Dad's Brithday

Went shopping with my sisters today, then celebrated my dad's birthday at East Coast. Very good food, and they even had a special vegetarian menu. Got my hair cut and clothes settled today as well. Tomorrow I start my internship with the law firm. Scary....

Guangzhou

Finally back from Foshan, Guangzhou. Couldn't update my blog there coz it was blocked!
Well, really insightful trip this time. Learnt alot about business, about people management and about life.

Many things happened. Many places I went to. 華地彎，上下九廣場，中華廣場，万陵廣場，小南國，佛山，廣州，海珠廣場. Even got trapped in a factory alone at night when the place experienced a short circuit. Scary... Interesting experience thou.

Made a trip to Nan Hua Monastery on the last day. A year ago, I mentioned to a friend about going to Nan Hua in June 2009. Who knew it'd actually happen. We even brought our one and only remaining tortoise to set him free in the temple ponds.
It poured heavily along the way but upon our arrival, the rain lightened to a drizzle and stopped completely the moment we crossed the bridge into the monastery proper.
The body of the Sixth Patriach sits there ever peacefully over the centuries.
The tombs of Master Hsu Yun and Master Wei Yin over look the temple and the surrounding mountains.
We were even invited to have lunch with the monks.
On leaving, upon hitting the highway, the rain returned immediately...
Everything was as if according to a well coordinated plan...

There are many complicating things in life... step by step, we learn to walk and find our walk out of this jungle of samsara.

Last scroll

Last day of the Shurangama retreat. Started from 9am all the way till 1030pm. The lectures in between were power packed. Dharma master Wei Hai is truly a specialist in Shurangama lectures. I think alot of people got overwhelmed. He ended the Chan session with a 100 min sit. Intense... then we went for dinner before coming back to complete scroll 10 - the last scroll and a final lecture. Master Wei Hai really loves to lecture. Lolz... But he's a good lecturer. So its all good. Its really rare to find people who knows about the Shurangama... much less those who can lecture so well on it.

Well, my 10 days of retreat has finally ended... And I'm left with a bruise on my right leg now for trying to attempt the 100 min chan in full lotus. Oh well... heading to China in a few hours time... Doing my last min packing now...

Super Saiyan

Went Jap class early this morning, then met up with Edison for shopping later as he offered to be my fashion adviser. Yes Jill, Nicole, Andrea if u gals are reading this... I'm finally having to wear formal wear. Will probably upload some pictures in the future.

Spent a total of $300! Crazy... so broke now... And throughout the day i met some really old friends! Saw Ben Chay at Kovan, Lta Marcus at Paragon, Ms. Evelyn at Paragon as well... but the person I was most surprised to meet was Guoqiang. An ncc friend whom I had lost contact with for 10 years. What's so special? The Shurangama retreat is located really near to his home and on day 1 when i was walking by, i was wondering if he still stayed there and what has happened over the last 10 years... barely 10 days after, I bump into him. Its too coincidental to be just a coincidence.... The Shurangama acts in mysterious ways... Its like a wish fulfilling pearl that brings your wholesome wishes to reality...

Today, we began reciting Shurangama scroll 9 - The beginning of the 50 Skandha demons! So exciting! Lolz... Love this section. Dun know why... I was so into it that I forgot about the pain in the legs! Lecture was really good today as well.

At the end of it, the abbot was standing by the doorstep when i walked passed and he asked me "You have been coming everyday?" I said yes. Then he responded, "Next time if they have any superman shows, I think they should get you to act. You really look like superman." Lolz... I think he meant Super Saiyan from dragon ball Z. Weird response from the abbot thou... But then again, Rev Heng Sure did call me an anime pop out figure before as well.. Lolz...

So i created a new video about being a super saiyan! Lolz... its on my facebook... lolz

Intensive Chan

Chan is always intensive... but staying in cttb makes it seem so much easier. You just get out of bed and there it is... the meditation hall....

Having to drive to the temple, sit for 12 hours of Chan meditation and then travel back home is just too intensive. I'm burnt out after day one.... I think I'm gonna run away tml and just attend the Shurangama scroll 9 recitation and the night lecture.

I miss Chan sessions in Cttb...

Philanthropic wind

Been feeling a lil philanthropic today. Joined the "Give shelter, save a life" cause on facebook. Basically for every person you invite who successfully joins the cause, Microsoft will donate $1. So I've raised $5 so far. Small in amount but I'm sure it'll mean something someday somewhere in the world. Lolz. Support! Support!

Was rushing about in town today. Got my back temporarily fixed for the 3 day Chan session starting tml. Then bought my Jap dictionary and some law books to prepare for my internship. Met up with my banker, got some fashion advice from him as well. Lolz... thanks! Really an all-round banker. Includes not only financial advice, but fashion as well. Lolz.

Was walking thru town and passed by this old grandma sitting on wheelchair selling tissue papers. Its always so sad to see elderly having to come out to earn a living for themselves. So although I never use tissue packets, I just bought 6 packets from her and received this extremely beautiful smile back in return.

Monastery - did Shurangama scroll 7. This is the part with the mantra. Was really low on energy from running all over but the moment the mantra section came, I was fully charged again! Really miss the 4am morning ceremonies in Cttb...

Shurangama - the efficacious langauge

Finished scroll 5 yesterday and completed scroll 6 today. The long hours of sitting is taking a toll on my back. Its hurting again. However, good things always come to those who take the effort to cultivate. Last month, I applied to a law firm for an internship but was rejected. I was told that there are 10 others in waiting and my chances of getting it are really low as I was not a law student. Today, I received an email saying that my application for internship has been approved! Wow... hard to believe... but it has happened. Unfortunately this internship doesn't pay, but then again, British Airways is making its staff work without pay for one month! World's in economy crisis remember... So I guess its not so bad, plus i believe it'll be a great learning experience.

明日からおしゃれをならわないと！Gotta start learning how to dress properly tomorrow. A friend commented that I don't know how to dress properly. I'll show u! Hmph!

Finally finished my Jap homework today as well... Gheez... that took a while... Damn... I'm afraid to think about what's gonna come up next in the next lesson...

The Watcher

A friend of mine was feeling pressurized at her community and said she doesn't know how to continue staying...

My response:

"Stay.... quiet.
And watch the world as it goes by.
Then only will you understand what's really happening..."

Walking mirror

Finished Shurangama scroll 4 today. Lecture was interesting as well. 惟海法師 mentioned about a Buddhist phenomenon he observed. He said this occurs especially in people who're new to Buddhism and full of vigor! They start learning about the basic philosophies and start criticizing the bad points of others conduct, becoming a walking mirror to others. These people he said, are totally missing the entire point of cultivation. Cultivation is about cultivating your own nature and not other's nature.

How true... I'm sure we all know one or two people like this. Lolz. Another interesting line i picked out is 天同一理，人同一心. Sounds really abstract. Lolz

惟海法師

Finished reciting Shurangama Scroll 3 today. Lecture after that was really interesting. The dharma master was 惟海法師. He just completed a 10 year Shurangama seclusion and today he lectured on the different methods of cultivation and their difference. He ended the lecture on a really good note i think... He ended it with a question telling us to come back tomorrow with the answer. The question was "當我們說修楞嚴法的時候，到底是在修甚麼?"

After the lecture, I managed to get a private session with 惟海法師 through Mrs Wong! Wow. He's the abbot of Pu Tuo Shan and the disciple of Venerable Miao Shan! Who's shariras I just paid respects to during my last China trip. What a coincidence. 惟海法師 entered seclusion in 1996 and so in alot of the conversation he kept asking me how was Cttb doing and was really happy to hear my "reports." Lolz. Really thankful for another such rare opportunity.

Full day

Woke up at 7am today and went for my Advance Japanese class. It was extremely difficult. So many words that I did not know! Diez... its gonna be a tough semester...

After that, Jaycas asked me to join him and his schoolmates at Sentosa. Thou I wanted to study, I really needed an outing badly with friends as I have not hung out with friends for a long time. So I decided to go. We played frisbee, volleyball, soccer... all the land games as I refused to enter the water coz I had to report to the monastery at night. But resistance was futile... I ended up being thrown in the water instead... Was drenching wet with sand all over me as I took the train home for a change of clothes. But it was fun.

Made it to the monastery in time. Shurangama scroll 2. I was getting a little sleepy but managed to hold throughout the sutra and dharma lecture. The lecture also mentioned Shr Fu's name as one of the contemporary masters who cultivated the Shurangama. Always so happy when I hear his name mentioned. Lolz.

The dharma event ended at 1030pm, and I went to pick up Yongchao who just finished basic millitary training, and met up with Andre who's in officer training school now. They're both gonna be fellow lieutanants! So cool. We met up to chat over supper and ended up staying there till almost 5am.

A 22 hour continuously ongoing day for me. Extremely tired... But it was so fulfilling!

Shurangama

Started the Shurangama Sutra recitation at Fa Hua Monastery today. Saw a few familiar faces but what surprised me most were the sutras! They are all printed by DRBA! Sutra recitation was thus a smooth flow as I was familiar with the format and everything. And seeing Shr Fu's picture on the last page is always so lifting. A good start to the retreat

Foiled Plans...

Was supposed to go for a movie with Weyman today. Ended up, he wanted to attend some class and so canceled the meeting. Then I decided to go to the IT show at suntec and to meet kenny as well... ended up, my dad called me this morning to report to work... Gheez.. all my plans to run out and play has been foiled... And this is my last free day in June... tot I could go out before entering seclusion... Sigh... Oh wellz... Tml, I begin my Shurangama retreat. It'll end on the 21st and on the 22nd, my dad's sending me to China to work till July... So much for making plans.... Not gonna make plans anymore... they always come to naught.

Anyway, here are some pics from the farm visit we hosted during the Aquarama 2009 Exhibition.


The delegates of the farm visit in Aquarama 2009.
The staff members of Tropicalfish International Pte Ltd.


The fish selection process.
The guppy breeding section.

Buddhist Beads

Recitation beads is a culture of some of the oldest religions of the world - Called the mala in Hinduism and Buddism, or the rosary in Catholicism, it is a way to keep in track of the number of times one has recited the name of the lord. In Buddhism, the 108 beads represent the 108 afflictions of the mind to break. Buddhist beads have also been used as a way of creating affinity among fellow practitioners by means of a gift.

I have received many precious gifts from such friends... some made with really rare materials, some hold deep meanings. I lost my green mala given to me by an old friend from Tibet... but I have also gained new malas from new friends... I have also given some malas to some friends... such is the way of the world... things come and things go... the Great exchange is always happening.

Here are some of the beads I've been given.
The 1st 2 white ones are from the wood of a 400 year old tree on Mt. Wutai. Given by Mrs. Wong.
The sandalwood one with yellow string is from my grand father.
The pure white one is made of Lapis Lazuli from the sea. Given by Madalena.
The bodhi seed one was given to me by Eric when he was only 10 years old.
The crystal one is from Sandy.
The green jade one is from a monk from Myanmar
The white jade one is from Yong Heng Shr from Myanmar as well.
The green chandana wood one is from a nun in Gaomin Si, China.
The smallest one, I'm not sure where its from... probably a souvenior store.
And I lost my green one from Lama Teshe from Tibet... so sad...

Teacher?

So I got called by Deyi Sec's principal to be a full time English teacher there from July onwards. St. Gabs also offered me a place. Hmmz... should I? Pay is lucrative... but its not gonna add much to my resume especially if I'm seeking to do law... Advice from some people are: "Don't waste time" Sigh... choices choices choices...

“小時後常常望著窗外的天空
幻想長大以後 能實現從前做過的美夢

長大後發現世界真的不同
不知該要往哪走 還是停在原地一動也不動

我無力在逃脫 眼看著時間溜走
想回到小時後”

Am I really that disgusting?

Once again, I've been called disgusting. First, it was for not looking my age... and last night, my friend Kenny, for lack of a better word, used the word disgusting to describe how I don't do anything, yet don't lack anything as well - specifically referring to my winning of the free tickets and cash. Am I really that disgusting? Lolz... Oh wellz =)

I Guess I'm Flying Again!

Well, guess what... money really fell from the sky! I won a ticket to any destination in the world plus $500 for me to spend! Oh my god! Well actually, it should be oh my Samanthabadhra Bodhisattva! If not for his mountain, I would never have won the prize. Thank you!!! Only thing now is... I don't know where to claim it!? Oh wellz... Hmmz... where should I fly to next.... Fly fly fly fly fly... flying like a bird in the sky! Lolz....

日本語クラス

Another full day at my dad's farm. Then at night, I went to register for Japanese class! Since I have so much time at hand, might as well make good use of it. My aim is to get my JLPT 3 cert by the end of this year!

From now on, I'm gonna fill all my free time up with work and class! Thursday, I'm registering for another class to fill up the other nights. So from now till December... my schedule should be fully packed! No longer am I gonna leave any nights free wondering what to do! Full Steam Ahead!!!

Impressions

Aquarama ended and today I offered to go to my dad's farm to help out with the after-fair admin work - mainly data entry... no brainer stuff. During the fair, when everyone was busy entertaining guests from all around the world, I entertained this Singaporean couple and their son who came to visit our farm today! And I was surprised that they actually remembered my name!

So I walked them through the retail section and they bought almost $200 worth of fish! As they were leaving, they wished me good luck to my law school and gave me their name card telling me to contact them once I finish law school. After they left, I was browsing through the Internet and saw a familiar name! I took out the name card and discovered that he's in the top 20 for the Forbes Midas List! Wow.... And there I was talking and talking about my life, dressed in slippers, shorts and shabby tshirt... and I didn't even know who my customer was.