Remembering Your Parents...

This morning, ST featured a notice where its content is heartwarming and exude good and right thoughts.

It essentially details the fond memories of their departed parents and vows to continue with the parents' beautiful legacy of love, wisdom and compassion into their daily lives.

What more can the parents ask for except for their children to be well and lead a meaningful and joyful life?

A book on filial piety sutra indicated that in order to repay the virtuous kindness and love of one's parents, one needs to understand, practise and live the Dhamma Teachings as a way of life.

The Noble Eightfold Path is the basic guidance for a start.

Bless the family and all for remembering the love of their parents and aiming to live a life of mindfulness, compassion and right practice.

X'mas Is Around The Corner

Tried to soak in the X'mas mood with WY earlier by strolling along Orchard Road. The crowd was aplenty but not as many appreciated the light-up. They were busy walking, chatting, laughing or simply sitting at the benches puffing their life away..

I must say that this year's lighting is pretty much a let down.. especially compared to previous years.

Shopping malls surprisingly were not packed with shoppers. And if there were people carrying their shopping bags, they were not a lot for sure.

Strangely, the festive mood seemed to be missing... Is it due to the fact that the celebration has become overly commercialised or simply.. I have viewed the celebration differently?

Hmm....I guess X'mas has slowly become a time of quiet reflection and appreciation of little blessings despite of all the disappointments, loss and pains. And really, both WY and I believe that a simple, peaceful, and meaningful life is enough. It is all about giving, loving and be contented.

May all be blessed with good health and joy!

Seng Kee Mee Sua

When I first tasted Seng Kee mee sua five years ago, I was totally bowled over by the simple dish. The herbal soup was tasty with depth and a slight peppery kick in it. The pork and kidney slices were soft and fresh.

Today, the dish is still pretty much well liked by many, especially those who want to warm their stomach after a hard day's work or fun at a karoake lounge. Their menu has expanded to cover steam fish, tonic soups, curry fish head, special tofu with shredded pork, crab and more. These are hearty choices for the discerning Singaporeans who love street food at reasonable cost.

This Tme, Another Place..

It's amazing how IT modernise the world. A simple thing such as airplane now can transport us to places beyond our imagination as compared to earlier days..

This time yesterday I was working from home. Now, I am sitting alone in my hotel room in Mumbai working my ass away.

The air outside looks crisp and the weather looks just fine but I ain't going to slow down a bit and enjoy it. Clock is ticking away and needs to get ready the event.

Thankfully for WY yesterday... he has helped me to put things in perspective a little... Thus when I am facing with an unexpected condition last night and this morning, I am able to look at it with a calmer and objective mind..

I am still hoping for the best while I monitor. We shall see...

Bewildered...

Yearnings... desires.... Wishes....Whatever and however you coin it.... it is the same...

For it can be a powerful force.... to propel one to move and work towards achieving it. Once failed, one either moves on with more fervour to getting it or one moves away to look for alternatives.

Emotionally, this can be draining - as the roller coaster of expectations and results can be quite a ride.

Yes, I am feeling apprehensive, tense and a litle shocked even.

I cannot even understand if this feeling of low and fear is a result of my emotions running wild... and nothing more..

I am praying for calmness... this very moment...

A Gentleman...

I have known Fong for ages...And he remains every bit the understanding, communicative, insightful and caring gentleman I come to care and respect.

He is now a proud and happy grandfather of a newborn and his joy radiated through when I met him for lunch earlier today.

How many men in today's context give their lady friends that sense of comfort and security? Not many I guess. And I am lucky to have found a couple in my life.

WY is the other.

Women have been evolving and adapting - so much so that they are gaining foothold in many prominent areas at both home and business fronts. Men need to be more in order to engage women of today.

Tough balance but such is life, which is ever changing. As it is, the regulatory bodies are already having huge headaches about falling marital rates, not to mention procreation rates. Concurrently, divorce rate is on the rise.

Cause for concern? I would think so. Unhappy people may have greater odds of improving their well-being.

Collectively, such high level unhappiness and emotional gaps will surely have great impact on the social eco-system.

Until now, has this phenomena received much attention?

I do not really know, honestly...

This Moment...

This moment
Giving my best to the work on hand

This moment
Breathing with consicousness to slow down

This moment
Being aware of the thoughts that cross my mind

This moment
Sending good thoughts to people I know

This moment
Appreciating the moment... of being alive..... of being able to access Dharma and cultivate a righteous life...

This moment
Is simply precious......

Katina Ceremony

Just back from a 4 hour Katina Ceremony organised by Bhante Gunaratana and his MK Buddhist Society. More than 10,000 pieces of robes were offered to the Sangha community that spread in different countries covering Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and more. This ceremony had a great sense of occasion about it. It showed how a community who believes the same faith can maintain a great and rich tradition that spans more than 2500 years.

Buddhist monasteries normally observe a Rains Retreat period annually. They remain at one location to practice intensive meditation and reflection as well as to teach Dharma to devotees. At the conclusion of three months, which corresponds to the rainy period in ancient India, a special robe (Katina) is offered.

It is said to be the most meritorious offering, a millennia-old custom from the time of the Buddha. It is believed that offering the Katina robe will earn solid good Karma.

Very often, it is also during this ceremony that one transfer such meritorious deed to the departed ones with the hope that they become a participant of the original deed by associating themselves with the deed done. Thus, this identification of themselves with both the deed and the doer may result in the beneficiary getting even greater merit than the original doer, be it higher rejoicing or possible counterbalancing of their negative karma, thereby saving them from potential calamity.

This is my second participation in Katina Ceremony - where more time was spent on reflection, learning Buddha Dharma, and practicing Dana with appreciative joy. Mum must have felt our intense love and joy for the emotion that coursed through was overwhelming at times.....

A meaningful session. Indeed.