Verse 50 - No fear

When we realize that afflictions are no other than enlightment, we can ride the waves of birth and death in peace, traveling in the boat of compassion on the ocean of delusion, smiling the smile of non-fear.

Wise Philosophy.....silent mind....

Buddha was sitting under a banyan tree.  
One day, a furious Brahman came to him and started abusing him.      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
The Brahmin thought that Lord Buddha would reciprocate in the same manner,
but to his utter surprise, there was not the slightest change in the expression on his face.                                                                
                                                                                                                     
Now, the Brahmin became more furious. He hurled more and more abuses at Buddha.
However, Lord Buddha was completely unmoved. Actually there was a look of compassion on his face.
Ultimately the Brahmin was tired of abusing him.    
                                                                                                                     
He asked, "I have been abusing you, but why are you not angry at all ?"                                            
                                                                                                                     
Lord Buddha calmly replied, "My dear brother, I have not accepted a single abuse from you."                        
                                                                                                                     
"But you heard all of them, didn't you?" The Brahmin argued half-heartedly.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                     
Buddha said, "I do not need the abuses, so why should I even hear them?"                                            
                                                                                                                     
Now the Brahmin was even more puzzled. He could not understand the calm reply from Lord Buddha.                    
                                                                                                                     
Looking at his disturbed face, Buddha further explained, "All those abuses remain with you."                        
                                                                                                                     
"It cannot be possible. I have hurled all of them at you," the Brahmin persisted.                                  
                                                                                                                     
Buddha calmly repeated his reply, "But I have not accepted even a single abuse from you!
Dear brother, suppose you give some coins to somebody, and if he does not accept them,
with whom will those coins remain?"                    
                                                                                                                     
The Brahman replied, "If I have given the coins and not needed by someone,
then naturally they would remain with me."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                     
With a meaningful smile on his face, Buddha said, "Now you are right.  
The same has happened with your abuses. You came here and hurled abuses at me,
but I have not accepted a single abuse from you. Hence, all those abuses remain  
with you only. So there is no reason to be angry with you."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                     
The Brahmin remained speechless. He was ashamed of his behavior and begged for Buddha's forgiveness.                
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                     

The Little things~

...after New York 9/11...this message was circulated...good reminder...   ~The ' L I T T L E ' Things~ As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11 Because his son started kindergarten. Another fellow was alive because it was His turn to bring donuts. One woman was late because her Alarm clock didn't go off in time. One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike Because of an auto accident. One of them Missed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take Time to change. One's Car wouldn't start. One couldn't Get a taxi. The one that struck me was the man Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, Took the various means to get to work But before he got there, he developed A  blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.. Now when I am Stuck in traffic, Miss an elevator, Turn back to answer a ringing telephone... All the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, This is exactly where God wants me to be At this very moment.. Next time your morning seems to be Going wrong, The children are slow getting dressed, You can't seem to find the car keys, You hit every traffic light, Don't get mad or frustrated; It May be just that God is at work watching over you. May God continue to bless you With all those annoying little things And may you remember their possible purpose.   Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like. There is NO LUCK attached. If you delete this, it's okay: God's Love Is Not Dependent On E-Mail!! (that's  the cool part)                     God Bless All

Children

Children learn what they live
Dorothy Law Neite

If a child lives with criticism
He learns to condemn

If a child lives with hostility
He learns to fight

If a child lives with ridicule
He learns to be shy

If a child lives with shame
He learns to feel guilty

If a child lives with tolerance
He learns to be patient

If a child lives with encouragement
He learns confidence

If a child lives with praise
He learns to appreciate

If a child lives with fairness
He learns justice

If a child lives with security
He learns to have faith

If a child lives with approval
He learns to like himself

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
He learns to find love in the world

Happiness

Happiness is right here when you make an effort to achieve it.

Happy, indeed, we live, friendly amidst the hateful. Amidst hostile men, we dwell free from hatred.

Happy, indeed, we live, in good (mental) health amidst the ailing.  Amidst ailing men, we dwell free from I'll.

Happy, indeed, we live, free from greed amidst the greedy.  Amidst greedy men, we dwell free from greed.

--- Dhammapada 197-199

thoughts

went swimming at downtown east and had really great experience. checked with the girl at the gate about when is the best time to visit the pool and she told be to avoid early morning before 9am as those old folks come in a group of about 10 to use the pool.  when i asked the lifeguard the same question (need to double check on things or might kannar Madoffed) and he told me the same thing.  all the time i did not get the feeling that they see me as one of the old folks!  that's reassuring .... unlike those kopi tiam people, kept calling me Uncle!!

told that to wife and she said since i am getting sensitive to being term OLD.  me sensitive? hardly right? i associate sensitive to Mimosa plant.  you touch the leaves and they close up.  Nah! i am not sensitive.  come to think of it, if anything like the mimosa, it will have to be the colour of the flower.  pinkish, bright.  see, i don't see RED when someone call me uncle.  i see mimosa pink only.  me sensitive? nah!

human beings are just funny creatures.  

you go swimming for relaxation and exercise.  then, you see someone swimming beside you.  if the person swims slower than you, you feel gooood.  if the person swims faster than you, you try to catch up and kick harder.  if you still can't catch up, you console yourself that you are long distance swimmer and the person beside you are just sprinting for a few laps and will soon 'pon chiag'.  then you realize that the person not only swims fast but also has great stamina.  you ended up with not so good a swim session.  Why are we so competitive?

i am just retired recently.  kind of retired.  call it provisional retirement.  you know, something like i have to wear this Triangle sign to tell me people that while i am retired, i am still learning to.  come to think of it, i did not get a cert or license, unlike passing driving test and you get a license, a provisional one.  you get proper license after one year of good behaviour.  all our life we get some sort of Proof that we have done something. you get yearly class photos even when in kindergarten.  you then get graduation photos and off course your parents go ga-ga on your K2 graduation day. then every year in primary school you get CAs SAs and report cards. PSLE.  O levels, A levels, now IB and what else...when you start working you get new name cards everytime you get promotions or when you change to a new job.  BUT, you don't get anything when you retire.  no certificate, no new name card.  I think i am going to design my own name card.  

HENG CHEE MENG

Retired -- provisional

The Good News -- Thich Ngat Hanh

They don't publish

the good news.

The good news is published

by us.

We have a special edition every moment,

and we need you to read it.

The good news is that you are alive,

and the linden tree is still there,

standing firm in the harsh Winter.

The good news is that you have wonderful eyes

to touch the blue sky.

The good news is that your child is there before you,

and your arms are available:

hugging is possible.

They only print what is wrong.

Look at each of our special editions.

We always offer the things that are not wrong.

We want you to benefit from them

and help protect them.

The dandelion is there by the sidewalk,

smiling its wondrous smile,

singing the song of eternity.

Listen! You have ears that can hear it.

Bow your head.

Listen to it.

Leave behind the world of sorrow

and preoccupation

and get free.

The latest good news 

is that you can do it.