Stay Home Stay Safe

I have not left home since Thursday 9th March 2020 night.

From sitting room to bedroom to kitchen to dinning rooms. From sofa to my big bean bag to bed. My prayer room and prayer beads. My prayer beads is my constant companion at home.

The fridge filled with meat, veggies, fruits, snacks, ice cream and eggs. I locked myself in. Purpose not to give others problems and to put myself in danger. Let the Doctors and nurses save those that need them and I don't want to add on.

My iPad and Handphone are my contact with loved ones and to get updates of news. My heart is with All sufferings in hospitals and at home. I watched my feelings and I knew it is not easy when it's so habitual to move around.  Fortunately for me, I am used to stay home.

Covid-19 is not going to let us off easily. I am blessed to be living in Singapore.  I thank PM Lee HL and the Government for doing what they thought best. YES, when people are deprived of income and food, it will be chaotic on top of Covid-19. A rise in crime is not helpful at this moment.

All compounded things will end. Stay calm.

Still Hazzzzy

Singapore...is smoking again?

Well, this year smoking is driving us nuts. No amount of education to the Indonesian can make them understand that burning the forest or the plantations is not the only solution to clearing lands for agriculture.

The PSI is soaring. It caused health problems to themselves and neighboring countries. We are in this party together. As air knows no space, it pervades every nooks and corners. No matter where you are you "smoke". For us who avoid outdoor but staying indoor is worst and no government or countries can do anything. We have to suffered it out until the "Rain Gods" decide to take pity on us and give Indonesia a wash down.

In actual fact this is a standing issue. It happens yearly like a ritual. Their Government cannot solved the problem neither can ours. All lips services are lips services only. The people who burnt are only staff, they are just doing their jobs. The companies who permit these clearings are not bother, all they need to is pay fine.

I am actually sadden by these burnings. The weather is hot and it catches fire easily. The "Fire Gods" once ignited is not easy to appease unless you do it immediately and it is a small fire. The fire raged on. Animals and insects, reptiles, birds and all these died in fire. There are also people living in these places and they may be in danger too.

I pray..that it rain heavily on these "hot spots" or we continue to suffer. I am already having a patched throat and a headache.

Ohm Mani Padme Hung

PRAY FOR NEPAL...Earthquake 2015

As we watch with shock, our compassion and feelings went out to those sufferings. The damages are unimaginable and many lost their lives. When everyone scramble to help Nepal, we can only sit back and pray. We pray for those who lost their lives, we pray for those who are alive, we pray for those hurt and suffering, we pray for those who are still buried in rambles. We pray for those whose love ones are missing and we pray that all our precious Gurus are safe. When there is nothing one can do, one can only pray. When news and pictures flashed across the TV, Facebook, Twitter and media which in home country or news of other countries, one watch with helplessness. Again and again I am reminded of Buddha's teaching...all compounded things are impermanence. Our life is so fragile.

 

There are many fund raisings going on and I pray that people are not unscrupulous to make it rich in this way. These funds are for life saving. Don't think that no one knows but Karma never misses. OHM AH HUNG BENZA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting the Tiger...

Actually I do not want to talk about this case because it is under fire and still hot on the daily news. However I remember I read somewhere, "the more you dig, the smell will get from bad to worst". It is true, just because of one case and all those that have suffered silently stepped up to air their woes.

This case of cheating retailers (not that it is new) happened everywhere in the world. I felt that if I am being cheated, it just shows that I am ignorant. I buy something without checking on the prices and comparing them. Again, buying something and needing a warranty is to protect against faulty item. To sign on papers has nothing to do with you being educated or uneducated, it is whether you understand the implications and at the same time the COST of signing papers. Do we read? Foreigners became scapegoats to this unlawful practices because they are here for a short stay. I supposed many went home suffering. Most of the time these people worked so hard, save a bit of money and hoping to get a toy (handphone in this case) to make himself happy and got stuck with such unhappy memories. It really damaged the reputation of the Country.

The scam at Sim Lim Square is a shame. It is like human borne in perfect human form but do not act like one, what a waste. I first read that the errant retailer throw refund monies on the floor for the poor customer to pick up - mind you in different denominations coins! Is it fun to see people stoop so low to pick up their monies? What type of gratification is this? It is a mockery of others dignity. Again within the same week another customer was cheated. He had to knee down to beg for refund! I could not bring myself to see the video which went viral. My heart ached.

This person who ran the shop, what sort of upbringing he has? I wondered the school he went to. I wondered what is his value as a human, as a son, as a responsible citizen, as a husband, as a father and as a friends? Looking at the way he behaves, it is understandable that his motivation is to make money, more money and more more money irregardless how he does it. This person have no sympathy, I don't want to say compassion (compassion is too big a word for him).

In here I saw the swift reaction of KARMA - what goes around comes around. Now the whole Singapore is after him - he angered Singaporean by his behaviours. All the "smelly" transactions are out in the open. I am amazed at netizens and the power of internet. They found all his personal particulars, where he lives, whom is his wife and what is her job. They even found where his mother is selling cooked food. Just because of his behaviors, he  subjected his family members to shame, harassment and caustic comments.

He did not apologized and obviously did not regret. He went into hiding. He sold his shop and continue to live a life and hoping the case will blow over. He will start his business all over again, in another name or use others name and continue to make his fortune.

Thanks to him, more and more retailers are now being targeted of error retailing, how about that? Singaporean should thank him for exposing not only himself and other retailers too. This will make it easy to do a one time cleaning of all retailers! I Kudos Jover Chew. He is an overnight celebrity.

A Chinese proverb..."going up the mountain too often will surely meet a Tiger". 

Meatless Cause...

I joined Jangchub Shing (TV Show in UK) in their Cause of promoting Meatless Monday. I hope all who stumbled on my blog support this Cause. It is only once a week on Monday and you can increase the days if you wish to do so. There is also a group called "Meatless Monday" which you may choose. You can choose either and support them on Facebook.

Recently my instinct is to go off meat for a month. The reasons for doing so (putting compassion aside) is the smell of these poultry and seafood. I was wondering why all these years I never smell these stench and they stink, why now? It is the smell of death. The stench of dead poultry and seafood frozen for our consumption puts me off. Many like eating fresh fishes, lobsters, crabs, octopus and because they are not human so its is OK to kill them? Others goes for exotic food like life monkey brain, life snake bile, life crocs' heads, life deers antlers and the blood and leave the deer bleeding to death. They think it is aphrodisiac, how can it be when it is so cruelly taken.

A report said that there was this Chef who is getting ready snake soup for clients. He chopped off the head of a cobra but unfortuantely the snake head, I don't know how, bit him. The Chef died of poison. He killed the snake and immediately the snake killed him. I called this Karma.

All animals, plants, trees, rocks, minerals, river, sea, stream, marine lives, the air and all in this World system is a blessing from Mother Earth. It is a gift but we have been taking selfishly, shamelessly and harming the environment. We contaminate everything we touch, even the air.

All these are because we craved for comfort, we craved for our mouth, we craved for our feel, we craved for our eyes and we craved for our body etc. Even if we do not need it, we still want to take. We forget that there is one thing we cannot own...AGE!

So Mother Earth is reacting to this. There are sickness and now ELBOLA, let alone Cancer, Aids and many funny sicknesses. The animals are reacting, from mad cow to mad chicken, to pigeon and more to come. We all have a part in these.

There are groups of people trying their best to protect the Environment however their effort is not enough. You can play your part to be a little more aware of your surroundings. Learn to appreciate what Mother Earth is giving us and after all we live here. Don't take everything, only the needed. I am not asking you to be totally off meat, or off the things that you like but take only what you need. Chinese has a proverb that say "All sicknesses starts from the Mouth".

We worked so hard to accumulate our Wealth but we lost it all by paying for all the medical fees, or to war or to Nature. The Law of Karma of what goes around comes around is never wrong. I invite you to join Us/ Me on this worthy Cause.

May you be blessed with all your Undertakings by spreading a little kindness and compassion along the Way. _(())_

Public Spirits.....

Bravo! to the Australian for their public spirit. The picture is a very touching scene and so many hands. Kudos to the train staff for reacting fast enough so that the train did not moved off and cost a life. 

As I read this article, I also read some of the comments and I felt ashamed of the remarks. I do not know whether the people who posted are Singaporean or not but sure took the opportunity to run down the Singapore system. Some said that people are afraid of Fine. I totally agreed with one comment that some Singapore people will stand around and not help and later take opportunities to blame the train operator and the Government. This is typical Singaporean! No matter how the Government or the public authorities/ operators do their best, they are not able to meet everyone’s needs and it mean they are NO GOOD. People will only want more and more but not willing to be a little selfless; a little less critical. 

Some said such happened in Japan before. Are they saying that Japan have this happening all the time? Meaning it is no great deal and why are the Australian being applauded for good spirit? It is a news report, not vying for anyone to say good things so if one is a sour grape, get something to sweeten the mouth.

Public Spirit is in our heart. Whether you have or don’t it is in born. It is not the Fine of $5,000, weighing it against a person’s life. What if the person is your loved ones? Do you want people to help them of not? 

I am sure the authorities or the Government is not brainless. How will they Fine public spirit like this? This is an accident. Even if there is Fine, probably the Operator and they will need to improve the gap between the train and the platform. The Government and relevant authorities will do their part to lessen future accidents as much as possible. We, as the people just have to act like Human if there is a need. These bad mouth people are SAINT and they never make any mistake in their life. 

Some of the comments were impossible. We are educated but our thinking capacities are just limited to that ZERO mark. Some can be very vulgar and cynical with their choice of words. I am glad they are Small People (小人) just shooting their mouth off with nothing better to do. What will happen to our Country if they are Leaders? What’s wrong with all of US? 

If everyone do their part and does their due diligent, no Fine needs to be imposed. However with Fine, the people still go against it. I saw people riding bicycle over overhead bridge when there is an indication of Fine. They defied the Law and ignore pedestrian safety. There are Fine for NO U TURN but people still do because they believe they will not be caught. There are Fine for using handphones when driving but there are so many people doing it, some even text sms or watch videos oblivious of their own safety and that of Others. Of course there are Fine for speeding but the smart alex knows where to avoid the "Eye".

FINE is a handy excuse. If you are fined means you are against the Law and what’s wrong being Fine? You ask for it!!! 

Anyway GRACIOUSNESS is something the people must learn. GOT STYLE BUT GOT NO VALUE is wasting away one’s life. We are found of finding others’ faults but never see one’s wrong doing. Super Selfish.. double confirmed!!! 

Don’t need to scold me or throw bad eggs at me, I am also learning from all these people - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Hopefully I pick up good habits! 

Tribute to the MH17 victims...

I am speechless on ignorant people who took ignorant lives. All the fingers pointing is an act which will not bring back the lives of 298 people and the hope of the surviving families. It is human cruelty to another and one have to answer for one's action.

I pray for the perished victims to have a better rebirth....and my

DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO ALL THE SURVIVING FAMILIES!

Graciousness....

 

What is graciousness? It is a personality? NO,  you either have it or don't. Many people do not know what is graciousness and how to be gracious. So what does this word covers?

 

To me, this word means kindness, compassion, graceful, pleasing and courteous. It also mean good taste, tactful and acceptable.

 

For example someone said "Lian, you are looking good"....for a gracious person, she will reply "Oh, thank you for your kind words"; and there are pretentious people who will say "No lah, you must have seen wrongly." For whatever the reason, why one cannot graciously accept the compliment?

 

Graciousness have kindness, compassion and empathy in it. Because in Singapore, life is on a platter for most "middle and upper class people". These people lived in good resident, elite environment, have fleets of cars, good jobs but many are lacking graciousness.

 

Recently there was a case that a maid was abused by her employer for not listening to her but went to attend to the employer's child who was crying. I cannot see anything wrong with the maid but she was kicked, pinched, pour hot water, slapped etc. What justified such attacked when the employer is educated and hold a top position? Local Chinese has a saying "Educated but filled with shit in the brain".

 

There was one maid who was tasked to take care of the employer child and this child throw tantrum. The maid is trying to pacify the kid but the continuous crying of the child got the employer so worked up that she pulled the maid ears, slapped her, kicked her, burn her with an iron, tore her hair. I was wondering, it is the employer duty to bring up her own kid but here because she got a maid she felt that it is the duty of the maid. So much for an affluent society who breeds "educated rubbish human" who knows no kindness and empathy. They do not deserved a maid.

 

It is sad to see these maids coming from poorer countries who are here to make a living. They do not want to be a maid if possible but life is such that they have no choice. These maids are here to tender to your home, your kids and all the household chores that you hate to do and she deserves better than to be ill-treated. Talking about human rights!

 

The next group of people are foreign labours, people coming here to take all the dirty jobs that Singaporean are too high class and too educated to do. They are also being abused. Fortunately Singapore government took care of their board and at least they don't sleep on roadsides, slumps, back lanes or a cramped up small little room that are occupied by 10 of them. They have no proper place to wash up, cook and rest.

 

It pains my heart to see other human being treated worst than a dog. No wonder they said "Leading a Dog life". Do not underestimate dogs, they live better than me too.

 

Therefore if one is not gracious and have empathy, sooner or later all the dirty actions will be brought to light and exposed to public. It goes to show how bad a person can be. If one has no graciousness towards stranger, than do not take them into the family. If one brings in the maid, one brings in another family member. Feelings are reciprocal, if you are nice and train the maid, she will do what you want the way you want it.

 

I have a friend who have 3 maids in the house. They eat what the employer eat. She bought clothes for them, buy them gifts and gifts for their family and she gives them extra pocket monies during festivals. Her maids are well-behaved. They cook and wash for the family. They also help to look after the old folks at home and of course her pet dogs too.

 

Therefore graciousness is cultivated.

 

When you have brains and look do not mean you are graceful and gracious. When you have monies do not mean that you are gracious as well. The I and MINE ego is larger than life. You can see loads of such people when you drive on the road, when you are at supermarket, when you are waiting for buses, when talking, when you travel overseas. There are such people all over the World but I am seeing the ''micro'' which is Singapore.

 

I for one got lots to learn from these. Just hope that I will grow old gracefully.

Murder....for what?

As I was typing my last article on child abused, on the same day in the afternoon a gruesome murder took place in another part of Singapore. This news shocked the whole Singapore as it was a double ''Death" - a father and son.

As we read with tongue in our cheek, we were wondering who is this cold-blooded person who killed a father in their home and dragged the body of his son underneath the car for at least 1km.

Many were speculating who is this person. Some said it could be a relative, some said Ah Long, some said business competitors and all the mind ran freely, each developing their fantasy even when police said don't guess. Well everyone drop their spectacles, it is none of the above. The suspect is even more shocking - it is a police officer! The Police Force now have to stomach all the finger pointing, criticisms and of course there are public attack. There are those who must create discords or add some caustic remarks to the already remorse Police Force. However I kudos our Police Force!

Anyway, it is not the fault of the Police Force. Everyone themselves is a black sheep. The only reason is you did not have the opportunity to be one yet. So don't point fingers so fast. The suspect I believe is not a bad person but circumstances made it that he did what he did. I am sure there are better choice if he needs to solve his problems but he resolved to slashing the old gentleman and than his son to death. As a police officer, he knew he cannot escaped the gallow.

Till now we knew he was brought to court. He was charged this morning of double murder but what caused him to do what he did? Why did he needed to kill? The son who ran after him was ran over by the car he drove and was dragged 1km away and dislodged in the middle of a busy road causing huge traffic jam. How did the whole incidents took place, under what circumstances, how were the victims hurt, where/what was the weapon...still is a ????

I think we should not blame anyone for this unfortunate event. We just have to watch the happenings. The Court will give justice to the bereaved family. The suspect will have to pay for his sins - I do not believe it is manslaughter because he slashed the victims throat/ neck areas knowing this will surely caused death. Moreover he is a police officer, big and tall, trained in defenses - both victims had no chance against him.

In Singapore if a suspect committed a crime as grievous as this and in a rich man house, he has no chance to hide his identity - there are CCTVs in the house which already have captured his doings. In actual fact Singapore probably have CCTVs installed in most places i.e home, petrol kiosks, cars, neighbour's home - what chance of escape have one?

My heartfelt condolences go out to the victims' family. The old gentleman''s wife who lost her husband and son on the same day; the younger victim's wife and children and the whole family probably is still in disbelief and shocked.

My heart goes out to the suspect mother and family and he is the sole breadwinner. It could have ended differently if only one holds one's temper and not react at the spur of the moment.

Death is certain, the time of death is uncertain and the place of death is also uncertain.........

Children...Teacher

Can anyone be a Teacher? Especially Teachers, do they have the empathy, energy, commitment to a growing child? Can Teachers take on so many children - crying, screaming, running around and some are hyper and difficult to control? Do Teachers have LOVE for children and are the Teachers supported?

Many who are parents can tell you that a child is most challenging to handle. I do not deny that at time you will wish to spank them but spanking them do not make them better. It will make them even more rebellious.

I may not be a teacher but I have been tasked to tuition a difficult boy who failed his examinations, refused to learn and I am the final straw to his parents. He is silently rebellious and hard headed. No amount of coaxing worked, no amount of kind and encouraging words helped and of course harsh words took no effect. I felt like tearing my hair and asking myself is he not salvageable? Then a little spark lighted my thoughts, could it be he couldn't read? I asked him to read a passage and other than I, he, she, is...he was not able to read. GOSH! all these years and this is his final chance to move on to secondary school...how to make it? I looked at all his other subjects - he was borderline in Science, History, Geography and he scored slightly higher in Chinese and Maths. Zero for English. I decided that I deduced correctly. I coached him on all subjects but spent hours with him in teaching him how to read a word... I would say c.o.m "com" and m.o.n. "mon" so when two of them joined, it is ''common". Once he got the hanged of it, he picked up very fast. He dissect the words and read the sound and when he joined them together, he got the sound of the words correct. This way he also learned his spelling. After one month he was able to read for me and when I asked him to spell, he dissect the words and spell to me correctly. Gaining confident in English, he started to pick up on all the other subjects too. When the final examination came, he sat and passed. With good scores in English, Chinese, Maths and Science, he went to an elite school. Today he is an engineer in the aerospace industry. He told his wife and children how I coached him. I told him  "There were times I wanted to give up". He is my achievement and did me proud,

Moral of the story - understand the child and why is he behaving this way. Some children want attention and will do rebellious actions or make noises. If the Teacher have no empathy than she is not fit to be one. For my case was he could not read and tried to avoid and know not how to speak up.

Coming from a affluent country, most are young working parents and they leave their children with Child Care Centres. No one is there to monitor whether the child is taught correctly. No one knows whether the child ate his meal, let alone being abused. There are also parents leaving children at home to be taken care by maids. There are incidents caught on CCTV on child abused. There are incidents of sex abused as well.

Gone were the days when we grew up under Mom's care. Mom who cook, wash, clean and took care of us and the family personally.

Rapist...and the Raped

The Indian girl who was raped, brutally injured and eventually died shocked India. I was equally shocked to core.

This took part in a public transport and how safe can India be? The amount of hurt, anger, shame and most of all pain, who should account for all these? Every day there are girls being raped and only she hit the headlines. The whole of India is asking for justice.

The girl's family quietly cremated her. In moment of grief, the girl's family is willing to release her identity so that she can be a reminder to warn other women in India of their vulnerability. Does India have a solution to protect Women? What was than oblivious was out in the open.

I followed the saga on the news. How fair can the justification to a life be? There are public who want to take revenge and justice into their own hands.  There were people who saw the badly beaten up and naked bodies of the two victims and no one came up to them. The policemen whom were justifying whose responsibility was even more lame. People who are supposed to uphold justice and security are themselves a joke. People's compassion has gone down the drain.

A Guru believed that this poor girl should beg for mercy and should chant god's name. Did the Guru  think that the girl had willingly agreed to be raped without begging for mercy? I believed that her boy friend begged too, did the Rapists heeded his helplessness?

Now the Rapists are in Singapore. During the trial, the Rapists pleaded not guilty? They said that the dead girl should be the one to say "Sorry" to them? The Rapists are not remorseful for the harm they did. They know NO morale and obviously NOT human and they are also NOT beasts (beasts do not attack for sex).

Whatever happened to the dead girl, her boy friend and the Rapists are issues that sadden my heart. It affected the families involved, the lives of those who were involved, it affected the society and it affected a Nation.

Ohm Mani Padme Hum !

Prayers of Medicine Buddha with 1000 Lamp offerings

Kindly send me the following information by leaving me a message in my comment box if you need prayers to be done for yourself and that of your loved ones. I will fill in the card (see attached) and place it in the prayer bowl. These cards are special made and they are biodegradable. You can send in as many names and no matter where you are, just do so by letting us know. What I need from you:

Name : The full name of the person
Age:____ Country : _____ State:______
Your wish for this person :

If you need to know WHY we are doing this, please read below. NO MONEY is needed. Noted the cut off date is 1st November 2011 by mid-night Singapore time.

***************
Upcoming Event: Prayers of Medicine Buddha with 1000 Lamp offerings by HE Kathog Rigzin Chenpo Rinpoche @ Chagzog Tamcho Centre on 13 Nov 2011.

We are extremely blessed to have the presence and kindness of H.E. Kathog Rigzin Chenpo Rinpoche, who will lead us, joined by many Buddhist communities around the world, in the Medicine Buddha puja and the 1000 lamp offerings.

Medicine Buddha is the manifestation of the healing energy of all enlightened beings. Prayers made to Medicine Buddha, the Supreme Healer (tib: Sangay Menla), will be blessed with healing powers of outer and inner sickness of oneself and others due to the 12 great aspirations strongly made by Medicine Buddha, at the time of his Bodhisattva-hood, out of his compassion. It is not only an effective method of supporting oneself and others to increase the healing powers in physical sickness , but also for overcoming the inner sickness of our defilement such as attachment, hatred, and ignorance. Thus, meditating or praying to the Medicine Buddha would purify oneself and others negative karma as well as accumulate vast store of merits. That would wonderfully manifest a temporary result of having pure and soothing outer ambiance. Most importantly; it will yield the supreme fruition of enlightenment of recognizing the true nature of our innate mind and the outer phenomena, ultimately.

In pursuit of true happiness, many realize that we and our beloved ones are constantly being exposed to many seemingly insurmountable ordeals such as terminal illness, natural catastrophe, economic turmoil, etc. which could cause immense physical and mental suffering. These torments not only cause pain which lead to health deterioration but also great distress to one’s mind. In actual fact, in these time of degeneration, misguided pursuit of happiness without knowing the right path to accumulate merits and purify one‘s negative karma is the root cause of these sufferings.

Through the understanding of “True Happiness”, one can develop genuine love, compassion, and joy. When the loving kindness and compassion are truly developed deep within our hearts, we would inevitably, not only care for ourselves but care for others with unconditional love. Loving kindness and compassion are the remedies of overcoming our sufferings. With that in mind, we would like to encourage all practitioners, devotees and readers to participate, radiate and reach out your loving kindness and compassion to fill up every space and corner of this world. Let’s us mingle our hearts with the great enlightened mind of the Medicine Buddha, the essence of love and compassion.

Be it of needing prayers for yourself, your beloved ones, friends, or simply motivated to dedicate to the well-being of all sentient beings and world-peace, we will most heartily welcome all and our centre is always open for your visit and enquires. You can participate by filling your loved ones’ names and their wishes in our specially designed wishing cards. We will gather all the wishing cards around the world and place them right before the Mandala of Medicine Buddha during our prayers’ event, so as to receive the great blessings from Medicine Buddha.

Woes of a Nation - Japan March 2011

As we watched in horror, pictures after pictures, reports after reports on the television filled our eyes and ears with shocked. This time it is Japan. Most of the people living near the sea probably have lost their lives. We saw big sea vessels coming inland carried by the 10m strong water. Yes, it swept everything in its way. How fast again can human react to act of nature?

I did not know what happened as I was in a library deep in my revision for the coming examination. It is a temporary cut off from the real world and woes behold, when I stepped out.

Many years, when I was a kid, Mum used to say that Japan will one day disappeared overnight. After watching reports that Japan is actually sitting along the ridge of live volcanoes undersea, we may have some ground to ponder upon. I was in Japan and had experienced the minor swaying which I was not expecting. However to the Japanese, it is part and parcel of their lives. No one can be more prepared when the earthquake triggered a tsunami.

I was speechless as I watch. Although we are from different country and far from Japan but we are one people...we are Global Citizen. With disasters happening around all our neighbors, words of comfort is no longer necessary. The pained is feeling the pain; the lost is lost forever; the missing is yet to be found and will it be found; the bits will have to be picked up; the road is tough and the tough got to push against the odd...

Life is so fragile..my Guru keeps reminding us. How long will we live? You said 60s, some said 70s and some said 80s. No one wants to die and especially in such unpredictable way when you have wishes and dreams unfulfilled. In actual fact, we live by every breath we take. Once the breath is not coming, we are goners.

I pray for all the people in Japan - may those who are alive live well and in safety, the unfortunate ones, may they rest in peace. Japan at crisis need to be united and strong. Kudos to all those who lend a hand to help Japan, be it its own people, tourists, countries around the world - physically or in prayers too be well and happy. Deepest Condolences to the Japanese people.

I am glad and grateful that my blogging friend Cindy is safely back home in Malaysia. My friend's brother and sister-in-law with their 2 boys were in Tokyo when it happened and they just touched down Singapore with the first flight out of Japan. To my friend Tazuko, whose parents and relatives are in Japan be safe and the son and family of Aunt Lian is safe too.

Japan is plagued with earthquake, tsunami and now the nuclear plants leaked...is going through a difficult time. May we joined together in prayers that these disasters will be over soon and Japanese picked up and be strong.

The World is changing. I feel that the World is cleaning up and slowly will see all these as we draw closer to 2012. 2012 may not see the end of the World but we will see the World in a different light.

My prayer : Ohm Mani Padme Hum

what a terror....

I wonder how many Singaporean are aware that terrorism is actually at home? Are they concerned about their safety? Did you ever think for a minute that your good neighbor , your friend, someone you know..... Think if you walk on the street with someone walking next to you who carries a bomb in his bag and if it explodes than...do you just say 'I am suey lah!'.

With incidents worldwide...the biggest being the World Trade Center 911 incident but again it was so far away from home. We sympathized with the victims and families and that is all. The pain is there but the pain is not ours.

Why do some in Singapore wants to do harm to this little island they call Home? We have to thank Mat Selamat for hitting the nail home. Again how many Mat Selamat are out there waiting for their opportunity to harm US? When it really happened, it is too late to cry or regret. Singaporean are so fortunate, complacent and dependent on the Government. To date our country is superb in their vigilance but there are people out there who are weak at will. They can sell themselves if someone gives them monies.

We all did wonder how did Mat Selamat escaped from such tight security? Although the government warned against housing him but they are against the notion of family. Even with such stringent punishment, can you say you turn your family away in such situation? The family may not be a terrorist but they are human and they have compassion. They know housing this person will put them in trouble and yet they did. Can we blame them? You can't...it is human. If it happens to someone in your family, you will do same...so don't blame.

Not blaming does not mean 'tidak apa'. Not blaming those whose emotions are invested and not see the bigger picture But it surely shows that if Mat Selamat is convicted and sentenced...what will the emotion of his family be? Will they multiply? This is home ground.

Looking at the world around us now...it is surely chaotic. All the unrest in the West, in the East...to the North and to the South. It is people throwing government and they no longer want to be suppressed. It is not only the people, Nature is also wagging wars at human!

Beginning of the Metal Rabbit 2011, the worst hit is Australia. Imagine Brisbane going underwater not to mention people loosing their homes and lives. Now the earthquake that shook New Zealand and left many dead. So it is not where you live, it is when is the time one will die and where. Many of those dead are foreign students.

So up in China, down in Australia/ NewZealand, east in Korea/ Taiwan/ Thailand/ Cambodia and west with Libya being the latest.

As human heart/desire goes from goodness to anger, when the heart feels the perception unfairness, when the heart feels why should I care for others when my happiness is at stake, when the heart feels why must I be suppressed to poverty...it rebels! Feelings are contagious and it can influence. Again there are those that play with the weakness of human beings, brain washing them to sell their life for a cause....are unethical but as long as it serves their purpose.

I can never understand that any religion, if it is a TRUE religion will want to take life or lives for the benefit on one cause. It is a human one is dealing with, it has its own thoughts and believes and can never be forced to do anything. When you scolded someone, if that someone do not retaliate does not mean that someone agrees with your doing. No two persons are the same and how can you force someone into your own mind...for a matter of fact, why don't you turn around and think like me? So you won't and than why should I?

There is justice in this World. When it comes to such a time that people cannot control themselves, Karma will.

HIT & RUN...Irresponsible motorist!

Two days ago, there was a Hit & Run incident just outside my block of flat. I wondered what is the hurry for some motorists, why are they so impatience, so irresponsible and what are they trying to prove? Why can't they drive with care, why are they so careless about their own life and that of others? What do they get with a one minute different to destination. Did they think that they may not even get there at all?

The most unforgivable are HIT & RUN motorists. They knew they made a mistake and a darn grievance mistake. They sped and think that they are heroes...but when they hit someone and run...what sort of shit is that? It goes to see someone's character and I think the Law should not let these people off lightly. If they are scared like shit...in the first place why let the incident happened? Talking about considerate motorists, they aren't many. You just have to wait at any traffic lights, any filter lanes, any highways, any multi-storey car parks and you spot them any time. Did these idiots who hit others ever think that there are still chances of survival if they stopped, called the police or ambulance? They think they can run away? Too bad, the one that happened at my block got caught by motorcyclists who gave chase. This guy should go to jail, canned by rottan and band from driving forever! By the way, I learnt that the girl who was hit passed away yesterday and she was a university student. May she rest in peace (I felt pain for her parents).

Motorists have no patience for pedestrians; motorists have no patience for other motorists; motorists have no patience for motorcyclists and any other thing that get in their ways. The prominent KAISU attitude just spew everywhere in Singapore. The bigger vehicles bullied the smaller ones - big cement trucks dare you to hit them or you give way to them, the lorries dare you to hit them and die if you dare, the container trailers, any vehicles that are bigger than you...they challenge you to try and die. Well motorists and motorists are the same - first class cars like Lexus, BMW, Mercedes and anything that is FIRST...they have to run in front of you. People who cannot afford to drive first class cars, challenged others and see if you can zoom faster...careless about your life because he believes "I will never die and I can drive like Shoe Marker!'. Its all sucks! The motor cyclists...they think that they are slim and can squeezed any where. They zipped in and out and careless about you...and they challenged you to hit them as well and when you do, they surely die!

Pedestrians are also the worst of the lots too. Not that their mothers or teachers did not teach them "Look left, look right, look left again and when there are no cars, cross the road". I swear under my breath many times with people reading their hand phones, sending messages and crossing the roads like their grandfathers owned them. These people know no DANGER!, another group of idiots who think they live forever. They do not know what it meant to be 'TOO LATE'. They also forget that for their safety, there are traffic lights BUT again motorists and pedestrians are BLIND to traffic lights. Pedestrians forget what is a RED man and a GREEN man. Motorists?...once the light turns GREEN, I must 'chong' first...they forget that there maybe people still crossing the road.

OMG, I can go on forever. With a little patience, a little concern, a little respect for others lives...the road is a happier place. ARE YOU SUCH DRIVER? DO YOU WANT TO LIVE WITH REMORSE AND REGRET WHEN SOMEONE DIED UNDER YOUR WHEELS? If you are, my suggestion is "You Better Wake Up".

Here is a HIT & RUN caught on tape. It pains my heart to see it. DON'T be the one who HIT or the one who is DEAD, please!

Work until die…

It was in the newspapers and TV of a man committing suicide due to work pressure. Is this new? We are lucky in Singapore that we work by the law. There are so many hours of work, so many hours of rest, public holidays, shift work, part-time work, contract work and in between all the perks. However we still have people who collapsed at work of heart failure and died. You can say that the person deserved to die because she strives so hard but again, the pressure comes from the Management.

It was unfortunate to end one’s life by jumping off the roof. I believe the man had no choice. He wrote a last message to his parents apologizing for such action. When he was pressurized, who can he turns to…do Human Resource listens? NO! HR is for the Management…not worker nor staff. I was told this by Management. I was invited to sit on 'THE' HR chair if I get rid of this person subtly. The Management wanted him out and yet save their face and so I was asked to do it. Yes, I am to do it but with one condition attached… "if he walks in and say that it is either you or him, I am sorry it will have to be you" to leave. So you see how politic this is and I will be the scarifying lamb or the hero. I decided I do not want the job. I do not see why I need to do all these ugly things.

This factory in China owned by a rich and famous Taiwanese tycoon, is in the limelight for the wrong reason recently and the saga is not over yet. People grow their businesses so big, employed monkeys by paying them peanuts and let them loose. Main interest of a business man is to make money, the more the merrier because he can stand as social elite, have money to party, buy women around him, got power…and how those money break up with blood, they are blind to it. The tycoon stood up and say that he is not running an inhumane operations. He has to face the media and the public and probably because he is sitting on the fire now.

It is sad. I know production have time schedule to meet but human is human after all. Our body and mind have their limits. Some people are stronger and the stress thresholds are stronger but some are timid. Someone told me "In this world, if you do not work faster, work smarter, be with the right people, or join the gang…you are a gone-na". It is ever so true. I saw this with my own eyes. If you do not suck up to those who are the 'little people' in the company, all the worst and dirty jobs are done by you. Whether you like it or not, you perform, keep your mouth shut or you get the ‘boot’. The most mystifying thing…."Management believe in all these 'little people' and no matter how hard working you are, you will never get any where". The next most mystifying thing…”Management believes that anyone who holds a Degree, a Masters, a PHD are the brains”. These are the people that draw that highest pay, get the best benefits…does the least work…and get all the CREDITS! One reason…”because they have the gift of gap”. At a lower level we saw the effectiveness of these people, ONLY the Management are blind. Don’t jump the gun, I am talking about the people I know and not everyone is like that. Anyway Management never admit their faults…how can they admit they employed the wrong person? Loosing face is the utmost disgrace and after all it is not their company or it is public money, lose money just blame it on everything but themselves.

If there were 13 people committing suicides within a year or two, how can the Management be so numb that they did not realized something is not right? This happened in China’s Apple’s IPod factory . The Chinese are shouting not to support Apple IPod. Too bad Apple contracted their productions to such unscrupulous people. Yesterday in the news, the factory caught fire. I was wondering did this happened to redirect people’s attention…talk about the fire and not suicides?

Anyway, we are all out to make a decent living. Owner or Management just have to provide a decent job, decent pay, decent work hour, decent break time, decent housing, decent food canteen, decent recreation and decent overtime pay...so that we make money for them. I just wonder why anyone can be so proud of themselves, that they are better educated, holds a higher position, live in a bigger house, drive a bigger car and treated people who made money for them like dirt? Is this world logical?

Do we blame it on the people, no we blame it on the society. It is how to stand apart and be the elite.

Ha...a.a.a.a...It's a JOKE!

The retreat that we took with Shangpa Rinpoche included an early morning hiking program. We gathered at 6am before sunrise and set out for a 4 hours mountain hike.

The group of people were around 60. When we started we were walking one after another. As we proceed, the group started to break off. Those that were fit and full of energy followed Rinpoches. As for us, we fell behind. This was due to my sister Judy who had a leg surgery not too long ago and she was not able to walk as fast.

We knew nothing of the terrains and started a walk which we never expected to be slippery, dangerous and some of the slopes was like about 90 degree. We made our way up and down, waded across small streams and hoping to make it fast to ending destination. However, we realized that we were falling more and more behind. Initially we were able to see some people in front of us but subsequently, we were all alone.

This walk and hike made me reflect about life. When you started life journey, there is no turning back. You do not know what is ahead of you but you have to push on until you reach destination. The up slopes and down slopes are like all the ups and downs in life. Some of them are dangerous and you have to walk carefully. However you know, you are not alone because there will be some Bodhisattva who will walk with you, encourage you along the way, hold out to you when you come to a dangerous crossing so that you do not fall and hurt yourself. They stopped to give you a slip of water, they picked up dried leaf to fan you and took out tissues to clean off the sweat on your brow.

When we knew that we will never be able to catch up with those that have gone ahead, we started to relax and walked at our own pace. Isn't this like our spiritual journey? Some walk so fast and some fall behind...but...the destination is the same and we will surely reach the same goal.

As we walked along, we started to make merry instead of worrying what was ahead. We started to look at all the vegetation around us. We took pictures of durian flowers, leaves that we use to wrap our carrot cake, we saw wild jackfruits, we admire wild flowers... I saw a lizard basking in the morning sun. We looked at the opposite terrain with rolls and rolls of palm oil plantation. We stopped under shade to rest and carry on walking.

We laughed at our jokes. We started singing 'Lama Cheno'...calling of the Guru from afar. I am sure all the mountain animals and spirits must have heard these. We sang the Heart Sutra. We sang love songs and all these made our hike so meaningful and gratifying.

I wondered those who walked so fast, did they have the time to look and admire the landscapes? Did they saw what we did? I am sure they saw different things. Isn't it like our lives? We looked at the same thing but the understanding and perception were different.

We came to a junction after 3 hours and the guide said there was a shortcut back to camp. We decided against it. We wanted to walk the path that Rinpoches walked. As Rinpoches walked along, we were sure they made prayers along the way. We do not want to deviate from the Gurus. In real life, we pray we do not deviate from the Gurus' teachings. So we happily walked on.

Reaching destination was a joy. Another 100m to Canteen. One Bodhisattva waited with a car along the road to pick us up just in case we can't walk anymore. Instead, we decided we have walked thus far, what is another 100m? As we walked, we sang 'Lama Cheno'.

What a meaningful hike. We live in the now, experience the now and be with each other now. What is past is gone...what in future is yet to come.

The beauty was...we all reached our destination without casualties.

Sadhu...Sadhu...Sadhu

Memories...(1)

I stopped blogging about my involvement with Hospice for a while now. I realized that one should make hay while the sun shines. We forget that we may not wake up to see the Sun. As much as I attended to 'Out Hospice', I do spent reasonable time with the patients 'In Hospice' too. All these sadly beautiful people taught me in their own way about Love, Life, Living and Appreciation. They also taught me how to look at human weaknesses and forgive them. This time I am sharing with you stories of people who are no longer around but they touched my life.

Uncle Wee

Attended to him with Steve. We saw him at least three times a week. After we made our rounds to all the other patients, we will sit with him. He has been sick for some time now. He knew it was terminal but 'when' is the question? He was interested to see Steve and me as an item. We never denied nor did we admit we were. It was good to give him something to talk about. He always encouraged us in our relationship. He told me never to hold a quarrel for more than 15 minutes. He said never to bring a quarrel to bed. Of course Steve and me did not make it to bed. Uncle Wee was one of the longest surviving patient we had. He has children but we never saw them visiting him. We never asked and he never commented. When he passed on, we felt we lost a 'relative'. Grieving is inevitable.

Granny

I walked in and always say "Granny, how are you today. I am here to bathe you". I pushed her to the shower room. In my course with Hospice and the trust of the nurses, I have learnt how to bathe a patient. After that I will dry her long grey hair, comb her lock and powdered her body and face. "Humm.... you smell nice, Granny!". I gave her warm water, rest her properly on the pillow and saw her smile and relaxed. Nothing is like feeling clean and smelling good. These patients lie in bed most of the time.

Nancy

She had a bed next to Granny. I never paid her attention as I always walked straight to Granny. When Granny passed on, I walked in one day and Nancy said "Your Granny passed away last night in her sleep". She made an attempt to tell me. I smiled at her and thanked her and asked her what is her name? "My name is Nancy. I saw you always walked in and go straight to Granny. I saw you bathe her, comb her hair, feed her and hold her hands. You never talk to me". What an idiot I was. How can I be so insensitive. I apologized.

I breezed in and breezed out the Wards, indifferent to other patients except the one I am taking care of. I need to be careful. After that day, Nancy became my friend. She spoke good English, she read and she comprehended what was said and she was very observant. She, being a Christian was curious about Steve and me who are Buddhists. She wanted to know what our religion taught us. At time she asked whether I can read her the Daily Bread, I did. However deep in me there is this tussle going on. Why am I reading another religion's teaching? I overcame this. I should act with kindness and understanding. My most important task is to make the patient comfortable. I am not there to teach nor to convert. I am wondering will a Christian read a Buddhist scripture? They probably will say it is 'Words of the Devil'. I have people saying this to my face.

Nancy said " Lian, you are sincere. There are others who are here like a routine. She explained that she saw me walking around, talking to patients, attending to them, sit with them, rubbed them, feed them, bathe them and my actions were consistent. GOSH! I realized I am being scrutinized. There were days when she was in pain and the morphine made her drowsy. There were days she was alert and talked a lot. She asked everything about 'ME'. From family to education, to friends, to boy friends, to hobbies, to religion and my thoughts about other religion and "Will you marry Steve?". So she gets personal at time. I understand that her time is limited. I understand she has gone through all the stages of denial, rejection and finally accepting and now waiting for the final moment. She had made peace with herself. She cannot be sad all the time. It is a choice. Nancy decided that as long as she breaths, she is going to take an interest in life.

Nancy was an intellectual person. She was clever and had wisdom. She told me one day 'Lian, do you realized that for terminally ill patient like us, we do not have many people visiting. This is because we over lived the period we are suppose to die. All the anticipation by family and friends dwindled. When they realized that we are not going to die so soon, their visits get lesser and lesser'. GOSH! This lady, she was scary. So much reality in her words. There is something else she said that brought tears to my eyes... She said " Lian, you are my last friend on Earth." This is the impact! Even when I am typing this now... tears rolled in my eyes. HOW true! Did all the volunteers realized that their presence are so precious to these patients? I did not until Nancy told me so.

Nancy went into coma and not before she built a strong bonding with me. She is a friend, she still is. Her family knew that her time was near. Everyone came and bid farewell. She refused to leave. Being experienced, Matron called us "Lian, you better come down with Steve. Nancy went into coma since yesterday. The family is stressed out but Nancy is not leaving. I think she is waiting for you both". We rushed down after work.

Her family and relatives looked at the two of us. I realized they knew we were coming. We walked up to Nancy, I held her hand and said "Nancy, this is Lian and Steve is with me. We are here. There is nothing to fear. Cross over peacefully. I will hold your hand". Steve prayed silently. I held her hand and prayed silently. Suddenly we heard a very loud breaking sound. Nancy took her last breath. There were blood oozing from her eyes and ears. The family saw it all but we cautioned them not to cry loudly. Nurses came and cleaned her up. I think you have never seen someone who passed away with a radiant and pink look over her face. She smiled. Because she was frail and she always wore a white lace night dress. Today with this dressed up, she looked like an angel.

I whispered in her ear "Thank you Nancy, for the wonderful time and the friendship. Go on and take a better rebirth and come back with a healthy body". I said a prayer for her.

All these are ordinary beings. Life goes on until they expired BUT they are great teachers. There are lessons to be learnt. How you want to live is a CHOICE.

Friends asked me "Lian, are you not afraid of spirits or ghosts? These places where people die sure got plenty of souls around". Yes, I take Lift alone...the same Lift that bodies 'rolled-out' when they were sent to mortuary. They maybe around but I have nothing to fear. I always have the feelings that these souls will protect me from all harm. I am their friend when they are alive. Therefore keeping a pure loving heart is important.

I never forget to thank my Dad. It was him that I am able to do such wonderful and meaningful service for all these precious beings.

May all beings be well and happy!

A gift....

Below are some of my reflections. This came about when I was sending my brother to hospital as my sister is having a check-up. He is going through some betrayers by friends and he is caught in the web of 'What did I do wrong?'

As a sister, I told him “I wanted to give both you and Judy (my sister) a gift. All worldly things will never give you permanent happiness. That is why I enrolled the both of you in a Dharma Class. Only the Dharma will lead you out of 'Why' and finally attain Enlightenment. This is what I wish for you both and that is why I attend class with you both". I wish this for all my readers who believe....

No one is an island by himself. Even on a deserted island, beautiful flowers, plants and birds live there. All you need to do is to sieve through to find them.

Even in the hardest desert, you will still find water and vegetation. Do not despair, no one is alone, you just have to search with Wisdom.

Friends' betrayer is as good a taking a knife and stabs it right into my heart. I'll survive, without anger but thank them for the wisdom.

After all the anger and questioning of 'WHY', I realized it is my own doing. I forgive myself and understand the nature of raising and falling.

Meditation is not sitting for hours, it is the minutes you are fully focus. It is taming the MM (Monkey Mind).

Fear comes from Insecurity. If Change is the Universal Truth, what is there to Fear?

You should Fear your own Karma, and not GOD - For GOD is kind.


Why do we need a religion? Think about it...

Does Killing make one happy? Than why the Killer and the Killed are not laughing?

The highest gift one can give to a love one is 'Dharma'. The Truth is Universal, your wealth and material gains are not.

You bring to Death your merits, both Good and Bad.

Any friendship with a condition is not a friendship.

I beg my friends to understand me - but I don't even understand myself!

It is all 'Said' but not 'Done'.

When looking at the mirror, what do you see?

What is practicing Buddha's way? When you start complaining about your friends when they are not what you expect them to be.

Make me better if I am worst...or leave me alone to rot?

There is fragrance in a cup of tea? Where did the fragrance comes from?

It is OK to have defilements; at least you admit you have. You have to work on it.

SO much for now... and thanks for coming to my Blog.

Cheers
From Lian莲