EMPTINESS....

Every morning for the last four months, I have been using the Service Lift from the Car Park to my office. I have the habit of looking around me so I surveyed the lift. I realized the management have sealed the lift wall with plywood and the door with white stickers. There is a mic speaker just in case we are caught in emergency and need to talk to someone but other than that, a Lift is a Lift.

As days passed by and with people moving in, the plywood protection got knocked with cracks and scratches. What more when you have workers and movers and of course you see the standard comments of all the vulgarties scribbled on the walls, with drawings and telephone numbers etc. It has something to do with mentality and it is cheap thrills.

One day I saw the white stickers covering the door was stripped off, leaving an aluminium front. While waiting for the lift to stop at my floor, I naturally looked at the lift door in front of me. Suddendly it occured to me that I am not able to see myself even though I was in front of it. I tried waving my hands and could only see slight movements. What happened to my body mass, am I not here?

SO, this was it. I am ''here and yet I am not here''. If there is no reflection of me, does that mean that I am non-existence? Probably this is what the teachings are all about. The ''mass'' you is actually not ''you''. You are neither that ''mass'' nor what you believe yourself to be. So which part of the ''mass'' is you?

I do not say I have any realization but it occured to me that "Emptiness is Form" and "Form is Emptiness". Meaning Emptiness does not mean there is nothing. It comes from nothing and goes back to nothing. Chim, right?

My Song....

Because of my Karma

I came to Samsara

However this Samsara

is also the Pureland of Buddha Sakyamuni

Why are we chasing Enlightenment

Why do we look at the Sky

and try to reach for the star

When it is here with us

We are always looking outside

Outside is so colorful and exciting

There are so many attractions

Or are they distractions

Looking inside...what is there to look?

First and foremost

Where is inside?

My organs? No, my Thoughts

am I aware of them?

Life after Life

I merry-go-round the Realms

I am not always

in precious human form

Even if I am

I must have wasted it away

Yes, that is why I am still here

Hopefully all the accumulations of merits

past, present and future

will not go to waste

At least I won't think that

the precious human rebirth

is always mine to have

I pray to all the Buddha,

all the Gurus

I rejoiced at all the unsurpassed merits

of the Enlightened Ones

May all my effort and energy

I directed at the works for Sentient Beings

Wishing they are well

Wishing they will reach ultimate happiness

and no one left to suffer in Samsara

Don't Worry, Be Happy....la.la.la...

Why worry about what will happen after you are gone, 

because when you return to dust, 

you will feel nothing about praises or criticisms 

Why worry too much about your children 

for children will have their own destiny
 and find their own way 

Don't be at their back and call

Why expect too much from your children 

They would be busy with their jobs and commitments 

Uncaring children may fight over your assets 

They think they are rightful heirs to your wealth 

but you have no claims to theirs

Why trade in your health for wealth 

because your money may not buy you health 

When to stop making money and how much is enough

and it is never enough! 

Out of thousand hectares of good harvest 

you can only consume a little daily 

Out of all the houses you owned

you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night. 

So as long as you have enough food and money 

live happily

Do not compare with others for fame and social status 

But of happiness, health and longevity 

Why worry about things that you can't change 

because it won't change for you 

A day well lived is a gain 

we do not know what will happen the next minute 

Do not count your bridges before it even appear 

because you may not wake up tomorrow 

Live for Today, Now, this Moment 

Above all learn to cherish the goodness around …… 

and FRIENDS… …..they make you feel young and "wanted" 

Even when you are alone 

No, you are not alone because the Buddha is with you. 

Smile in time of Goodness, smile in time of Adversity 

Be thankful for the Good, and that of the Bad ! 

 and train your Mind

Being aware....

 

Not many people are aware of their thought processes.

 

Recently I am aware of my thoughts on and off and at the same time aware of my surroundings and the people around me. I realized my heart ''thoughts'' played many tricks on me or me being gullible because I did not guard my thoughts.

 

My ''heart'' responded to external influences. When someone is nice to me, I said he is nice. When someone is not friendly I asked ''why''. Our ''heart'' is forever busy judging and reasoning. Some time we reasoned to make us feel better but actually there is nothing to justify.

 

Whatever arises is due to conditions and thus the consequences. We are not aware that our actions may caused or disturbed others thoughts. We always think that I don't care and what you feel is our own ''thoughts''.

 

When we say there is nothing but actually there is something because our reactions towards the other party is no longer friendly. We can be cordial or a matter of fact but we no longer care about the results it brings.

 

I realized the Road of Cultivation is a lonely one. There are so many doors leading to the same goal and each of us takes a different one. There are people who travelled together, there are people like me who have to be on my own. The problem is recognizing that you are ''alone'' and do not forced yourself onto anyone. The problem with human beings are we want to be associated. I know that we say we want to practice, we want to achieve ultimate enlightenment, we want to achieve for the benefits of Sentient Beings....but we keep on causing pain to others.

 

I also realized that all the Great Masters achieved clarity and wisdom when they are practising on their own and finally Enlightenment. Before one understand what it is, how can one tell people about it? In another word, if we do not abandone the Three Poisions, how do we understand the profound and yet simple Truth? We are already so confused with bombardment of so many information. Some say this is good, we all run there; some say this is no good, we all keep away. Some say this is a Perfect Teacher because of name and fame and we are like idol chasing. We want to be associated with the most popular masters - Yes, they are good Masters but what do we see in them?

 

I rejoiced at all the Gurus who has attained an enlighten mind in their many life times. They are now here because they wanted to reach out to all those who has the affinity with them. Do we look at the Gurus of passed achievement or do we look at the Gurus we know or think that we know? How many of us take time to find out? Mostly we know who he is in the past and follow him now because he is renowned?

 

Buddha reminded when Dharma is slowly receding, we have to be an island onto our self. We just need to continue practising and perfecting our self for the coming of the next Buddha. Yes, we can achieve this life time so we will come back for others when we understand what is it all about.

 

Did you ever thought why are there so many Arahants during Buddha Sakyamuni's time. There are many devotees or even people who met Him first time, listened to his Teachings and attained different stages of Arahantship?

 

I will continue to ''look at the rising and falling of my thoughts''. I know too that I will stray from my cause on and off. I will still continue to pay my respect to all Masters who follow Buddha's Dharma and is spreading the correct Teachings.

 

At the end of the day, I have to face ''Death" myself. All the good things I have done is to prep myself so that I don't go to Hell? If I am a practitioner, going to Hell may not be a bad thing because there are endless suffering beings there too.....and there are also Great Masters and Bodhisattva there too. Going to Hell is also to clear obstacles and you need not be burnt there too...do you believe?

Something to improve our JOINTS....

 As we advance in age, our body is getting stiffer, our joints are cracking and some of us have pain walking. I saw these among my friends and we are not that old either. So having joints problems are not due to age but how fast we worn out all the ''padding'' that we took for granted.

Here is a method which is better than popping all the Glucosamine. This is a natural way to counter all the backache and joint aches and are tested by some already. I believe this method is safe enough unless you totally cannot consume liquor.

Here, try it!

1) Buy 2 kg of golden raisins or yellow raisins.

2) Buy a bottle of Gin, you can get Beefeater London Dry Gin which is not so costly (definitely cheaper than your Glucosamine).

3) Put the golden raisins into the Gin. (If it is too much than use another container that can take 2 kg of raisins and a bottle of Gin.) Keep the bottle opened.

4) Note that you need to soak the raisins in gin for at least 7 days. In between please shake the raisins so that it mix well with the Gin..

8) After 7 days, you can scoop the raisins and put them into a container with lid.

9) Every time eat 5 to 9 raisins and eat it 2 or 3 times a day. Here is how you can eat it....

     - with salads

     - with ice cream

     - with oats etc.

The person who sent this article used to have cracking sound when he bend his knees but now he can walk and run very well. The swollen feet joints are no longer puffy and he can bend his fingers and clenched his fist.

You may ask, why is this method so effective? Actually this method was used by people long ago. They knew juniper berries are medicinal. Gin has juniper berries as its ingredient and therefore is effective when used with golden raisins.

I am not able to take liquor but to help me have better joints and free myself from Arthritis , I am consuming this as medicine and not eating/drinking the items (raisins and the gin) as an intoxicating indulgence!

Hope this sharing helps!

May I ask where is the Path...敢问路在何方

Earlier on when I posted on 'Journey to the West', I said that I will post the music to this wonderful Chinese Classic Literature. This song that I am posting is the latest serial made in 2012. The music is rearranged and sang by Dao Lang. With his low and husky voice, he injected impact and feelings into the song. Even if you do not know the story, from the song you will feel the perseverance and challenges that the Monk and his Three Disciples has to go through to achieve what they set out to do.

As in Butterfly Lovers or Phantom of the Opera, one needs not tell you the song title, the success of such classic songs are... when you hear it, you know it.

Here is the inspiring song. On the video you will see the painstaking preparations of the various personalities prior shooting. You will hear Dao Lang sing. Kudos to those who gave us so much enjoyment and thanks to all those behind the scene, without everyone we will not be able to sit in front of the TV to see such mesmerizing production.

Title : 敢问路在何方 (May I ask where is the Path)
           Gan wen lu zai he fang

你挑着担, 我牵着马
Ni tiao ze dan, wo qian ze ma

You lug the luggage, I lead the horse

迎来日出, 送走晚霞
Ying lai ri chu, song zuo wan xia

Together we saw many sunrises, and said goodbye to many sunsets

踏平坎坷, 成大道
Da ping kan ke, cheng da dao

The Path is hard to travel, and it leads to Enlightenment

斗罢艰险, 又出发, 又出发
Dou ba jian xian, you chu fa, you chu fa

Meeting difficulties and challenges along the Way, but we will not be hindered and carry on our Journey again.

啦啦 。。。。。

la...la...la...la...la...la...la......

一番番春秋 冬夏
Yi fan fan chun qiu dong xia

Many Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter passed by

一场场酸甜 苦辣
Yi chang chang tian xuan ku la

Experiencing all the Sour and Sweetness, Bitter and the like of Life

敢问路在何方，路在脚下
Gan wen lu zai he fang, lu zai jiao xia

May I ask where is the Path, the Path is beneath our feet

你挑着担, 我牵着马
Ni tiao ze dan, wo qian ze ma

You lug the luggage, I lead the horse

翻山涉水, 两肩双滑
Fan san se shui, liang jian shuang hua

Over the mountains and streams we travelled until we feel the burdens on  both shoulders

中日累点，人世上
Zhong ri lei dian, ren shi jian

It is tiring to strive in this Samsara

一路嚎歌, 向天涯, 向天涯
Yi lu hao ge, xiang tian ya, xiang tian ya

We sang along on the Path and we walked on and on

啦啦 。。。。。

la...la...la...la...la...la...la......

一番番春秋 冬夏
Yi fan fan chun qiu dong xia

Many Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter passed by

一场场酸甜 苦辣
Yi chang chang tian xuan ku la

Experiencing all the Sour and Sweetness, Bitter and the like of Life

敢问路在何方，路在脚下
Gan wen lu zai he fang, lu zai jiao xia

May I ask where is the Path, the Path is beneath our feet

敢问路在何方，路在脚下。。。。。。。。。。。
Gan wen lu zai he fang, lu zai jiao xia.............

May I ask where is the Path, the Path is beneath our feet

___________________________

Actually the Path to Enlightenment is not an easy Track because our Mind is clouded. It needs a lot of perseverance, patience, wisdom and believe to walk to the end. We walk this Path for the sake of all Sentient Beings and that is why we walk on and on until we reach our destination....Nirvana!

May all Beings be well and Happy !

Wise Sayings ...My very own

Kindness may not be returned with Kindness but need not be returned with Hatred.

Relationship cannot be measured by who gives the most and who get less.

To be alive is not guaranteed but death is guaranteed.

How long you will live is not guaranteed and when you will die is also not guaranteed.

You do not grow old now, it started when you are in your mother's womb.

All human beings have the same temperaments except some show more on certain traits.

Pain is universal - human or animals alike.

Human expressed pain vocally, animal's too. Do we only hear humans' pain and ignore animals' pain?

There are time we did not hear others pain BUT only our own pain.

Happiness is not given by others, it is a mental choice.

We complaint about others but never about our self.

Make peace with Yourself and that of your Surroundings.

There is no fairness in this World, the fingers on your hand are also uneven.

Why is it so hard to be Good and so easy to be Bad?

When is it the last time you realized that you are acting Bad. Are you apologetics?

Many people forget how to smile and be at peace with themselves.

Does it makes you inferior just to say ''I am sorry"?

It is not Fun taking other people's life, when your turn comes you will realized what goes around comes around.

Wisdom comes from your daily life and not that you are born with it.

Wisdom does not belongs to the intellectual, the beggar on the street has it too.

 Until we stop cyclic existences, we will travel around the Six Realms.