In Grandma's House

Dawn has broken
The cockroaches scatter
I arise
Awaking from a light slumber
Dreams I vaguely remember
Swirling colors
Swirling figures
Smiling faces

The room is still dark
I feel slightly scared
Who knows what lingers in the darkness?
I gently step onto the floor
Aware

As soon as I open the door
My fears
They disappear
Grandma is outside
Chanting her daily prayers
“Omeitofatt… Omeitofatt…”

Her perfect voice soothes me
I am no longer afraid
Silently, I accompany her
Sitting down next to her
Taking her beads
I too pray
With all my heart

Grandma smiles
In that moment of eternity
I hope it would never end

The sun arises
Light fills the sky
I walk outside
The fresh air fills my lungs
The pigeon coos
“Kurukuu… Kurukuuu…”

The morning sunlight
Hits the dew
The grass glitters
Reflecting the golden sunlight
Shining like a thousand gems
I walk amongst the grass
Looking in awe at the amazing sight

Squatting down
I look at each blade of grass
Savoring each second
Tasting the sweetness of each moment

I see a praying mantis
Among the sweet potato leaves
I laugh with joy as I observe
Its serene movements
So graceful
So meticulous
So patient

Someone calls me
I look up
It's the boy next door
He looks at me with a sheepish grin
And starts talking to me
In a language
I didn't know
"Ni yao gen wo wan ma...?"

Somehow
I understood
The meaning behind his words
I nod
We laugh
Together

Grandma calls
"Fai tit fan lei... Sek fan loh!"
I rush in
With delight
Knowing what's coming

My nose
Catches a whiff
Of steamed chicken
Prepared lovingly by Grandma
My favorite!
I stood excitedly
As she spoons rice into my bowl

In front of the wooden TV
We sit
Eating
Laughing
Smiling

She loves me so much
And I knew it
For I love her too
In that moment of eternity
I hope it would never end

We take a stroll
She and I
In that familiar neighborhood
I know so well

The sights
The smells
The sounds

She takes my hand
Firmly
I follow
Ever so often
She turns to look at me
She smiles
I smile back

Walking
Just walking
Walking into eternity..

I open my eyes
The images fade
But the feelings remain
I smile gently
Life was simple then
I was so happy

Life is short
Things change
Ever so quickly
Don't they?

But looking deeply
Touching my heart
My childhood
My Grandma
Will always be a part of me
Will always remain in me
Will always be with me

Those moments of eternity
Never did end
They always will be

Short

Life is short
It truly is
We never want it to end
Never want it to end
But it always does

Looking deeply
You'll see
An end
Only marks a new beginning
We are all connected
We are all one
You and I
Together
Always

Non Duality

The bell tolls at four in the morning.
I stand by the window,
barefoot on the cool floor.
The garden is still dark.
I wait for the mountains and rivers to reclaim their shapes.

There is no light in the deepest hours of the night.
Yet, I know you are there
in the depth of the night,
the immeasurable world of the mind.
You, the known, have been there
ever since the knower has been.

The dawn will come soon,
and you will see
that you and the rosy horizon
are within my two eyes.
It is for me that the horizon is rosy
and the sky blue.

Looking at your image in the clear stream,
you answer the question by your very presence.
Life is humming the song of the non-dual marvel.
I suddenly find myself smiling
in the presence of this immaculate night.
I know because I am here that you are there,
and your being has returned to show itself
in the wonder of tonight's smile.

In the quiet stream,
I swim gently.
The murmur of the water lulls my heart.
A wave serves as a pillow
I look up and see
a white cloud against the blue sky,
the sound of Autumn leaves,
the fragrance of hay-
each one a sign of eternity.
A bright star helps me find my way back to myself.

I know because you are there that I am here.
The stretching arm of cognition
in a lightning flash,
joining together a million eons of distance,
joining together birth and death,
joining together the known and the knower.

In the depth of the night,
as in the immeasurable realm of consciousness,
the garden of life and I
remain each other's objects.
The flower of being is singing the song of emptiness.

The night is still immaculate,
but sounds and images from you
have returned and fill the pure night.
I feel their presence.
By the window, with my bare feet on the cool floor,
I know I am here
for you to be.

~Thich Nhat Hanh~

Blast from the past

Ahahahahahahhaha, I just can't stop laughing...

I just randomly came across a few facebook pages - of people I haven't met in ages... Oh my gosh... The memories....

Ahahahahhahahaha... I just can't stop laughing...

Memories... Ah, sweet memories... =)

A Tribute to Clothes

You wrap around and shape yourself to suit me,

Imprisoning my heart.
I don’t want to escape.
Inside you, I’ve got everything I need.
Do you know how beautiful you are?
Your graceful sleeves flutter in the breeze
Like a wild swan’s wings.
And when I let you hang unbound
And the wind comes and fills you,
You’re a billowing cloud
That lifts me up to sport with dragons.
Contained in you, I’m free.
I can climb cold mountains and linger at the summit.
Silk would send me down. Not you.
You say, “Stay and make yourself at home!”
A warm cabin in the drifting snows

~ Han Shan ~

A New Awakening

Thirty youths, between the ages of 20 & 35. Youths of all color - Indian, White, Chinese, Latin American, South East Asian, Middle Eastern. Youths of all traditions - Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, Christian.

We gathered together. We breathed together. We loved together.

Together.

That was how we felt as we underwent the 5 day Wake Up retreat at Deer Park monastery. By the end of 5 days, we addressed each other as brothers and sisters. It did not matter what background we came from; we were one, we were the same. It was truly touching.

Together, we would wake up early, at 5am. College students and workers alike had to adjust to the early timetable. But it was all worth it.



In complete silence, as the sun began to rise, the sunlight streaming in, we would sit in morning meditation. Aware of our breath, aware of our bodies, aware of our feelings, our emotions. Together, as a community, we sat, we transformed.

Paying respects to our ancestors, be it our parents, our forefathers, our spiritual teachers, we touched the earth. Touching our foreheads to the ground, we radiated love, we promised to transform ourselves for our sake, for their sake, for everyone's sake.

We would enjoy our meals in silence, truly appreciating our food. Enjoying each bite, tasting each morsel, we would savor in gratitude the simple vegan dishes; dishes prepared for us lovingly by the community.

We would share our individual stories. We would listen to the gifts of insight delivered by our fellow monastic brothers and sisters. Insights that help us understand deeper the meaning of life. We learned how human the monks and nuns were, as they shared their difficulties. Hardships, that we too, have undergone, that we have shared a part of.

Everything was done mindfully, in full and complete awareness. It was a week of reflection. But it wasn't all serious. We had fun too, lots of it.

Ping pong, mountain hiking, stargazing, joyful singing, kung fu, break dancing, these were a just handful of the things we did during our spare time. And it wasn't just us youth participants taking part, the monastic brothers and sisters too, showcased their talents.

We shouted as we lost (completely) in ping pong to monastic pairs. We stared in awe as we watched bald men in robes break dancing. We smiled and laughed as we heard them playing instruments accompanied by beautiful voices. It was truly heartening to see how talented, how human these bald people in brown robes were.

And yet, throughout all the fun, we were aware of ourselves, of what we were there for. Some of us wanted healing, many of us wanted peace, all of us wanted happiness, wanted Truth. And here was a perfect answer, Truth is not to be found in some isolated place, in a cave deep in the jungle; Truth is to be found in real life, in a community, in a society.

Happiness is to be found right here, right now. One need not become a hermit and torture oneself in isolation. Neither does one need to chase after material gains, to go after power, fame, wealth. Happiness can be found in simplicity. Happiness is when someone serves you food with a smile. Happiness is when you walk together with a loved one gazing at the stars. Happiness is when you receive a long, loving hug from your fellow brother or sister.

And so that was how it ended. With loving hugs. On the last day, we sat in the meditation hall, enjoying our last meal - a lunch done in the tradition of the Buddha, more than 2500 years old. After a quiet communal lunch, we shared our heartfelt gratitude through poems, songs and loving words. Finally, to our newfound brothers and sisters, we waved our hands, we said our parting words, we hugged goodbye.

And yet, although we physically parted, we knew that we would never be truly separated. The bond that we had created, that we shared, would always remain a part of us. As long as we continued the practice of Love and Understanding, we knew, that we would always be there for each other, with each other, in each other.

No coming, no going
No after, no before
I hold you close to me
I release you to be so free
Because I am in you
And you are in me

Because I am in you
And you are in me

What is True Meaning?

To be empty is to be full.
To be full is to be empty.
Empty your cup, for it is full.
But whose is the cup?
For it, too, is empty.