She

Aiyoh I don't know why I really like this lady, my new idol, my role model.
I must learn to be as soft-spoken as her.
I must strive to have that perfect complexion of hers.
I must be as compassionate as her.
I must get my PhD someday, like she is too!
Miss Lee Young Ae.

Zong zi

Tomorrow is the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (5th of the lunar 5th month). I don’t really celebrate it, but we do eat the traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival, which is Zong zi (sticky rice dumpling). It is a glutinous rice ball, with a filling, wrapped in fragrant corn leaves. The fillings can be egg, beans, dates, fruits, sweet potato, walnuts, mushrooms, meat, or a combination of them. They are steamed. There is also the Nonya version which has all meat in it, with a sweeter taste than its traditional counterpart.

Somehow I have craving for sticky rice. There is another type of glutinous rice which I like, which is sprinkled with peanuts on top. Sometimes I take it for breakfast. Yet another type of glutinous rice is a small cup of the sticky rice mixed with a piece of chicken and occasional mushroom (“Luo Mai Kai” in Cantonese).

I think glutinous rice is somehow a comfort food for me - simple, fragrant, chewy, reminiscent of childhood days of seeing grandma hanging loads and loads of these dumplings on bamboo sticks in the huge kitchen of her attap house, with the smell of the dumplings permeating throughout the house. Heaven!

Be humble

Inspirational Quote:

"It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low;
but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment."
-- St. Bernard, French Theologian and Reformer

Oh babies!

Faye Wong has given birth to a 4kg baby girl on Saturday (May 27th). The actress had a caesarean section to give birth to her second child. Both baby and mother are in stable condition. Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt also welcomed their little girl on the same day. Congratulations to them all !

Mind you

"At certain times, a silent mind is very important,
but 'silent' does not mean closed.
The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind;
a mind seeking the nature of reality."
- Lama Yeshe

Breathe better lah

A week ago I bought a mini air purifier from the giant eletronics superstore - BIG. It is a negative ionizer to be exact. This feather weight little air purifier has gigantic features and functions and it produces high density of Nega-ions. It can be fixed on a PC or car dashboard, or carried around anywhere with a rechargeable battery.

What are Negative Ions? They're oxygen atoms with an extra electron. The normal Ion count in fresh country air is 2,000 to 4,000 negative Ions/cc. At a waterfalls or forest, you'll experience over 100,000 negative Ions/cc. On the other hand, the level is below 50 negative ions/cc in our normal office environment, which can cause headache, insomnia, and irritancy.

According to the book The Ion Effect, negative ions are effective for allergies, asthma, catarrh, hay fever, sinusitus, eczema, burns, emphysema, and even as a substitute for tranquilizers. It was discovered that negative ions balance serotonin in the body, and this explains why people tend to feel more alert, stable and energized in the presence of negative ions, which explains the healing side effect. Positive ions, on the other hand, make breathing more difficult. Negative ions neutralize positive ions.

I am no Michael Jackson, but if this little gadget can help improve the air around me and make me feel better, why not? I am a true blue gadget freak. :)

贵命?

There are such many ironies in life. I always wonder why are there so many people who are so lucky. Some friends are flying high in their career with fat paychecks. Some others have hit the big time, strike it rich enjoying life and soaked in luxuries, which I don't see myself in anywhere in the near future. Makes people like me wonder, when is my big break?

A master once asked me, why am I worried? He said I have a luxurious life, what the Chinese termed as 贵命 "gui ming" (ie. a smooth and well-endowed life). He said he does not see anything drastic or unfortunate happening to me in my life. Another 90-year-old master which my boss employs to see the office fengshui, also mentioned these same words 贵命 to me. Another master said perhaps I am going through a bad patch which will turn better very soon. Then for the next 20 years, I would be doing very well.

My sis told me, come on, there are many people much worse off than me. Yes, I agree. I may not have the looks of a beauty queen, nor do I have the figure of a super-model, but I am not that ugly. Even if I were, cliche as it may sound, ugliness is only skin-deep. I may not have a bright career, nor do people see me as a bright person, but I do have an MBA. I may look and appear blur or stupid to some people who mock/laugh at others, but that is because I am trying to be sensitive not to hurt these very people who mock/laugh at others. I may not catch the eyes of many an ideal man, but I will have the eyes of only one man next time, my future husband. I may not have children yet, but there are many lonely "orphans" out there whom I can shower my love on. I may not have rich and famous parents, but they taught me what money can't buy - humility.

Whilst I dwell in the comfort of all the above words and thoughts, I can't help but still look forward to having a really 贵命. But for now, I guess I should count my blessings that I have a precious 命 ("life").

The Great Compassion Presence

The weirdest yet sweetest thing happened today. I woke up suddenly at 6am this morning. Although I was very sleepy and barely awake, I didn't know why I sat up in bed in the meditation posture. With closed eyes, I saw a visualisation of the 4-armed Avalokiteshvara (GuanYin) in my mind. Suddenly I heard the long mantra of Avalokiteshvara (The Great Compassion mantra) being sang faintly in the distant. Its not the same voice as that of the Rinpoche whom I listen to from my MP3 handphone daily. So it can't be that I had switched on my handphone. Its another person, another Rinpoche singing the mantra in Tibetan, which I know by-heart so well.

Namo Ratna Tra Ya Ya Nama Arya Nyana
Sagara Vairochana Byuha Rajaya Tathagataya Arhate Samyaksam Buddhaya
Nama Sarva Tathagate Bhya Arhate Bhya Samyaksam Buddhe Bhya
Nama Arya Avalokiteshvaraya
Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya
Maha Karuni Kaya
Tadyatha Om Dhara Dhara Dhiri Dhiri Dhuru Dhuru
Itte Vatte Chale Chale Prachale Prachale
Kusume Kusume VareIli Mili Chiti Jala Apanaye Soha

After that I fell asleep just before sunrise and had a long dream. However, I could not recall anything specific.

In the evening I went for Amitabha Buddha initiation. It was great to see His Eminence Khyentse Beru Rinpoche again. In fact I had dreamt of him 2 weeks ago smiling at me in the dream. Right after the end of the empowerment ceremony, I suddenly smell flowers for a few seconds. It was a very fragrant smell. I suddenly knew it was the presence of Amitabha Buddha.

Les triple gemmes

I had a nice Vesak Day and the weekend. Vesak Day commemorates the Birth of Buddha, his Enlightenment and finally His attainment of Nirvana. Went early in the morning to bathe the Buddha with my family with sis and family as well, and to also offer lights and flowers. I was extremely happy seeing my little niece and nephew bathing the Buddha. The significance is to purify our body, speech and mind, as well as our negative karma and afflictive mind.

I bumped into my Master and said hi. A few days earlier, I had dreamt a long dream, of which she appeared briefly. I was in a big house with her and she was wearing a laced maroon cheong sum. I only remembered her telling me must open all the windows, after which she climbed 4 storeys to open all the windows. I didn't know the significance, but I sms her to inform her. She was quite happy about it saying she knew the meaning (of course heavenly secrets aren't meant to be revealed). She has told me a few times before that I was her messenger from Buddha. This was because I sometimes have dreams about her. And mostly it's something spiritual. And she is always wearing cheong sum in my dreams, albeit in different colours.

After spending the day with my family, in the evening I went to the Buddhist center I go almost every weekend for pujas. That day was a special puja offering obeisance to Shakyamuni Buddha and the 16 Arhats, of whom he entrusted His doctrines to. Buddha's innermost wish is to overcome the sufferings of all sentient beings, and the only way to achieve this goal is through the Dharma. And in order for Dharma to remain in this world for a long time to come, we need to pray and supplicate to the 16 Arhats and to request for their blessings. The next evening, while my parents went to watch the evergreen Frances Yip concert, I went to another puja - 400 grand offerings puja for clearing of obstacles and purifying of negative karma.

Then on Sunday, met up with my entire family, aunts, uncles, cousins to celebrate Mothers' Day. We had a picnic in Botanic Gardens. We had so much food that we almost became Botanic Gluttens! It was a really wonderful gathering and being close to nature, although if there weren't that many mosquitoes, it would have been ideal....

The only regret this year is that I didn't fast on Vesak Day. Last year, I had taken the Precepts vows at 6am and do fasting for the rest of the day. And I had fast on many special occasions. But I could not do it this time, because of my gastrics problem. I hope many people have spent their Vesak Day well, because it is said that on this day, all good merits will multiply millions of times.

Tayata om muni muni maha munaye soha ! (Shakyamuni Buddha's mantra)

We the puppets

The Buddha says :

Look at the decorated puppet,
a mass of wounds and of composite parts,
full of disease and always in need of attention.
It has no enduring stability.

I say:

Look at ourselves, the decorated puppets,
a mask of emotions of many moods,
full of hurt and always in need of attention.
Do we have enduring stabiliy?

Reconcile

Reconciliation is to understand both sides; to go to one side and
describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and
then go to the other side and
describe the suffering being endured by the first side. - By Thich Nhat Hahn


Whilst it's important we reconcile with one another,
I think its even more precious that we reconcile the heart to the mind.

Buddhafly

A few months ago, I wrote in this blog of watching an interview of a reincarnate Rinpoche on Taiwanese TV. His name is 盛噶仁波切 ( I do not know his name in English). He was on the programme because he had just released his autobiography "Diary of A Living Buddha". Few days ago, I stumbled upon this book and bought it. I read that the book and the Kalachakra card that came with the book have been personally blessed by Rinpoche.

As the book was in Mandarin, I did not start reading it immediately, because I know it will take me a while to finish the book, due to my average Mandarin reading skill. So I left the book on my table next to my computer in my bedroom for a few days. Today, as I was lying in bed reading a magazine, a butterfly appeared out of nowhere, fluttering around my room a few times. It did not leave even though my windows are wide open and I tried shoo-ing it away. It just flew round and round. Then all of a sudden, it flew right onto Rinpoche's book lying on my table. It circled a few rounds before resting on top of the book, right next to the picture of Rinpoche. I was a little amazed, but I left it as that. After a few hours it was still there. When I tried to chase it away again, it flew off. Then within one minute it came back and rested on top of the book again.

By now, I am really wondering what is going on. Again I wonder if there is any connotation to this. I had 2 experiences with butterflies. Once, when a highly accomplished lama, His Eminence Lati Rinpoche was giving the Buddha Shakyamuni empowerment, as he was walking towards the statue of Buddha, a huge butterfly was following closely behind him. And the second time, when I was circumbulating around the huge statue of Amitabha Buddha in a temple, 2 small butterflies were also following me. That was why I view seeing the butterfly near any holy objects as having some significance. I also tried to search for some answers from the internet.

They say that some Holy Objects are so powerful that "even an insect that has the shadow of a holy object and touch them will be reborn in a higher realm." Meaning a butterfly that flits in and out of a shadow of a holy object will attain a human body or better in it's next incarnation. I know this sounds unbelievable but so is the blessing power of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

I better start reading the book.

Where abalone porridge & $80million aren't appetising

Yesterday was Polling Day. PAP garnered a landslide win (as expected). However, I noted almost all PAP wards did not win with a better margin compared to 2001 (although now they say cannot compare with 2001's good showing because then was post 911 attacks). Watching the live telecast till past 1am, I think I was more excited and relieved that both Low Thia Kiang and Chiam See Tong retained the opposition wards for Hougang and Potong Pasir respectively, with better margin compared to 2001. And more ecstatic was I when Aljunied GRC (the hotly contested group) managed to get 44% for the opposition, making them the loser with the highest % and thus likely to have NCMP (Non-Constituency Member of Parliament) in Parliament to lend a voice to the opposition. I think they will most likely field Sylvia Lim there.

Mr Chiam See Tong's wife was elated her husband retained his seat because "6" is her lucky number; polling day was 6 May, her birthday was 6 April, and it was Chiam's 6th straight win in Potong Pasir. Chiam managed to remain triumphed even when faced with threat from PAP's vote-buying tactics of offering free abalone porridge and $80 million upgrading carrot. Anyway PAP's overall win was 66.6%, still not a bad showing by any country's political standards.

Who cares what's going to happen in the next 5 years. I think for today, Singaporeans will be more interested to bet on "6660" or the likes, for their 4D lottery in the hope of their personal gain!

Peace (pissed?)

Today is Buddha's birthday. I went to the temple to offer flowers to Buddha. No matter how much crap I face in the office, I really am trying to find peace within me. And also to bring peace and hope for others. I understand that end of the day, in the workplace or in difficult situations, people are just trying to protect themselves, and would rather others take the blame for anything, everything. Maybe I am the victim. Or maybe I will have the last laugh? I don't care and I don't mind. Since young, I have the innate ability to "see" and "read" a person's character pretty fast. And often what my gut feel told me proved 90% true. So although I can "see", I won't judge others (or trying not to). Anyway, I felt so much better after prayers.

As the Buddha says:

"Better than a thousand pointless words is one saying to the point on hearing which one finds peace."

Ai mai vote?

Tomorrow is Singapore's Polling Day. I have not decided who to vote for - PAP or Opposition? I know many people went to the Workers Party rally in Serangoon tonight, being the last night. Wonder how the crowd will be like? Heard the other night Workers Party's rally in Hougang drawn 50,000 people (see picture, which even the widest lens could not capture the havoc crowd). I think tonight lagi havoc.

I still have not decided who to vote for. May the loser fight on. Ai mai vote?

57

Excerpts of Lee Young-Ae's book "Especially Love" 《最特别的爱》which I have loosely translated in English.

On being kind to animals:

Young-Ae said: "Sometimes I wonder, why are there many people in this world who can't even be compared to animals? The thought of this makes me sad. Especially when there are so much violence and crime happening everyday around us. Animals, on the other hand, are more innocent and less cunning than humans. In fact they can be a loyal friend. For example, guide dogs who help the blind, they are the blind man's windows to the outside world. "

"Once, I saw an ad on a magazine, with a picture of a blind man with his guide dog. The slogan was 'If you see us in the park or the bus, please treat us as no different from you.' That picture remains deeply etched in my mind for a long time, especially seeing the bright smile on both man and dog. The way the dog is smiling looks exactly like that of an innocent child, full of happiness and joy. I loved that picture so much that I cut it out and put it in my wallet and kept it there for a long long time."

"I read from the news of French actress Bridgit Bardot writing a letter to the South Korean government, imploring them to prevent the act of eating dog meat in the country. This phenomenon is especially prevalent to cultures in China, Korea, Vietnam and the rest of Asian countries. Dogs are part of the family, closes to the human race. I strongly feel that people should stop this habit of eating dog meat. We should protect these animals from harm. But to totally eliminate this culture will take time, which leaves me with full of remorse."

On being responsible for one's own children:
"I used to think that instead of suffering in a loveless marriage, why not divorce and live one's own life without regrets? But when I know how many children of these parents suffered as a result (of this action), how hurt and abandoned these kids felt, I totally changed my stance. Life is precious to ourselves and nothing is more important than how we live it. However, if we sacrifice someone else's happiness in exchange for our own happiness, the value of this happiness becomes totally worthless. Considering not only these children are our own flesh and blood, but they being left helpless to fend for themselves and robbing them of their childhood. Parents should not be so irresponsible in their actions."

Pictured on the top left-hand corner is Young-Ae's dog with a ribbon, whom she adopted for her parents and whom she named 57. She is also generous with her love and care for the poor, ill and under-privileged. She donated large sums of money to charity, including the proceeds of sales of this book, as her payback to society with her love, humility and kindness. And reading her book, about her and her thoughts, her feelings, her travels, her encounters, it seemed that she shares mostly the same sentiments as me and I agree with most of her viewpoints. Her humility deviates her from other famous superstars. Such speaks volume of a person who has shown acts of compassion, not just to humans, but to animals as well. My new found model, idol.

Do something before it's too late

I am very into pujas (prayers) recently especially pujas on obstacles-clearing and karmic debts-clearing. It's a ceremony where a few lamas (monks) will chant prayers for us. During the ceremony, we can chant prayers or meditate. And at the end of the ceremony, Rinpoche will bless us individually. Because in our daily life, we may meet with lots of negative experiences, meeting unpleasant people who make us angry. And when we are angry, we will react with more negative actions, hence inevitably we are committing more negative karma, which will thus result in more obstacles for ourselves whether in this lifetime or future lifetimes.

The past Saturday, I went for a Green Tara puja, which is very popular with Tibetan buddhists. Green Tara is a female buddha that existed in previous lifetimes even before the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. Tara is a very swift and powerful buddha of activity who clears our obstacles and helps us successfully accomplish both temporal and ultimate happiness. One will be able to dispel black magic, charms and disturbances from the formless as well as prevent diseases and harm to oneself. It can also boost one's spiritual growth and career and all aspects of one's life.

I feel strongly that we should do something in order to stop or prevent obstacles from occurring in our lives, thus prevent further suffering, regardless of what is one's religion or background. Even when one is experiencing good times, we should also take the effort to clear our karmic debts and to contribute to the accumulating of good karma through continual good deeds. What more for one who is experiencing bad times, we should take immediate actions in order to improve our situation. Good or bad times, one's life will come back full circle whether within one lifetime or within many lifetimes.

Om tare tuttare ture soha! (Green Tara's mantra)

Twin2

I have always dream of having twins one day. Sometimes I wish they're a girl and boy. But most times, I wish they're boys. No particular reason, I just feel boys are more independent and can take care of themselves better, I suppose. Since young, I always tell my sis that I wish to have twins, 2-in-1, 2 babies, just one birth. Even though I've seen how rascals my twin cousins, Darryl and Darren are. But I just love little chubby active boys. Gosh, I've even thought of their names already. May my dream come true.