2010

Sometimes everything seems to make sense.

Other times, I'm just confused as hell.

Haha, that's life.

More to come.

2010.

Have an awesome year ahead!

Season's Greetings!

Home at last!

May you have a blessed Christmas! =D

Maxim 28

In polite society everybody notices if a man's hands are dirty. He'll be stared at contemptuously. Why, the fellow will be wretched until he washes his hands.

But isn't it funny how a man can character that's defiled by greed and hate and nobody will pay the slightest attention? He'll move about in perfect ease. Evidently, a dirty character isn't worthy of notice as a dirty hand.

It's so simple to restore dirty hands to a state of purity. Just wash them. But what about corrupted character? That's quite another problem...

~ Han Shan ~

Self-Reflection

P/S:
After re-reading this, I realize
that I really suck at poetry.
Ah whatever.

Sitting on my bed at 7am Finally home
Can't sleep
Jet lagged

Lots of thoughts
Come and go
I'll take this opportunity
To reflect on the past quarter

I know I keep saying this
So stop reading if you must
But I am truly grateful for this last quarter
It ended up as the best one yet

So much happened
Both good and bad
Yet through it all
I was so happy

Met new friends
Re-ignited old ones
Let go of dead branches
Nourished live ones
Had many wonderful moments
And some scary ones
Still
Through all that
At peace I was

Events of the past
That once haunted me
So grateful I am for having them
They have helped me grow
In ways
I couldn't have possibly imagined

Thanks to them
I found myself again
I realized what I really want
I rediscovered the Dharma

The painful and scary moments
I had this quarter
Were no biggie
Or at least not for long

They still hurt of course
But thanks to the past
I was able to deal with the present
In a much better light

I guess
Realization knocked on my head
Of what's truly important
And what's not

This quarter was marvelous
Full of laughter and joy
Enjoying each moment as it presents itself
The choices we make
Do change our lives

And yet I know
This is only just the beginning
There are more obstacles to come
For I never believe that life
Should or would
Be smooth-sailing

Yet
I also know
That despite this
There is much more joy
On the way

This is only the first step
I have much to learn
Much to experience
Much more to discover

Of course
This journey would not be complete
If it were not for you
Yes
You, my friend
You

I keep saying this
Perhaps you're numb already
But I don't care
I'll say it anyway

Thank you
Your presence
Your time
Your support
I will cherish our moments
Always

Thugs Violate Monastics in Phuoc Hue Temple

I felt so sad when I watched this

Thugs threatening monks and nuns

Mobs grabbing monastics and throwing them out

Shouting at the abbott and threatening to kill him

Apparently paid for doing so

They even went as far

As to send women in

To grab the private parts of monks

So that they had no choice but to leave

And what were the monks and nuns doing?

While they were suffering all this anger and hatred

While they were thirsty, hungry and cold

Did they fight back?

No they did not

Instead

They remained seated

Invoking the name of Avalokitesvara

The Boddhisatva of Compassion

Radiating forgiveness towards the very people

Who were mutilating them

Imagine how it would feel

If mobs of people went into your place of worship

Yelling swear words and molesting people by their privates

Throwing innocents out

Worse still

Imagine if you were one of these victims

Imagine if you had nowhere to go

Because that is the only home you have

That is how it feels

What is coming to this world?

Have people truly become so blinded

By hatred, anger and greed?

It doesn't seem fair does it?

But what can we do about it?

Do we punish the perpetrators?

No we cannot

For violence only leads to more violence

We can only forgive them

Understand them

Guide them

Pray for them

And hope that they change for the better

Namo Avalokiteshvaraya

Maxim 27

I glean what the harvesters have overlooked or rejected. So why are their baskets empty while mine is bursting with so much good food? They just didn't recognize their Buddha Nature when they saw it.

Everything in life depends on the choices we make.

~ Han Shan ~

Maxim 26

Everything in the universe is subject to change. There's only one exception: death always follows life. Isn't it strange that people haven't noticed this, that they conduct their lives as though they're going to live forever, that death is nothing to worry about?

Of course if they want to live as long as they obviously expect, they'd best pursue the Dharma. Life, death and change itself are transcended in the Dharmakaya.

~ Han Shan ~