Was AMAZING!
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
I HEART Lutheran hymns.. ! Omgosh... So good!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Truly
We create the conditions for our own well-being and ill-being.
When will we ever learn?
***
ps: on a side-note - Happy Reformation Sunday!
(it's when Lutheran Christians celebrate the day Martin Luther reforms the church)
Off to service!
When will we ever learn?
***
ps: on a side-note - Happy Reformation Sunday!
(it's when Lutheran Christians celebrate the day Martin Luther reforms the church)
Off to service!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Memoirs of A Kedai Runcit
"Ah gong... Ah ma... Zao an!"
Adrian wakes up sleepily
Arising from a mattress on a wooden platform
He pulls the mosquito nets apart
Ah ma, busy preparing breakfast
"Ho la, ho la, wa kim kia, lai chiak!"
Adrian steps out from the room
Walls made of wood
A white dog runs to him
Mickey!
Adrian jumps back
Slightly unnerved
Mickey licks Adrian
Enthusiastically
"Mickey!"
In front
Ah gong sits on a wheelchair
Manning the shop
Adrian goes up front
"Helping out"
He takes a ladder
and walks around the shelves
Dusting them
Re-arranging stuff
Milo cans
Luncheon Meat
Preserved fruits
Everything
The world is so vast!
Adrian was so small then
Someone walks in
A customer!
Speaks fast Teochew
Ah gong listens
He tells Adrian what to get
In English
Adrian returns
Customer pays
Adrian pulls down the milo tin
From the ceiling
(Using a stool)
And gives change
Customer smiles
Pats Adrian on head
Leaves smiling
Adrian runs upstairs
The neighbours!
They're awake!
It's playtime!
He brings his fighting fish
Ready
for another tournament
Adrian loses
He cries
The nice brother
pats him
And offer to buy him a new fish
Adrian jumps with joy
So happy!
Outside
Boys playing badminton
In the alleyways
Adrian joins
He borrows his aunt's racket
Made of wood
Boys laugh at him
He was too small
The net seems so high up
But Adrian beats them
Thanks to his doubles partner
Weird guy comes
Approaching the boys
Everyone runs away
Adrian stays rooted in
Man offers cigarette
Boy comes and grabs Adrian's hand
They both run away
Firecrackers!
Fireworks!
Fun!
Chickens that twirl around with amazing colors
Bombs that deafened Adrian's ears
Cylinders that spew out wondrous rainbows
Throwing pop-pops at each other
Laughter
It's dinnertime!
Adrian's favourite
Ah ma's pepper soup with cool looking mushrooms!
He later learns that they're pig intestines
Doesn't matter
Adrian loves them
"Ho chiak ma?"
"Ho! Ho!"
The cousins come
They watch television together
In black and white
On ah gong's bed
Smiling
Laughing
Adrian lays on the mattress
On a wooden platform
Mosquito nets closed
Telling himself
He would never
forget this day
A song pops up in his head
He drifts into deep slumber
"...rasa sayang, sayang hey."
Adrian wakes up sleepily
Arising from a mattress on a wooden platform
He pulls the mosquito nets apart
Ah ma, busy preparing breakfast
"Ho la, ho la, wa kim kia, lai chiak!"
Adrian steps out from the room
Walls made of wood
A white dog runs to him
Mickey!
Adrian jumps back
Slightly unnerved
Mickey licks Adrian
Enthusiastically
"Mickey!"
In front
Ah gong sits on a wheelchair
Manning the shop
Adrian goes up front
"Helping out"
He takes a ladder
and walks around the shelves
Dusting them
Re-arranging stuff
Milo cans
Luncheon Meat
Preserved fruits
Everything
The world is so vast!
Adrian was so small then
Someone walks in
A customer!
Speaks fast Teochew
Ah gong listens
He tells Adrian what to get
In English
Adrian returns
Customer pays
Adrian pulls down the milo tin
From the ceiling
(Using a stool)
And gives change
Customer smiles
Pats Adrian on head
Leaves smiling
Adrian runs upstairs
The neighbours!
They're awake!
It's playtime!
He brings his fighting fish
Ready
for another tournament
Adrian loses
He cries
The nice brother
pats him
And offer to buy him a new fish
Adrian jumps with joy
So happy!
Outside
Boys playing badminton
In the alleyways
Adrian joins
He borrows his aunt's racket
Made of wood
Boys laugh at him
He was too small
The net seems so high up
But Adrian beats them
Thanks to his doubles partner
Weird guy comes
Approaching the boys
Everyone runs away
Adrian stays rooted in
Man offers cigarette
Boy comes and grabs Adrian's hand
They both run away
Firecrackers!
Fireworks!
Fun!
Chickens that twirl around with amazing colors
Bombs that deafened Adrian's ears
Cylinders that spew out wondrous rainbows
Throwing pop-pops at each other
Laughter
It's dinnertime!
Adrian's favourite
Ah ma's pepper soup with cool looking mushrooms!
He later learns that they're pig intestines
Doesn't matter
Adrian loves them
"Ho chiak ma?"
"Ho! Ho!"
The cousins come
They watch television together
In black and white
On ah gong's bed
Smiling
Laughing
Adrian lays on the mattress
On a wooden platform
Mosquito nets closed
Telling himself
He would never
forget this day
A song pops up in his head
He drifts into deep slumber
"...rasa sayang, sayang hey."
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Ever Flowing Water
Whenever I am with others, I will practice seeing myself as the lowest of all, and from the very depth of my heart, I will recognize others as supreme.
In all actions, I will examine my mind and a moment a delusion arises, endangering myself and others, I will firmly confront and avert it.
Whenever I meet a person of bad nature, who is overwhelmed by negative energy and intense suffering, I will hold such a rare one dear, as if I had found a precious treasure.
When others out of jealousy, mistreat me with abuse, slander and scorn, I will practice accepting defeat and offering the victory to them.
When someone I have benefited from and in whom I have placed great trust, hurts me me very badly, I will practice seeing that person as my supreme teacher.
In short, I will offer directly and indirectly, every benefit and happiness to all beings.
I will practice in taking upon myself, all their harmful actions and suffering.
May all beings be well and happy. =D
In all actions, I will examine my mind and a moment a delusion arises, endangering myself and others, I will firmly confront and avert it.
Whenever I meet a person of bad nature, who is overwhelmed by negative energy and intense suffering, I will hold such a rare one dear, as if I had found a precious treasure.
When others out of jealousy, mistreat me with abuse, slander and scorn, I will practice accepting defeat and offering the victory to them.
When someone I have benefited from and in whom I have placed great trust, hurts me me very badly, I will practice seeing that person as my supreme teacher.
In short, I will offer directly and indirectly, every benefit and happiness to all beings.
I will practice in taking upon myself, all their harmful actions and suffering.
May all beings be well and happy. =D
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Random Stuff I Figured Out Over Summer
7 things:
1) Our minds are like our personal gardens. Tend it well, and it will grow beautifully. Disregard it, and weeds will start growing, and it becomes an ugly mess.
2) Every one of us needs a goal, a chief aim. It keeps us rooted in place. It's like a shining light that cuts through darkness.
3) We must be constantly improving ourselves. In all aspects - whether physically, mentally or spiritually. Each day, we can learn something.
4) Improvement does not mean suddenly changing in one day, it means discipline, and persistence. It's a step-by-step daily process.
5) Time waits for no man (or woman). One day, we will become sick or die (or worse still, old!). So let's do our utmost best knowing this full well.
6) Because we know the above, we should help others realize this, and make their lives more meaningful. We can help those in need, and put the fallen back on their feet. (But make sure that you are standing on yours first.)
7) Live in the present. It's all that you have.
Be joyful and stay happy! =)
1) Our minds are like our personal gardens. Tend it well, and it will grow beautifully. Disregard it, and weeds will start growing, and it becomes an ugly mess.
2) Every one of us needs a goal, a chief aim. It keeps us rooted in place. It's like a shining light that cuts through darkness.
3) We must be constantly improving ourselves. In all aspects - whether physically, mentally or spiritually. Each day, we can learn something.
4) Improvement does not mean suddenly changing in one day, it means discipline, and persistence. It's a step-by-step daily process.
5) Time waits for no man (or woman). One day, we will become sick or die (or worse still, old!). So let's do our utmost best knowing this full well.
6) Because we know the above, we should help others realize this, and make their lives more meaningful. We can help those in need, and put the fallen back on their feet. (But make sure that you are standing on yours first.)
7) Live in the present. It's all that you have.
Be joyful and stay happy! =)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A Definite Chief Aim in Life
Was just reading a book by Napoleon Hill, and something really struck me:
95% of the people in this world are just wandering around unsure of what they want.
Question to ask myself: do I have a definite chief aim in life?
My immediate answer: Yes. I want to be a monk.
Question: But why do I want to be a monk?
Answer:
I've seen enough bloodshed and suffering in this world. And experienced enough of it. Where do these problems come from? They come from ourselves - from our own pride, hatred and greed.
There is a way out. And my goal in life is to spread this way out - through the teachings of love and understanding. I want to reach out to people, to be there for them, to embrace their suffering, and make it my own.
Ultimately, no matter what we chase after, people just want to be loved, to be understood, to be happy. We want the human touch.
I want to be that human touch.
95% of the people in this world are just wandering around unsure of what they want.
Question to ask myself: do I have a definite chief aim in life?
My immediate answer: Yes. I want to be a monk.
Question: But why do I want to be a monk?
Answer:
I've seen enough bloodshed and suffering in this world. And experienced enough of it. Where do these problems come from? They come from ourselves - from our own pride, hatred and greed.
There is a way out. And my goal in life is to spread this way out - through the teachings of love and understanding. I want to reach out to people, to be there for them, to embrace their suffering, and make it my own.
Ultimately, no matter what we chase after, people just want to be loved, to be understood, to be happy. We want the human touch.
I want to be that human touch.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Quote of the Week
What the Buddha saw is that life is marked by four qualities: impermanence, suffering, selflessness, and peace.
He saw that we keep butting our heads against this basic reality and it hurts.
We suffer because we want life to be different from what it is. We suffer because we try to make pleasurable what is painful, to make solid what is fluid, to make permanent what is always changing.
The Buddha saw that we try to make ourselves into something real and unchanging when our fundamental state of being is unconditionally open and ungraspable-selfless.
We discover this notion of selflessness in meditation, where we learn to zoom away from our thoughts and emotions and become familiar with these basic facts of life.
Accepting the impermanence and selflessness of our existence, we will stop suffering and realize peace. That, in a nutshell, is what the Buddha taught.
It sounds simple: Yet instead of relaxing into this elemental truth, we keep searching around the next corner and never getting quite what we want.
In Buddhist language, that is known as samsara. In Tibetan, the word is khorwa, which means "circular."
--Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, Turning the Mind Into An Ally
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