Changes of the city

Back from the bowing ceremony again. Everytime I'm up there, it feels different. Last week, it was mainly mental, dealing with the boredom of continuously bowing and fighting sleepiness. This week, its the test of the physical - sinuses, leg pains and back aches... Yet by the end of the 3rd day, I was feeling great! I wonder what next week will be like... Lolz

Apart from bowing, things were pretty Fun up there! And I'm always making more new friends! On Friday, after all the bowing, I went to the boys school to study with the students. We did more chatting than studying actually.

Saturday (Day 2), after dinner, the boys were playing frisbee in the courtyard and it got stuck in a tree, and everyone was like grabbing fallen branches to throw to get the frisbee back. It was the same exact scene 3 years ago just with different people now. I looked at Nakula and said "Some things never change..." and he responded by saying "Welcome to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas... " Lolz!

At night, I got invited to watch movies with the boys school - just like the old days! Only difference is that now they've got a projector screen. Back then, the whole school used to crowd in front of a small TV... We watched "Lions for Lambs" and "August Rush". The 1st movie wasn't that good, but August Rush is pretty good! Good music too!

Sunday (Day 3), got to study with some of the students again. And half way during our study and chats, Mr. K, one of the teacher pops up and insists that we weren't studying at all and after that short reprimand, disappears again. Lolz... Mr. K is like the discipline master of the school, seems to pop up everywhere just to drop words of reprimand to make you feel guilty and then disappears again. What a character! Lolz... But then again, without people like him, school's gonna be so boring... and although I'm not a student of the school, whenever I see him, I feel guilty too... Lolz... How interesting.

Also got to know a new friend - Frank, who's dad, Simon, is an old disciple of the founder Master Hsuan Hua. He was telling me that the last time he was in Cttb was 15 years ago when he was just a little kid, and that things have changed alot... So I guess there are some changes... mostly structural though. The people are still pretty much the same I guess Lolz. When I told Simon what I was studying, he immediately mentioned the 藥性賦 commented by Master Hua！Its so weird coz I was just talking to DM Heng Chih and Heng Liang about it the day before and just got approved to start on it. Maybe its a sign that its about time...

Gave my bro Andrew his birthday present this morning after breakfast! He showed up slightly late for ceremony after. I thought that he had overslept. Found out later that he was busy unwrapping the present! Lolz... what a kid.. hahaz... So adorable worx Andrew! hahaz...

Pic: My brothers Andrew and Charly!

Happy Birthday

Going up to the mountains again... And before I forget, just wanted to wish in advance... Happy Birthday, to my beloved youngest sister Jolanda, and my dearest brother Andrew. I'll always love both of u! Its so cool that you're both just born 1 day apart! Heez...

Joy!

Check this out! See someone familiar there? Lolz... It just came out today and the Dean of my school gave me a copy of it!

Been a great day today. Got invited to another party! May 25th at Kristine's place. Heard that the Mardi Gras Carnival is gonna happen right at her door steps at that time! Bound to be CraZie!

And today, 2 different people say that I'm like a son to them! Lolz!

And the best news today is that I got hired by my Physiology Professor as his Teaching Assistant! WhooHoo! I finally got a job! And thinking about it, I'll be teaching graduate students! How cool is that! Thank you Buddha! Lolz... I'll definitely go bow more! Heez. Was juz talking with my friends about the impossibilities of me getting a job here being an international student and the very next minute, my wishes came true! WoooHooo!!! Hahz.. so happy!

Was wrapping a present for my lovely lil brother - Andrew! Who's birthday is coming up this monday! Had no wrapping paper so I created my own with several pieces of colored paper. Heeheez... Looks really funky... But I'm sure you're gonna love the present I got for u! (Well you'd better! Lolz)

Invitations

Brought Mr and Mrs. Chen to lunch today. Mrs Chen is an elderly grandmother who is a really skilled chinese doctor and qigong master. And she's been so nice to offer to treat my back, so I brought both of them out today and they were so happy coz they don't get to go out often. And I felt so happy too to see them happy. Heez..

After that, received 2 invitations to parties! One in April organized by Jason, which i might have to miss as I'll still be going up to cttb. And another in May organized by Jill with the clique from school! Guess thats what they meant by you always get back what you give by two fold! =)

Multi-tasking

Lots of things have been going on in my life lately. I've been busy going to school on the weekdays, and on the weekends, I'm up for the bowing ceremony doing hundreds of prostrations a day. In between classes and bowing, I'm getting my regular healing sessions, plus I'm studying for all my tests now.

I'm also settling my car situation and rental car situation, also gotta think about new insurance policies. And I'm discussing with administrators of DRBU to take an independent study course with their university. Coming out with the syllabus and all, looking for advisers to support me. And everything is happening within the same week.

My friends says that I'm not human... Lolz! Doing so many things at once...

Also learned today that my bros Alan and Jaycas have confirmed their trip to come to SF to visit me! Yay!!! Love u guys! hahaz...I'm definitely looking forward to that day! And I'll try to be as good a host as I can. I should have most of my myriad things settled by then. Well, hopefully.. hahaz.

On the top left is a picture of the moon I took with my cell phone while up in cttb during the bowing ceremony. Cool huhz... Totally forgot about it, but when I saw it again, it kind of gave me a really mysterious feel to it... feels really... magical...

Bowing

When for the 10,000 buddhas ceremony over the weekend, did over a thousand bows... legs aching all over, yet its always an experience to go there. Every hour feels different. Sometimes u feel like you can go on bowing forever... other times, you feel like you're just gonna die there and then. Surprisingly, it was full house in the buddha hall for every session!
On top of all the bowing, its just always so nice to meet up with old friends: Andrew, Sunny, Jackie, Bill, David, Victor, Jim, Steven, Xavier, Charly, Tommy, Andy, R2...

And even got to make new onez!: Steve-Bill, Jerry, Minh, Robert, Navin, Mao Yu, Kenny, Chris, Joe...

And I guess also to meet people whom you don't know but who knows you! Lolz... was walking pass the girls side when i heard someone said "Oh my god, Jonathan?" And I turned to wave and realize I don't know who it is... Lolz...

JOlanda

Got to chat with my youngest sister over the phone today. Its always good to hear from home. Things are not getting easy with all the work and school... but I know you are strong enough to make it through! Stay strong sister! And most importantly, stay happy always =)

Going up to CTTB

Was thinking of my bro Nathaniel today and guess what, 5 minutes later, he appears online! Haven't seen him online for months! Guess I'm getting better at this premonition thingy! Lolz.

Long day at school today, and its gonna be a long night. Gotta finish studying everything for next week's tests before i set off for CTTB tml! Gonna participate in the ten thousand buddha repentance for the weekend. Will be back on monday. And with the help of Sandy... check out what i'm bringing up for the kids!


I noe.. i'm spoiling them... but afterall, they're just kids! How i wish I had someone doing that for me when I was a kid... Lolz

Aaron

Got to chat with my bro Aaron this morning. Hope what I said did help you. And I just wanted to add that don't be eager to grow up too fast. Enjoy your youth while you have it and always stay young in your heart! It was through you, that I learnt how to be young again. And I enjoy staying young! Thou I have some white hair appearing le... sobz.. hahz..

One more thing, don't ever think that you're useless. Coz you were the 1st person to reach out to me when I first went back to Singapore and had no one to hang out with. You filled my emptiness with friendship and laughter, and filled my life with wonderful memories - all the sleep overs, kitago, bintan, new years eve, the late night roti pratas and indian rojaks! lolz... so yah... thank you for always being there for me. Its not money that counts, but what you choose to do with your hands, and your heart... =)

Energy

Had a really cool intuitive moment in class today. I thought of my cell phone ringing halfway during lecture and so took out my phone to switch it to silent and just that very second, it really rang. So crazy. Fortunately i had the premonition a second earlier, else my teacher will be hella mad.

It was my aunt, and following her came another call from another aunt. Guess they all finally found out about my accident and were all calling in. The whole day, my entire head was busy dealing with their thoughts, resulting in a terrible migraine and backache. Talk about having people in your space. But i guess, they were just worried.

Heard from my mom too that my youngest sis is having a really tough time in Singapore. I do hope things get better for you... my younger sis in the US also got into some trouble...

Tough news to the ears... terrible day with all the pain, but i guess, some good came out of the day too. Brought my laptop to school for the first time and my bro Jeffrey just so happened to be out of camp! (Which is quite often huhz... lolz) Hahaz... so i got to chat with him and got a hit from Milly when she found out that i was chatting instead of taking notes. She had thought that I was so hardworking! Lolz...

And today, someone also gave me a compliment. Its the first time i heard someone say he loves my accent..Lolz... the mix of british, american and a tinge of singlish.. I always thought it was horrible! hahaz

And one of my classmates asked me during class about why am I always smiling. And I replied "Even thou my body is always in pain... my heart is always full of joy... and that is what matters most...isn't it?" =)

Radio station

Woke up at 6am today and went with Sandy to follow Rev Heng Sure to the radio station. He was there for a radio interview with KGO that was broadcasted live, telling stories and answering questions people have over the air. There you have it, Buddhism 101 in mainstream radio! Its always so wonderful to listen to all the stories from his experiences with Master Hsuan Hua.

Went with him to another branch monastery for a short meeting before going back to Berkeley monastery for lunch. Finally got back home around 4pm. By then, my body was so tired that I just collapsed on my bed, and yet my room's door was open and my mind wanted to close the door, yet my body was too tired to move. It was an interesting body-mind moment. The mind wants to do something, yet the body wants to do something else. And just that moment, the wind closed the door for me. Thank you wind! Lolz.

I fell asleep with the warm and bright sun shining over the valley and an hour later, i woke up to see my entire neighborhood engulfed in the pacific fog and a cold icy wind blowing instead of the friendly warm wind an hour ago. It was as if I had woken up into a different world.

Memory

Haven't been sleeping much lately, staying up late to chat with my lovely bros from Singapore. Although it is tiring, yet it gives me so much joy to be able to stay in contact with everyone and share stories about our lives that sometimes, i neglect my physical body.

Because of that, I was really tired on Saturday, yet it was a full day. My good friend David Williams showed up at the monastery just to tell Sandy and me that he's going on a 2 week native american survival retreat! There's bound to be some pretty cool stories from that.

During lunch, I sat with David and was facing the women's table. And while eating in silence, I had this thought: "How fortunate I am, to be part of this wonderful group of people who came together out of goodness and generosity." I ate my lunch smiling to myself all throughout.

After lunch, managed to do some studying, memorized all the 5 elements and its various characteristics pertaining to the human body. And surprisingly, lecture at night was about sutras, and memorizing sutras and about how we have become so dependent on technology that we seldom use our memory anymore. Remember how you used to memorize all the phone numbers of your parents and best friends? Now its just all in the phone book. Interesting isn't it? Now talking about memorizing sutras, I guess i've been slacking off alot on my part... 精進！精進！

Loved...

Got to chat with my bro Jeffrey today and learned that he's really happy in his life now and that makes me very happy too! Also learn from my bros Alan and Jaycas that they might be coming to states to visit me! Cool! hahz...

And just wanted to thank everyone for all your concern and care over these past few days after the accident. To my bros, my sisters, my "son", my friends, to the nightingale that sings me to sleep everynight, and most importantly, to my parents... thank you for all your care and concern.

GUess something good did come out from the accident after all... i feel so loved... lolz! =P

Saw a post from my adorable son's blog saying: "hm. i've got a daddy and his name is jonathan choo! and i love my daddy! (:"

Lolz...thanks son! i love u too! =)

April's Fool...

Life has been pretty crazy for me since April 1st...April Fool's Day... It was my first day of school and on my way there, I got into a pretty bad car accident... so bad that the car had to be towed away. What's even more crazy is that I just signed to cancel the insurance the night before and then the accident happens. There is no way that this can be a coincidence... it is just all too well planned out... The fool's journey is just beginning...

Been suffering from the whiplash of the accident since then, getting all kinds of healing from acupuncture ,to tuina ,to chiropractor, to qigong masters, and just resting alot at home... Although it is sad to see my car go... I guess I must still thank my lucky stars that I am still alive with no major injuries after crashing another car twice at 65 mph (105km/hr).

Got a rental car and the very 1st day that I was driving it, I got a parking ticket... Some of my friends say I must have some real bad karma going on there... yet I didn't see it that way. Its weird but something in me told me that it was karmic debts that had to be paid. It was due...

The weekend became better as I went to study with a chinese physician in Petaluma who allowed me to have my 1st hands on practice on a patient. The patient's feedback was that I was good with my hands and that gave me validation on my choice to be a healer...

The light at the end of the tunnel finally came on Sunday April 6th... On this day, I got to meet a sage... A person with wisdom that I will say is beyond this world. Luang Por Jumnian, a highly venerated thai monk was visiting the area and giving a talk. And because I was injured and had no car to run about, I decided to go to the monastery to sit in. There was over a hundred people squeezed into the tiny lecture hall of BBM. Luang Por lectured from 9am to 5pm, pausing only for an hour at noon for lunch before continuing his dharma talks. Despite over 8 hours of lecturing, and carrying over 120 lbs (60kg) worth of things worn around his robe, at age 71, it was amazing that he was still full of energy at the end of the day and always wearing that big smile of his.

By 5:30pm, the crowd had cleared out and Luang Por was sitting in the dharma seat with just 2 or 3 lay people left when I went up to him to ask some questions. And there, kneeling on the floor before him, with the help of a translator, he answer so many doubts that I have always had in my mind and found no one to answer. It was more than 2 hours later when he finally said it was time that he should be leaving as the driver had been waiting all the while and it was a long journey back. Although he gave me a ritualistic blessing during the day, I felt that this was the true blessing of the day. The 2 hour private session, and the wisdom light that he illuminated my mind with...

It almost felt like this session was specially to answer my doubts... as of the hundreds of people that came today, the only 2 people who were from BBM was Sandy and myself. And yet, despite holding his talks at their place up north in Spirit Rock Center all the while, he specially came down on this day and choose to speak in BBM.

And it seems like I had to have that accident in order to make me slow down and stop for this opportunity... to clear that load of karma for the various cause and conditions to come together and result in this meeting. And as for my car... the money issue is yet to be solved... heart ache... yet somehow, i think everything will work out fine in the end... Strange indeed, strange indeed... the ways of the unknown... yet my heart is set at ease... the fool's journey has begun....