took refuge. It was very peaceful, and there were quite a number of youths who not only took refuge, but even took the 5 precepts! I was totally awed - my highest respects to them! I wonder when will be the time when i can fully take these precepts as well. It just puts a smile to my face to see the little children taking refuge as well =).

My given Dharma name was 亲慧 (Qin Hui), which roughly translates as "Nearing Wisdom". I hope this will be a guidance to me in my life - to use wisdom to perceive the world around me, and to solve the obstacles in life with wisdom. Taking refuge has indeed made me feel more in control of myself, and it definitely has taught me to face everything with patience and grace.

Its a joy to see my Dharma friends taking the 5 precepts. I wonder when will my turn come? A mi to fuo!

The beginning of my spiritual journey...

I still remember the time when i first encountered Buddhism. It was this weekday morning when me, my mum and sisters dropped by the temple in Jalan Ampang to offer some incense. It was about 10.30 or so, and the Meal Offering session was about to start (or had it started? i can't remember..) and it was our first time experiencing it. And we thought, "hey, that's a very melodious tune, why not stay for the session?" And thats how we started on our spiritual journeys.

I wasn't a very spiritual person back then. All i knew was lighting incense as offering and observing vegetarian diets on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month. I viewed life as it is, living each day doing the things i want to do, and never thought much about the world. Sometimes i even take things for granted. I thought that as long as the people i care about are happy, then everything will be fine.

But i was wrong, so very wrong. I learnt a lot during the time when i was very sick and on the verge of collapsing. That was the worst period ever, it brought down my confidence, it brought down my abilities, it left me walking around with a constant fear. It started with a soft drink and after jogging, i was left totally bloated - to the point that i couldnt breathe normally.

I thought, maybe something's not right with my lungs. I skipped school the next day to see a doctor. The doctor told me that i had a very sluggish stomach. I was more relieved and after that, i took a normal lunch.

But things hadn't gotten any better. The food in my tummy wasn't digested properly, and i felt like vomitting. I was freaked out and very worried. Couldnt eat properly and the acid from my tummy surged up to my throat, burning the muscles. That render me totally helpless since the muscles couldnt coordinate and i couldnt swallow properly - every bite i took, i was in fear of choking myself. Losing 12 pounds in a week was too much.

Because of this my body started losing nutrients. I wasn't the 'me' before, not as active, not as capable to run around actively, i couldnt even attempt my favourite sport! Thus i lost confidence in myself totally. I wondered if i was going to be like this for the rest of my life. I was on medication for more than a month! I wondered when i was going to get well, and if my future was that bleak.

Like mentioned, i was never a religious person. But after going through all those, i decided to turn to the spiritual side for healing. I read articles from the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua and the miracles of healing, and i thought, maybe i should give it a try. I placed a glass of water on the Bodhisattva's altar every night and recited in the name of Medicine Master Buddha as well as the Great Compassion Mantra. Then i took the blessed water.

Miraculously, by a week i could eat things normally - when a month of medication couldnt do me any good! Since then i started to believe in the power of prayers and i have started cherishing this spiritual journey. I was introduced to the Dharma and i learnt so many things which i never knew about before in the Sutras. My perception was literally opened up. And i gained a better understanding of how things work in the world. I learnt how we came into this world, and where we will be going after death. I learnt how the things we do now affect the events yet to come. Most importantly, i learnt what life is about.

I was changed, and for the better. I learnt how to be aware of the world around me. Since embarking on this spiritual journey, i have heard and read of many miracles and experienced many blissful moments, not to mention the many times that my prayers have been answered, which most of the time, left me stunned. The Dharma pervades everywhere, and it couldnt be truer - we learn from everything around us.

And that was the beginning of my spiritual journey. May peace and happiness be with all! =)

The spiritual journey...

After so many encounters and experiences that i have been through, i just felt compelled to turn this blog into a record of my spiritual journey.

Maybe you may ask, why the sudden urge or inspiration to do so? Lol i have no idea myself either..all i know is that ever since last week, i've been having this voice inside of me, telling me to share the Dharma with everyone, to put down into words a record of my journey so far...been trying to fight back this sudden thought, until last night when i finally gave in and that thought overpowered me..and when i gave myself in, i realised that there were just so many things popping up in my head that i don't know which to write first or where to start!

"Maybe i should start by posting a write-up on the thought of changing this blog", i thought. And so here it is.

Well i guess in part i'm partly inspired by Reverend Heng Sure (yes, he's an American!) and his blog, as well as a Dharma brother whom i met online who's currently studying in Dharma Realm Buddhist University. His name is Kenny (yes, an American too!) and he's taken the 5 precepts! I was totally awed by Kenny and his friends at DRBU.

I guess my next blog will describe the journey thus far from the beginning...till then! =)

Priceless Gifts

-- Quoting this article from one of the Positive News Weekly mails. Very meaningful. --

Here's a list of "gifts" we all can give and receive all year long!

PRICELESS GIFTS

THE GIFT OF LISTENING:

No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your responses.
Just listen.

THE GIFT OF AFFECTION:

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and handholding.

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER:

Share articles, positive news, funny stories, and cartoons to tell someone,
"I love to laugh with you."

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT:

A simple and sincere "You look great in red," "You did a super job," or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE:

Be sensitive to the times when others want nothing more than to be left alone.

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION:

The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone, even if it's just saying hello or thank you.

THE GIFT OF A PRAYER:

Let your friends and loved ones know you pray for them.

THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP:

Without friends life would hardly be worth living, let your friends know just how much they mean to you today.

THE GIFT OF YOUR SMILE:

A simple smile breaks all the barriers of language and culture.

Smile and the world smiles with you!

--Rod Chaplin