Every moment, I see things unfolding as if fruits are ripening as a result of seeds that I've planted (mostly unconsciously) in the past. I say that it was inconscious because there are so many things which have happened, which I can now trace back to the seed, but which I know, at the time of planting the seed, I would never have thought the result would be like this. Therefore there's not a moment which is dull. I constantly look deeply at the manifestations in me and around me, and look for new learnings and plant good seeds.
In the past few months, I find that there have been a lot of wonderful things happening to me, and I suspect that this is because I am starting to see and notice the present and truly enjoy and appreciates it.
- I've met the lounge pianist in Mumbai, who inspired me about music and improvisation and how to live life
- I've been to the ISKCON temple in Juhu, and I was happy to received the blessing from the Master, who also gave me a bouquet of roses (just 3 roses, with basil leaves), which gave me great pleasure to photograph and to see it every day in my hotel room
- I've had a funny dinner in Beijing on the last day of my trip there, a free meal which handled in such a weird way and which isn't really effective from my POV, but nonetheless provided a great deal of entertainment for us to see how they handled it
- I've been to the Plum Village retreat, which gives me very fuzzy feeling of how I felt about it. I actually felt that it's almost like a cult. After the retreat, I find that I'm drawn to the practice in numerous ways, again in an unconscious manner - I am starting to use the short songs when reflecting on the moment. I used breathing in breathing out when I felt anxious for a business presentation. I used living joyfully concept to transform the fear of the presentation, into excitement and gratitude to have the chance to be involved in the presentation. I also find myself promoting the practice and the retreat in almost the exact same manner like how others have spoken to me at the retreat, which made me felt like it's a cult and yet I can't help speaking of it in the same way!
- I've been to Singapore, after finally letting go of my SG number and the associated memories. I also found my cab driver a Buddhist, and he tried to introduce Buddhism concepts such as impermanence, suffering, letting go, "yuan", without knowing that I was a Buddhist myself. Then, when I told him I'm also a practicing Buddhist, he shared about the Heart Sutra, that it's very benefitical to chant it.. and that's the sutra which really "burned" me during the transmission of 5MT at the plum village retreat. When it was being chanted, I was sweating profusely and not able to help it.. but soon after it ended, my body cooled down. Recalling what Elizabeth Gilbert said about her morning chant - I reflected in the same manner.. it actually burns away the hindrances in me..
- Going back to the quote at the beginning of this post, I find that the things which are happening now are all linked to my past action, I am encountering them now because of the seeds I've planted - amituofo (quoting the SG cab driver about "yuan")
ttg
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