This is what I look forward to every evening

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5-headed naga

A Facebook friend posted a photo of this yesterday morning. It is a five-headed snake found in Kukke Subramanya, near Mangalore, Karnataka, southern part of India. Unbelievable!

A snake is sometime called a naga. In an earlier post recently, I wrote about Naga.  Naga is a Sanskrit word for snake. In Buddhist writings the term is used for unseen beings associated with water and fluid energy, and also with persons having powerful animal-like qualities or an impressive animal with human qualities. Nagas in Buddhism are also seen as protectors due to the story of when the Buddha was meditating and it began to rain; a Naga came up behind the Buddha and unfolded its seven-headed hood over the Buddha so the rain would not disturb him.

According to Wikipedia,  traditions about nāgas are very common throughout many countries in Asia. In many countries, the nāga concept has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons. In Tibet, the nāga was equated with the klu, wits that dwell in lakes or underground streams and guard treasure. In China, the nāga was equated with the lóng or Chinese dragon.

The Buddhist nāga generally has the form of a great cobra-like snake, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. At least some of the nāgas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance. In Buddhist painting, the nāga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head. One nāga, in human form, attempted to become a monk; when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a man, able to become a monk.

Nāgas are believed to both live on Mount Sumeru, among the other minor deities, and in various parts of the human-inhabited earth. Some of them are water-dwellers, living in streams; others are earth-dwellers, living in underground caverns. Some of them sleep on top of anthills. Their food includes frogs and they love milk.

The reds

Been playing with the iPhone app, moreMono (Red Edition) is a FREE photo editing application designed for iPhone 3G/3GS. It converts your photo to monotone and preserves the red tone to give a strong and dramatic look!

This was at an old Assam Laksa stall in Tanjong Pagar. Sitting at the counter slurping down my shiok Assam Laksa, I snapped this, there were many Peranakan stuff adorning the wall of the stall. Very nostalgic and old school. The lady in red in the photo on the wall is, by the way, the famed Taiwan actress, Tian Niu, in her hey days.

A trip to Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple, during the Qing Ming Festival, where we pay respect to our dearly departed ones. I was there with my parents to pay respect to my late paternal grandmother, who passed away when I was in Secondary 4. Here the photo was the huge pond which houses many big tortoises, where some devotees release.

I like to watch fishes, especially beautiful aquarium and the sound of water, is very calming to me. The red tone highlighted the guppies.

This shop in The Cathay has an unique decor and theme which captured my attention.

My friend's little darling Amber.

Moi trying to capture the red tones of the spectacles and T-shirt.

Curry favour!!!

Pun intended for the title. Was browsing the Japanese supermarket at The Central one day and I decided I just had to cook Japanese Curry Rice for dinner.

These were my loot, among a few other unusual Jap drinks - Vermont Curry cubes with a touch of Apple and Honey, Instant Aged Miso Soup that came with 3 flavours (Tofu, Wakame Seaweed, Fried Tofu Stripes). I bought an extra pack of seaweed as well.

These were the ingredients I used - Chicken, Potatoes, Carrots, Broccoli . You could use any ingredients you like, I suppose. I am usually greedy and generous with ingredients, so I use many ingredients.

I even added Crabsticks, just because my niece and nephew like them. I chopped lots of onions. Next I cook rice in the cooker.

I mixed the potatoes, carrots and broccoli together and steamed them for 5 minutes, so that they would be just about soft later. I marinated the chicken for about an hour with sesame oil, pepper, light soy sauce and seasoning. I stir fried the onions and chicken till it was 80% cooked. Then I poured in the veggies and added water and left it to simmer for a bit. Last I put in the curry cubes (one pack comes in 12 servings). I used the whole pack even though I was preparing for 7 persons! The water with the curry cubes became thicker and thicker. It was such a colourful sight the whole wok of curry.

Here is what my Jap Curry Rice looked like. It was mouth-watering. Jap curry rice is very easy to cook and very child-friendly because it is not spicy, even the Hot version. And whatever ingredients you used (chicken, carrots and potatoes are compulsory, I feel), the curry gravy "hid" the ingredients so well, that you could get kids to eat their lumps of veggies without them knowing/complaining. ;P 

I made Instant Miso Soup too. I threw in and mixed the 6 packs of the 3 different types of flavours - Tofu, Wakame Seaweed and Fried Tofu Stripes - into the boiling pot of water. The final touch before serving, I added more seaweed on top of the soup. Yummy!

Dreams on her birthdays

Today 3 April (Saturday), is Guan Yin Bodhisattva's birthday. She is the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, the one with the greatest compassion and mercy.  Guan Yin can transform into many different forms in order to cross over to the beings. Guan Yin is one of the most popular Bodhisattva in China and Asia. It would be good if we can offer lights and flowers to Guan Yin today.

I have an acute affinity with Guan Yin. Throughout many trials, I found she is often by my side, either manifesting in my dreams or in other coincidental incidents.  Last year on the birthday of Guan Yin, I had a rather auspicious dream which you can read it here.

Then in March 2006, on Guan Yin's birthday, I also had a dream of her. I was in a huge scenic green valley surrounded by snow-laden mountains and cool breeze. I saw meandering roads. As I walked along, I discovered a huge tentage with many Tibetan prayer flags hanging gently with the wind blowing. It seemed that an event was going to begin soon or it has just ended, there was no single soul around, but the thangkas and prayer flags were hanging there. As I walked on, I saw many empty chairs neatly arranged in many rows. Then I saw a  big stage in front. On the stage was a huge standing statue of a  resplendent white-robed Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. In the dream I saw myself praying and bowing to her. Then out of nowhere, a very fair lady with long hair appeared. She was wearing white and she was very delicately stunningly beautiful that I was momentarily stunned by her appearance. She called out my name and said in a loud yet firm confident voice "Thank you!". And with that, the lady in white disappeared.  

Guan Yin has many emanations. She is also known as Avalokitesvara, the Sanskrit word for the Bodhisattva Who Hears the Sounds of the World. He rescues all beings by hearing their voices of suffering and cries for help. Avalokiteshvara is a Bodhisattva who embodies the Compassion of all Buddhas.

Another time in 2005, I dreamt of the Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara. It was a dream which foretold  something of my new house way before we moved. In the dream we were at an apartment with the unit number on the 6th floor. And the apartment opened to a big green field outside. I saw my Mom praying and bowing some distance away. So I went closer to have a look. At first I saw an empty high throne seat lavishly decorated, which normally the lama or rinpoche sits. Then within seconds, I saw the four-armed Avalokiteshvara floating above the high seat. He was very fair almost translucent white, and looked like a line drawing. His omniscient presence had a very calming effect yet surreal. I saw myself quickly bowing down and prostrating to Avalokiteshvara in the dream. In reality after that, we did ended  up with a 6th floor apartment by sheer coincidence, and not by choice.

In Tibetan, Avalokiteshvara is also known as 1000-Armed Chenrezig. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an emanation of the 1000-Armed Chenrezig, a Living Buddha.

Happy Birthday, Guan Yin! May you continue to guide many sentient beings to Enlightenment with mercy and compassion. I wonder will I dream of her tonight? Om mani padme hum!!!  

The sun descending

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Respect

Ever so often, we get entrenched in our own lifestyle, pursuits, beliefs and (character?) that, there comes a time when the line is blurred, really tainted. The word is again nothing but 'respect'.

__/\__  Respect and accept that the one next to you is not of the same religion as you, so don't keep inviting him/her to your church gathering/party/TGIF get-together/Good Friday party or whatever you name it. Don't be sneaky, especially to sick elderly people who doesn't even recognise you anymore, much lest hear you preach.

__/\__  Respect your fellow Buddhist friends. You may share the same religion, but that doesn't mean you can enter someone else's place and behave disrespectfully towards their  place of worship or altar or gompa. It is not your house. Respect their space.

__/\__  Respect that your best friend is of a different religion as you. Do not pepper your speech and conversations revering your God all the time, "it's from God's grace that I....", "Praise the Lord that I am...." etc... You won't like it if I say "It was the Buddha who helped you".

__/\__  Respect that someone may not be as rich as you. There is no need to flaunt your 5 Cs and whichever C. Just donate more to Charity and be humble.

__/\__  Respect that someone whom you have a crush on does not like you. Move on and don't spread the word that he/she is an abhorable person when it is only one-sided. You deserve someone better than this person. So does he/she.

__/\__  Respect and remember that person who had ever lent you a listening ear, a helping hand and who had lifted you up when you were downtrodden and depressed at the lowest point of your life.

Last but not least, practice Self-Respect. Love your looks.  Love your body. Believe in your knowledge. Believe in your dreams. Treasure your achievements.  Believe in yourself, no matter how others tell you otherwise (sounds a little ironical, but.. there you have it). Treat others as you want them to treat you because what goes around comes around. Karma.

"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.” Benjamin Franklin

今生今世 There Was Leslie

Today is April Fools' Day. Today is also HK singer/actor 张国荣 Leslie Cheung's death anniversay. It has been 7 years since he took his own life. If he is alive, he would be 46 this year. I was not  exactly an ardent fan of this handsome actor.  However, this is one of the Cantonese songs I love, 今生今世, from the movie 《金枝玉葉》. Such touching lyrics (if there is an error when you click Play, go Youtube to listen, totally worth it). 

Nonetheless, he was a part of my growing up years.
May Leslie has a good rebirth.