I have a few things which I'd like to write on...
(1320)
Ravenna Michalsen
On 24 Jun, I went to BGF for a performance cum talk by Ravenna Michalsen. My first impression of her, she looks quite mature. When she started her "small concert", I thought her music is different, it sounds like chanting, like what CO had said on her music earlier. I can't even catch most of the lyrics - the way she's singing, perhaps too much concentration on vowels and holding a syllable over a few notes.
She asked the audience a few questions, like below:
- When you go into meditation, what do you think of? - Thoughts
- What are the 3 gifts? Generosity, Fearlessness, Gift of Dhamma
- What are the 4 hindrances of meditation (or... I didn't even catch the question here) ? Ego, attachment to pleasure, (can't remember what's the other 2)
- What's a dakini? I've forgotten the answer to this as well, something on beings who fly...
Makes me realise how little I know - I can't answer any of the questions above - it was total blank to me when she asked all these questions.
When she told stories of her songs, the people she wrote about, I know none of them. Other than Guru Rinpoche, whom I have only heard of the name but don't exactly know who he is.
Anyway, I bought her 2 CDs because I like the way her music sounds, very pure with simple percussions and guitar playing. And I'm very happy I did, I've even been playing them in my car for the past few days. I can understand some of them - while the rest of it - need to research on the mantras or people she's singing about...
Accident
This morning, at the main road junction outside my house, there has been an accident. A Kancil ramped to the side of the road, knocking the tree and tearing off the tree bark, then knocking off the metal railing of the big drain. I didn't go out to witness the scene, but my dad said the driver died.
It's a Sunday morning, and a life is lost. Kind of disturbing, you never know when death is coming... Suddenly someone lost a son, someone lost a friend/ colleague... And the one who's dead never had the chance to say any last words...
Hardy Boys' books
I read 2 books from the Hardy Boys series, which took me maybe 3 hours for each book. The Clue of the Screeching Owl and The Mystery of the Hidden Gold. They were book prizes from Form 3. I wonder why I never read those books, until now. They're quite simple and nice, very fun and adventurous. Same for some Buddhist books which I took but never read, Buddhist talks CDs which I took but never listened to. I don't know what point I want to make here, but I've been trying to stop accumulating new things, and make use of what I already have instead.
Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen
Another book which I bought quite some time ago, and have only read maybe one tenth of the whole book. Reading it now and nearly done. There are some fairy tales with wisdom, while some fairy tales - I think they are quite cruel and senseless. For example, in "The Tinderbox" - the soldier cut off the head of the witch, for no apparent reason. To avoid being hanged, he summoned the 3 dogs from his tinderbox, and had them sent soldiers and the king and the queen flying into the air and literally "fell down and broke in pieces". Then the princess who was grounded was released, and she was "happy" to be made the new queen with this soldier - after her parents died?? I wonder what message is to be brought out from such a story. Is the soldier wise? Maybe, but I'd rather call him cunning and cold-blooded.
(1351)
ttg
Monday, June 30, 2008
20080627
(1108)
So tired... Been looking at the same thing for one week. No doubt I managed to simplify the thing, but right now I am just too tired to look at it and refine it again...
Hmm, I have 3 things coming up in Sep - ok, better check the dates in case they clash with each other...
(1143)
Oh dear... Impact Day and Retreat on the same day in Sep. Damn, I can't go for July retreat because of client's system testing in that week, Aug retreat is cancelled, so should I go for Oct retreat (the last resort)? No wonder they have 4 date options for retreat...
So tired... Been looking at the same thing for one week. No doubt I managed to simplify the thing, but right now I am just too tired to look at it and refine it again...
Hmm, I have 3 things coming up in Sep - ok, better check the dates in case they clash with each other...
(1143)
Oh dear... Impact Day and Retreat on the same day in Sep. Damn, I can't go for July retreat because of client's system testing in that week, Aug retreat is cancelled, so should I go for Oct retreat (the last resort)? No wonder they have 4 date options for retreat...
20080624
International Fairy Day
Today is supposed to be Fairy Day
And somehow listening to classicals and surfing for "Fairy Day" brought me to this..
It's so fairy-like, just like the Enid Blyton stories that I used to read...
Today is supposed to be Fairy Day
And somehow listening to classicals and surfing for "Fairy Day" brought me to this..
It's so fairy-like, just like the Enid Blyton stories that I used to read...
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
See the candy fairies, sugar-plums, jelly-beans, chocolate bars,
Dance the minuet,
With the candied cherries, lolly-pops, peppermints, candy-canes,
As they pirouette,
See the FAIRY PRINCESS curtsying, gracefully, beautifully,
Swaying to the tune...
Music in the air (so entrancing)
Flowers in her hair (as she's dancing)
Love is everywhere (Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h)
'Neath the yellow lemon-drop moon.
(SUGAR-PLUM FAIRY DANCES)
There she goes now, on her toes now,
To her yellow lemon-drop moon.
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/nutcracker.htm
See the candy fairies, sugar-plums, jelly-beans, chocolate bars,
Dance the minuet,
With the candied cherries, lolly-pops, peppermints, candy-canes,
As they pirouette,
See the FAIRY PRINCESS curtsying, gracefully, beautifully,
Swaying to the tune...
Music in the air (so entrancing)
Flowers in her hair (as she's dancing)
Love is everywhere (Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h)
'Neath the yellow lemon-drop moon.
(SUGAR-PLUM FAIRY DANCES)
There she goes now, on her toes now,
To her yellow lemon-drop moon.
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/nutcracker.htm
20080621
(1453)
Why Are You Happy?
Cleaning up my personal files again, and reading what I have accumulated over the years. This is in line with one of the aspirations I made recently - I need to cut down on my possessions. Assess what can be trashed and read what should be read.
Found this rather interesting meditation newsletter I was subscribed to maybe 2 or 3 years ago. There were only a few editions that I saved, I don't even remember if I stopped subscribing or the newsletter was ended by its publisher?
Anyway - there was this conversation about happiness that Blair Lewis (the editor) had with his meditation guru, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D.
Blair: Why are you happy?
Pandit: Because I am not unhappy.
(This reminds me of the question that the committees of the 29IDC was discussing in their PCIC, 'Why do you want to be happy?" In which some of us answered, "Because I do not want to be unhappy". Later NS expanded on the answer - We want happiness because there is craving for happiness, for the good things, and there is craving not to be associated with the bad things in life")
Pandit's explanation to the answer: We are by nature in a happy state. Being unhappy requires our effort. We need to engage in the thought of not liking something, hating something, not wanting to be associated with something and so on, in order to be happy. By not engaging in these thoughts/activities, we are happy.
(1507)
The Black Print Will Not Bring the White Light
This is a saying by Swami Rama - also quoted by Blair Lewis in one his newsletters.
It applies so much to myself. There is no use in reading and collecting information and not to put them into practice. I've been slacking in my meditation lately. Spent the whole day analysing some data and processes at work. When I reach home I would read, and then go to bed. Well, if I want to reap the benefits of meditation I have to do it, no matter how sleepy or lazy my mind is.
I may just put another one of Blair's stories into practice. Just sit still for 15 minutes every day and observe the thoughts. Be physically still. Let the mind run but your body still. Eventually you will have control of the mind. What he quoted in his story - the urge to have ice-cream, just let the thought go ahead, but sit still - same like my urge to look for my purple quotation book :)
ttg
Why Are You Happy?
Cleaning up my personal files again, and reading what I have accumulated over the years. This is in line with one of the aspirations I made recently - I need to cut down on my possessions. Assess what can be trashed and read what should be read.
Found this rather interesting meditation newsletter I was subscribed to maybe 2 or 3 years ago. There were only a few editions that I saved, I don't even remember if I stopped subscribing or the newsletter was ended by its publisher?
Anyway - there was this conversation about happiness that Blair Lewis (the editor) had with his meditation guru, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D.
Blair: Why are you happy?
Pandit: Because I am not unhappy.
(This reminds me of the question that the committees of the 29IDC was discussing in their PCIC, 'Why do you want to be happy?" In which some of us answered, "Because I do not want to be unhappy". Later NS expanded on the answer - We want happiness because there is craving for happiness, for the good things, and there is craving not to be associated with the bad things in life")
Pandit's explanation to the answer: We are by nature in a happy state. Being unhappy requires our effort. We need to engage in the thought of not liking something, hating something, not wanting to be associated with something and so on, in order to be happy. By not engaging in these thoughts/activities, we are happy.
(1507)
The Black Print Will Not Bring the White Light
This is a saying by Swami Rama - also quoted by Blair Lewis in one his newsletters.
It applies so much to myself. There is no use in reading and collecting information and not to put them into practice. I've been slacking in my meditation lately. Spent the whole day analysing some data and processes at work. When I reach home I would read, and then go to bed. Well, if I want to reap the benefits of meditation I have to do it, no matter how sleepy or lazy my mind is.
I may just put another one of Blair's stories into practice. Just sit still for 15 minutes every day and observe the thoughts. Be physically still. Let the mind run but your body still. Eventually you will have control of the mind. What he quoted in his story - the urge to have ice-cream, just let the thought go ahead, but sit still - same like my urge to look for my purple quotation book :)
ttg
20080618
Such a sad piece of news :(
Wednesday June 18, 2008
Filial son gets the sad news
By GLADYS TAY
JOHOR BARU: The restaurant worker who was robbed and beaten while trying to get help for his dying mother broke into tears when his elder brother told him that she had died.
Moh Cheng Mao’s elder brother Mok Aik Kuan, 41, said he only gave the news to his brother yesterday when he visited him at the hospital.
He also said that he was forced to tell his brother that he would not be able to attend his mother’s funeral as he had to be kept in hospital for further observation.
Mok said his younger brother, who was a quiet person and close to their mother, suffered severe injuries to his lungs and underwent an operation on Monday. He also had several broken ribs
Moh was badly beaten up after he ran out to flag down a passing car to get help for his mother who suffered an asthma attack at their home in Jalan Hang Jebat 52 in Skudai Baru at 3am on June 16.
Instead of helping him, the four occupants in the car stopped near a graveyard about 300m from his home, beat him unconscious and robbed him of his salary of RM500 and his mobile phone.
By the time he staggered home and neighbours alerted the police and ambulance, his mother, Foo Yoon Yew, 63, was dead.
Mok, a hawker who lives in Singapore, said Moh and their youngest brother Seng Fong, 37, stayed with and took care of their mother at their house in Skudai.
Nusajaya OCPD Supt Abd Aziz Ahmad said that three men, aged between 20 and 30, were arrested on Monday night in connection with the case.
Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/18/nation/21579551&sec=nation
Wednesday June 18, 2008
Filial son gets the sad news
By GLADYS TAY
JOHOR BARU: The restaurant worker who was robbed and beaten while trying to get help for his dying mother broke into tears when his elder brother told him that she had died.
Moh Cheng Mao’s elder brother Mok Aik Kuan, 41, said he only gave the news to his brother yesterday when he visited him at the hospital.
He also said that he was forced to tell his brother that he would not be able to attend his mother’s funeral as he had to be kept in hospital for further observation.
Mok said his younger brother, who was a quiet person and close to their mother, suffered severe injuries to his lungs and underwent an operation on Monday. He also had several broken ribs
Moh was badly beaten up after he ran out to flag down a passing car to get help for his mother who suffered an asthma attack at their home in Jalan Hang Jebat 52 in Skudai Baru at 3am on June 16.
Instead of helping him, the four occupants in the car stopped near a graveyard about 300m from his home, beat him unconscious and robbed him of his salary of RM500 and his mobile phone.
By the time he staggered home and neighbours alerted the police and ambulance, his mother, Foo Yoon Yew, 63, was dead.
Mok, a hawker who lives in Singapore, said Moh and their youngest brother Seng Fong, 37, stayed with and took care of their mother at their house in Skudai.
Nusajaya OCPD Supt Abd Aziz Ahmad said that three men, aged between 20 and 30, were arrested on Monday night in connection with the case.
Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/18/nation/21579551&sec=nation
Monday, June 16, 2008
20080615
(1510)
Peace and Harmony in the House
Things "seem" to get better at home, I wonder if it's because I take things differently or things are really different? Anyway, it has been less arguments, more respect for each other...
(1515)
Loss
"A lot of times we do not know that something/someone is so important/unimportant until we have lost it/them". Watching a Japanese series now. I seldom watch TV at this hour but my relatives were here and the TV was switched on. So, this guy gets the chance to go back in time - asking God to give him a chance.
If an angel granted me this chance, would I have taken it? I don't have the answer to this - better to concentrate on the present than to think of what would I have done if I get the chance to go back to the past...
(It seems like this movie is about going back in time more than one time... but it's end of the hour now)
(1728)
Happiness in a Simple Life
Still watching the TV while organizing my personal files...
There's a documentary on now - on a disabled person - Lao He, whose occupation is to carry goods to the peak of Hua Mountain in China. Very inspiring. He had a broken hand, and yet he could make a living to carry goods of 50 - 70kg up the mountain. And he is very proud to earn his own living, about 15 - 20 yuan per day (0.30 yuan per kilo). He is happy, saying that he enjoys singing on his way up, breathing in the fresh air of the mountains - especially during spring time. Listening to him talking so happily about his job - is so touching. He also mentioned the time when he first came to Shanghai looking for a job - he could not find a job and very nearly wanted to just give up on life. But he remembered about his parents, his children, his siblings - if he gave up, he would disappoint them. So he lives on. As he was narating, he shed tears...
Now they're interviewing another person, Lao Hui who has been carrying goods up the mountain for 26 years. His aim us to carry between 140 - 160 kg of goods everyday. He also likes singing and he says that the mountain air improves his voice. He has 2 children, his wife left him when he was 29 because the family was too poor. Therefore Lao Hui was determined to make a living for himself and his children. When he talked about his children, his face lit up. He was so proud to say that they are now studying in the University of Xi An.
The third person featured in this documentary - Lao Liu (Ming Shan) says that he enjoys music. He sings and talk to himself. To him, he enjoys art, and singing / music is a form of art. He also said that singing makes them more energetic when they climb the mountain. He enjoys helping people, he thinks that the profession is a noble profession. Everyone must learn to understand each other, to have a noble soul. Lao Liu looks very cheerful talking about his life.
Looking at them, I really admire them, they are people worthy of respect. Their occupation is simple, they earn their own living through their own hard work. When I compare them with me - how lucky I am - I only need to sit in the office, and do "office work". And I earn multiple times what these people are earning.
The documentary goes on... some people plays the flute when climbing up the mountain. Another flute player who says that life must have humour and happiness. Playing the flute brins happiness and spirit. He even got compliments from tourists who told him that they will not climb the mountain if they cannot listen to his flute sound. This flute player also has 2 children. During their school holidays, he asked them to come to the mountain and carry watermelons weighing 20kg. His child said it's tiring, asked his father to carry less, and eat better food. As he said this, he shed tears.
Is it true - these people in less developed countries probably leads happier life than us living in modern cities in developed country. Happiness - less is more...
ttg
(1803)
Peace and Harmony in the House
Things "seem" to get better at home, I wonder if it's because I take things differently or things are really different? Anyway, it has been less arguments, more respect for each other...
(1515)
Loss
"A lot of times we do not know that something/someone is so important/unimportant until we have lost it/them". Watching a Japanese series now. I seldom watch TV at this hour but my relatives were here and the TV was switched on. So, this guy gets the chance to go back in time - asking God to give him a chance.
If an angel granted me this chance, would I have taken it? I don't have the answer to this - better to concentrate on the present than to think of what would I have done if I get the chance to go back to the past...
(It seems like this movie is about going back in time more than one time... but it's end of the hour now)
(1728)
Happiness in a Simple Life
Still watching the TV while organizing my personal files...
There's a documentary on now - on a disabled person - Lao He, whose occupation is to carry goods to the peak of Hua Mountain in China. Very inspiring. He had a broken hand, and yet he could make a living to carry goods of 50 - 70kg up the mountain. And he is very proud to earn his own living, about 15 - 20 yuan per day (0.30 yuan per kilo). He is happy, saying that he enjoys singing on his way up, breathing in the fresh air of the mountains - especially during spring time. Listening to him talking so happily about his job - is so touching. He also mentioned the time when he first came to Shanghai looking for a job - he could not find a job and very nearly wanted to just give up on life. But he remembered about his parents, his children, his siblings - if he gave up, he would disappoint them. So he lives on. As he was narating, he shed tears...
Now they're interviewing another person, Lao Hui who has been carrying goods up the mountain for 26 years. His aim us to carry between 140 - 160 kg of goods everyday. He also likes singing and he says that the mountain air improves his voice. He has 2 children, his wife left him when he was 29 because the family was too poor. Therefore Lao Hui was determined to make a living for himself and his children. When he talked about his children, his face lit up. He was so proud to say that they are now studying in the University of Xi An.
The third person featured in this documentary - Lao Liu (Ming Shan) says that he enjoys music. He sings and talk to himself. To him, he enjoys art, and singing / music is a form of art. He also said that singing makes them more energetic when they climb the mountain. He enjoys helping people, he thinks that the profession is a noble profession. Everyone must learn to understand each other, to have a noble soul. Lao Liu looks very cheerful talking about his life.
Looking at them, I really admire them, they are people worthy of respect. Their occupation is simple, they earn their own living through their own hard work. When I compare them with me - how lucky I am - I only need to sit in the office, and do "office work". And I earn multiple times what these people are earning.
The documentary goes on... some people plays the flute when climbing up the mountain. Another flute player who says that life must have humour and happiness. Playing the flute brins happiness and spirit. He even got compliments from tourists who told him that they will not climb the mountain if they cannot listen to his flute sound. This flute player also has 2 children. During their school holidays, he asked them to come to the mountain and carry watermelons weighing 20kg. His child said it's tiring, asked his father to carry less, and eat better food. As he said this, he shed tears.
Is it true - these people in less developed countries probably leads happier life than us living in modern cities in developed country. Happiness - less is more...
ttg
(1803)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
20080610
0752 - Quiet quiet office
Yesterday was really testing my patience. I just can't work with someone - and I'm starting to realise a lot of people cannot be trusted - starting to regret having talked about this issue with someone, whatever I've told that person seems to spread like fire to another person - should have put more self-control on myself - must have patience, do not say it out, do not complain.
Anyway, someone else wasn't free to listen to me, so I had to wait for a few more hours, by that time the frustration and agitation and anger have more or less subsided and I was able to go to sleep. Was really mentally tired...
I must learn to be more "frank" than "diplomatic", or try to score high on both "frank" and "diplomatic", like how AT would put it. That person (let's say ZZ) should at least respect my personal space. If ZZ's ethics is not that good, ZZ should at least respect what I am doing and now ask me time and time again to do what ZZ is doing. I couldn't stand it - why can't ZZ just leave me alone? So I would have to tell ZZ, in one way or another, "you can do what you want to do but I'm not interested in joining you" - both frankly and diplomatically - I hope I can do this!
ttg
Yesterday was really testing my patience. I just can't work with someone - and I'm starting to realise a lot of people cannot be trusted - starting to regret having talked about this issue with someone, whatever I've told that person seems to spread like fire to another person - should have put more self-control on myself - must have patience, do not say it out, do not complain.
Anyway, someone else wasn't free to listen to me, so I had to wait for a few more hours, by that time the frustration and agitation and anger have more or less subsided and I was able to go to sleep. Was really mentally tired...
I must learn to be more "frank" than "diplomatic", or try to score high on both "frank" and "diplomatic", like how AT would put it. That person (let's say ZZ) should at least respect my personal space. If ZZ's ethics is not that good, ZZ should at least respect what I am doing and now ask me time and time again to do what ZZ is doing. I couldn't stand it - why can't ZZ just leave me alone? So I would have to tell ZZ, in one way or another, "you can do what you want to do but I'm not interested in joining you" - both frankly and diplomatically - I hope I can do this!
ttg
20080609
0830 - Another Quake in Southern Greece
I wonder if the Earth is aging, or the human race is causing injury to Mother Earth?
All things are born, age, grow sick and die, including Mother Earth?
0840 - Dreams
People who read my blog would probably realise that I like to blog about dreams. I had more dreams lately, which I cannot remember. I still believe in the significance of the dreams - perhaps I should read up more on this topic.
Anyway, the day before yesterday's night - I dreamt about something - and I only remember this particular scene - If you have set "Reach" as your ringtone now, you win a prize!
I do not know what this mean, but I do have the song in my phone, and I am now setting it as my ringtone and playing the MP3 on my laptop. Perhaps I should live the song "Reach", and I will "win a prize", i.e. my dreams will come true.
1131 - Patience....
I wonder if the Earth is aging, or the human race is causing injury to Mother Earth?
All things are born, age, grow sick and die, including Mother Earth?
0840 - Dreams
People who read my blog would probably realise that I like to blog about dreams. I had more dreams lately, which I cannot remember. I still believe in the significance of the dreams - perhaps I should read up more on this topic.
Anyway, the day before yesterday's night - I dreamt about something - and I only remember this particular scene - If you have set "Reach" as your ringtone now, you win a prize!
I do not know what this mean, but I do have the song in my phone, and I am now setting it as my ringtone and playing the MP3 on my laptop. Perhaps I should live the song "Reach", and I will "win a prize", i.e. my dreams will come true.
1131 - Patience....
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Linked
Someone linked to this site with my name.... no wonder AR knows who I am a few months back - I never thought I was linked (at least not with my name) until I saw on someone else's blog saying that, that person is linked...
ttg
ttg
Do Not Let Anything Happen by Chance
In the recent camp, I had the opportunity to assist to conduct a meditation session, as the person who was invited to conduct the session was engaged to other commitments. Am I lucky to had this opportunity? I would have said I am, which is my usual answer. However, due to recent events (which started to take place since I came back home in Mar-08), I would like to use the word "lucky" less frequently. By using it, no doubt it creates a "carefree" me who would appreciate good things when they come, but it will not push me to work further for more "lucky" opportunities.
Therefore, back to this opportunity, I would say I have planted the seeds in the past, starting way back in 1990 (I have to keep backdating this as I write...)
- 1990 - In primary school, Standard 3, met WC and started the friendship with her.
- 1994 - In secondary school, Form 1, first day in school, MH looked for WC. Their older sisters are good friends therefore the 2 older sisters asked their younger sisters to befriend each other. I was never that close to WC in primary school, so I'm not really sure of the part how I get to be with WC on our first day in school and together we met MH. Maybe MH found WC first, when WC introduced me to MH?
- 1996 - In secondary school, Form 3, got introduced to Buddhism by MH (thanks to her granny who's a devoted Buddhist, she instilled this in her granddaughter). Joined Buddhist Society in our secondary school. Later that year, MH asked me to joined the School Holiday Dhamma Camp (SHDC) at Brickfiels (thanks to the organizers and the initiator of this camp!).
- 1997 - In secondary school, Form 4, joined SHDC for second time and met KY - we had the opportunity to be in the same group and it was a fantastic group - the friendship with some of the gorup members continue to this day.
- 2002 - In university, First Year, second sem - WC asked to join 17IDC. Met KY again - we were participants.
- 2004 - 22IDC - Start facilitating after 4 times participating as participant. GN was my co-faci and my mentor in facilitating, she was great.
- 2005 - 23IDC - Started to join the organizing committee as programmer (MJ invited me)
- 2005 - 24IDC - I was camp secretary. AL asked me to "conduct" a meditation session - it was more to script reading - that was the first time I "narrated" a metta meditation.
- 2005 - 25IDC - KY joined as programmer, I was again an IDC programmer
- 2008 - 29IDC - I am kind of out of touch with IDC by now, but thanks to kalyana mitras (MJ, KY, FW, etc), the connection is still there and I went back as faci. AL was not available for 2nd day meditation, so KY asked me to assist.
In another chain events which started from workplace, due to some unhappiness at work from dealing with a colleague, I started to go for IGC (this idea came from there - do not let anything happen by chance), and started to take my Buddhist practice to the next level and started meditation. I was really stuck and unhappy with my situation at work and turned to Buddhism for answers. One of the answer I found was in metta meditation. KS once recommended to do metta meditation. I first learned meditation back in 1996, I think - but I had NEVER practised meditation at home - at least not properly. Anyway, I would always remember this conversation on metta meditation with him, can't remember the start of the conversation though - perhaps was talking about my previous company, but I remember the impression it left on me.
Ok, so I did metta meditation again just a one week before the camp (and I got the metta meditation CD by DDVW from BGF because I went there to assist with the 29IDC camp prep). And.. from this year Wesak - I spent almost the whole day at home - at night time I surfed the net to find "Wesak aspirations"... the link brought me to "Peace Every Day" site. So... recommendation to meditate 40 minutes a day + recommendation to do metta meditation + DDVW CD from BGF = I started to meditate...
When KY asked me to assist, I was actually happy with it (though I also dislike the fact that it was such a last minute request). Anyway, it was definitely a good opportunity which I appreciate very much.
KY (a sanguine and prob a ENFP) got this idea to do meditation with a twist - to incorporate wishes of well-being to victims of the Myanmar's Nargis Cyclone and Szechuan's earthquake. So we modified the script. Me (a melancholic and ISFJ) went to search for script online + ideas from a meditation booklet I bought from Times warehouse sales for RM10. We created a metta meditation script with a relaxation exercise, contemplation on a flower, followed by metta wishes to the victims of the recent natural disasters. I was happy with the feedback - it wasn't perfect and we had to cut the session short (by half) because we did not book the shrine hall after 9pm. But still, it was definitely a good experience to have the chance to work on a modified meditation script and the opportunity to narrate it. Datuk's CD is wonderful - and I tried to follow his way of narration as well.
So... to summarize - why do I say nothing happens by chance - I get this chance to assist because:
- KY knows me (...from the events leading us to meet and work together)
- I am an INCOVARian (...from the events leading me into a journey in Buddhism and INCOVAR)
- I probably have confidence to take it on because I have started to do some meditation on my own and I am interested to narrate a session (from the factors leading me to be inspired to start meditating)
This is such a long blog... As I typed a lot of other chain of events came into mind as well. Probably the whole thing is better illustrated with a mind map. I guess my chain of events of this event would also link to my own chains of other events plus chains of other people's events as well.
I would just like to end this with another chain linked to the first event in the chain above. Who enrolled me in my Primary School, SRK Pudu 2?
My father, who would have planted his seeds from being honest. He was from a poor family. He failed his Standard 6 exam and had to repeat it, his father, my grandfather, was a loving father who supported him to repeat the exam. My father started to be more hardworking, and was the first and only member of his family to be accepted into a university. He finished his degree, and worked for a couple of years before enrolling in Dip Ed and applying to be a teacher. Then he was posted to Terengganu. At that time no one wanted to be posted to such a far away place - my granny was also not comfortable with it. So he tried to applied to local secondary schools. I'm not sure how many schools he applied to, but the school he was accepted to - Pudu English Secondary School - the headmistress back then told him that not many people would admit that they are from Dip Ed, because the candidates would need to adhere to the posting by the government. But my dad admitted and even forewarned the HM that he is from Dip Ed. The HM was impressed by his honesty and helped my dad to change his posting to her school. That's how my dad got to the school where he taught for more than 10 years... and that was also why I was enrolled in the primary school just next to the secondary school he was teaching at - so that it was more convenient for him to look after me. If I'm not enrolled in this school, I would probably have a different story to tell here.
Therefore, seeds have been planted since the beginning of the universe. I believe whatever happens might be by chance - but how we are able to react to it and the result of it in our own life - depends on the seed we have planted. I will tell myself that whatever I do today, will eventually have its effect somewhere down the road. Like the saying I like very much from a talk by Bro Tan Ho Soon long long time ago when I was studying in university and EH asked to join her for a stay at UPM Buddhist House (and I met EH from INCOVAR...)
Do your best, Kamma will take care of the rest
And to top it up with what AT said in the 3rd IGC:
Do not let anything happen by chance
ttg
Therefore, back to this opportunity, I would say I have planted the seeds in the past, starting way back in 1990 (I have to keep backdating this as I write...)
- 1990 - In primary school, Standard 3, met WC and started the friendship with her.
- 1994 - In secondary school, Form 1, first day in school, MH looked for WC. Their older sisters are good friends therefore the 2 older sisters asked their younger sisters to befriend each other. I was never that close to WC in primary school, so I'm not really sure of the part how I get to be with WC on our first day in school and together we met MH. Maybe MH found WC first, when WC introduced me to MH?
- 1996 - In secondary school, Form 3, got introduced to Buddhism by MH (thanks to her granny who's a devoted Buddhist, she instilled this in her granddaughter). Joined Buddhist Society in our secondary school. Later that year, MH asked me to joined the School Holiday Dhamma Camp (SHDC) at Brickfiels (thanks to the organizers and the initiator of this camp!).
- 1997 - In secondary school, Form 4, joined SHDC for second time and met KY - we had the opportunity to be in the same group and it was a fantastic group - the friendship with some of the gorup members continue to this day.
- 2002 - In university, First Year, second sem - WC asked to join 17IDC. Met KY again - we were participants.
- 2004 - 22IDC - Start facilitating after 4 times participating as participant. GN was my co-faci and my mentor in facilitating, she was great.
- 2005 - 23IDC - Started to join the organizing committee as programmer (MJ invited me)
- 2005 - 24IDC - I was camp secretary. AL asked me to "conduct" a meditation session - it was more to script reading - that was the first time I "narrated" a metta meditation.
- 2005 - 25IDC - KY joined as programmer, I was again an IDC programmer
- 2008 - 29IDC - I am kind of out of touch with IDC by now, but thanks to kalyana mitras (MJ, KY, FW, etc), the connection is still there and I went back as faci. AL was not available for 2nd day meditation, so KY asked me to assist.
In another chain events which started from workplace, due to some unhappiness at work from dealing with a colleague, I started to go for IGC (this idea came from there - do not let anything happen by chance), and started to take my Buddhist practice to the next level and started meditation. I was really stuck and unhappy with my situation at work and turned to Buddhism for answers. One of the answer I found was in metta meditation. KS once recommended to do metta meditation. I first learned meditation back in 1996, I think - but I had NEVER practised meditation at home - at least not properly. Anyway, I would always remember this conversation on metta meditation with him, can't remember the start of the conversation though - perhaps was talking about my previous company, but I remember the impression it left on me.
Ok, so I did metta meditation again just a one week before the camp (and I got the metta meditation CD by DDVW from BGF because I went there to assist with the 29IDC camp prep). And.. from this year Wesak - I spent almost the whole day at home - at night time I surfed the net to find "Wesak aspirations"... the link brought me to "Peace Every Day" site. So... recommendation to meditate 40 minutes a day + recommendation to do metta meditation + DDVW CD from BGF = I started to meditate...
When KY asked me to assist, I was actually happy with it (though I also dislike the fact that it was such a last minute request). Anyway, it was definitely a good opportunity which I appreciate very much.
KY (a sanguine and prob a ENFP) got this idea to do meditation with a twist - to incorporate wishes of well-being to victims of the Myanmar's Nargis Cyclone and Szechuan's earthquake. So we modified the script. Me (a melancholic and ISFJ) went to search for script online + ideas from a meditation booklet I bought from Times warehouse sales for RM10. We created a metta meditation script with a relaxation exercise, contemplation on a flower, followed by metta wishes to the victims of the recent natural disasters. I was happy with the feedback - it wasn't perfect and we had to cut the session short (by half) because we did not book the shrine hall after 9pm. But still, it was definitely a good experience to have the chance to work on a modified meditation script and the opportunity to narrate it. Datuk's CD is wonderful - and I tried to follow his way of narration as well.
So... to summarize - why do I say nothing happens by chance - I get this chance to assist because:
- KY knows me (...from the events leading us to meet and work together)
- I am an INCOVARian (...from the events leading me into a journey in Buddhism and INCOVAR)
- I probably have confidence to take it on because I have started to do some meditation on my own and I am interested to narrate a session (from the factors leading me to be inspired to start meditating)
This is such a long blog... As I typed a lot of other chain of events came into mind as well. Probably the whole thing is better illustrated with a mind map. I guess my chain of events of this event would also link to my own chains of other events plus chains of other people's events as well.
I would just like to end this with another chain linked to the first event in the chain above. Who enrolled me in my Primary School, SRK Pudu 2?
My father, who would have planted his seeds from being honest. He was from a poor family. He failed his Standard 6 exam and had to repeat it, his father, my grandfather, was a loving father who supported him to repeat the exam. My father started to be more hardworking, and was the first and only member of his family to be accepted into a university. He finished his degree, and worked for a couple of years before enrolling in Dip Ed and applying to be a teacher. Then he was posted to Terengganu. At that time no one wanted to be posted to such a far away place - my granny was also not comfortable with it. So he tried to applied to local secondary schools. I'm not sure how many schools he applied to, but the school he was accepted to - Pudu English Secondary School - the headmistress back then told him that not many people would admit that they are from Dip Ed, because the candidates would need to adhere to the posting by the government. But my dad admitted and even forewarned the HM that he is from Dip Ed. The HM was impressed by his honesty and helped my dad to change his posting to her school. That's how my dad got to the school where he taught for more than 10 years... and that was also why I was enrolled in the primary school just next to the secondary school he was teaching at - so that it was more convenient for him to look after me. If I'm not enrolled in this school, I would probably have a different story to tell here.
Therefore, seeds have been planted since the beginning of the universe. I believe whatever happens might be by chance - but how we are able to react to it and the result of it in our own life - depends on the seed we have planted. I will tell myself that whatever I do today, will eventually have its effect somewhere down the road. Like the saying I like very much from a talk by Bro Tan Ho Soon long long time ago when I was studying in university and EH asked to join her for a stay at UPM Buddhist House (and I met EH from INCOVAR...)
Do your best, Kamma will take care of the rest
And to top it up with what AT said in the 3rd IGC:
Do not let anything happen by chance
ttg
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