Editor's Note - Dharma Resources - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See ...
Editor's Note - Dharma Resources - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See ... Editor's Note - Dharma Resources - Kong Meng San Phor Kark See ...
BY | Lilian Yeo We are One with the Universe I was in my early teens then. Travelling on a the others around us. However, like the smaller public bus one day, it suddenly occurred to waves who are all part of the larger wave, we are all me that as I was thinking: “I am now travelling individuals who are part of the larger universe. on a bus”, the same thought might also be running through the minds of fellow travellers who were on It is not difficult to understand this. Imagine taking that same bus. a helicopter ascending into the sky. At ground level, we can see those around us very clearly. As we At that moment, I had this curious thought that if I ascend upwards, we would begin to see many other could be thinking: “I am me”, so could the people sitting people below, who would increasingly seem smaller next to me, in front of me, behind me, and everyone and smaller. The higher we go, the tinier the people else. Everyone in his own mind could be thinking: “I on the ground would seem. From that perspective, am me”. It then led me to think: “So, who am I” it becomes clear that we are nothing but tiny specks that are part of the larger universe. Till this day, I still remember vividly that such a thought had flashed past my mind at that tender I like to think of the analogy that a community age. Over the years, as I gained some exposure to of human beings is not very much different from the teachings in Buddhism, I began to realise that a colony of ants. To the colony of ants, the entire my experience on the public bus was a simple yet kitchen might be what they thought wrongly to be profound encounter with the realisation that “we their “universe” – being so tiny, they might not be are one with the universe”. The notion of “I, me, cognizant of the fact that besides the kitchen, there is mine” are self-created. also the living room, the bedrooms, or further away, there are also other neighbouring houses. Being so I vaguely recall a comic strip in a Buddhist book or engrossed in activities such as searching for food newsletter I once read many years ago. The comic or running away from bigger insects, they might depicted a large wave hitting the shore of a beach. not realise just how tiny they are compared to their The large wave was made up of many smaller waves surroundings. The same goes for human beings. who were talking to one another, as though each of the smaller waves were individuals. That picture is Whatever happiness and joy, or challenges and an excellent illustration of what “we are one with difficulties we might encounter in our daily lives, the universe” means. they are but minute events compared to the larger universe. When we see things from that perspective, Each of us is like one of the smaller waves, each it makes us realise that the difficult moments we thinking of ourselves as an individual separate from might encounter in our lives are as transient as the passing clouds; so are the happy moments. What is important therefore, is for us to live every moment with inner peace and tranquillity as best as we can. It is not easy, but we should try our best, and constantly remind ourselves about it. For it is our own responsibility to train ourselves to treasure every happy moment as they arise, and to be resilient when adversities occur. Most importantly, it is our responsibility to learn, practise and internalise Buddhist teachings, so that they would guide us in our daily encounters. Issue 13 • January – April 2009 55 Something to Ponder awaken
To Face Ageing (Jara) T oday, I had a 14-hour crash course about ageing (jara). My grandmother suffered a dislocation in her right arm, with slight fracture. From 8.00 this morning, the whole household was busy, and waiting. First, we had to wait for the Chinese physician to make a house call, then we waited for my aunt to bring the wheelchair over. Next, we had a frenzy transporting a very delicate grandma to get an X-ray done, followed by more waiting for the X-ray report to be faxed to the Chinese physician. BY | Ng Pei Fuen Then we waited some more for the Chinese physician to come back from his lunch break, and afterwards were busy over deciding what to do next. We waited at the A&E for the first doctor; then the second and the third doctors. We waited for my grandma’s arm to be fixed; we waited to do the admission procedures; we waited for the nurse to take grandma to her ward; we waited for the doctors to come; we waited for my uncle to come visit; we waited and waited.... and finally at 2215hours we reached home. What struck me most out of this 14-hour episode was the word “AGEING” and its implications. “The body cannot be a refuge. It is not dependable” How did the dislocation happen My grandma merely reached out her right arm to support herself to stand. “Cluck”! And she winced in pain. The arm had come out of position. There was no fall. There was no warning. Do You Know... awaken “Emotional helplessness and fear” Within 30 minutes after the dislocation, my grandmother continuously droned, “Old already, no use. I think I better stay in the hospital like the last time. The missy can take care of me at night. It’s troublesome to go to the toilet. If I stayed at home, sure will bring trouble to you. Better to stay in the hospital for a few days. I may fall again at home.” 56
- Page 1 and 2: Editor’s Note Have you ever wonde
- Page 3 and 4: Is it Important to Take Refuge in t
- Page 5 and 6: Emergency Preparedness Training for
- Page 7 and 8: Show your guests that vegetarian fo
- Page 9 and 10: Ven. Dr Chang Qing, Dean of Academi
- Page 11 and 12: Reaching Out, Crossing Boundaries B
- Page 13 and 14: overhaul to our draft. It worked an
- Page 15 and 16: practised before you, I’ve seen m
- Page 17 and 18: From ancient times to the present,
- Page 19 and 20: there is hope. I firmly believe tha
- Page 21: If we have taken refuge and are pro
- Page 25 and 26: The Guide ADAPTED BY | Esther Thien
- Page 27 and 28: Buddhist Tales awaken 60 The Man an
- Page 29 and 30: BY | Esther Thien READ “Because t
- Page 31: Glossary awaken Amitabha (Amida, Am
To Face<br />
Ageing (Jara)<br />
T<br />
oday,<br />
I had a 14-hour crash course about ageing<br />
(jara).<br />
My grandmother suffered a dislocation in her right<br />
arm, with slight fracture. From 8.00 this morning,<br />
the whole household was busy, and waiting. First,<br />
we had to wait for the Chinese physician to make a<br />
house call, then we waited for my aunt to bring the<br />
wheelchair over. Next, we had a frenzy transporting a<br />
very delicate grandma to get an X-ray done, followed<br />
by more waiting for the X-ray report to be faxed to the<br />
Chinese physician.<br />
BY | Ng Pei Fuen<br />
Then we waited some more for the Chinese physician<br />
to come back from his lunch break, and afterwards<br />
were busy over deciding what to do next. We waited<br />
at the A&E for the first doctor; then the second and<br />
the third doctors. We waited for my grandma’s arm to<br />
be fixed; we waited to do the admission procedures;<br />
we waited for the nurse to take grandma to her ward;<br />
we waited for the doctors to come; we waited for my uncle to come visit; we<br />
waited and waited.... and finally at 2215hours we reached home.<br />
What struck me most out of this 14-hour episode was the word “AGEING” and<br />
its implications.<br />
“The body cannot be a refuge. It is not dependable”<br />
How did the dislocation happen My grandma merely reached out her right<br />
arm to support herself to stand. “Cluck”! And she winced in pain. The arm<br />
had come out of position. There was no fall. There was no warning.<br />
Do You Know...<br />
awaken<br />
“Emotional helplessness and fear”<br />
Within 30 minutes after the dislocation, my grandmother continuously droned,<br />
“Old already, no use. I think I better stay in the hospital like the last time. The<br />
missy can take care of me at night. It’s troublesome to go to the toilet. If I stayed<br />
at home, sure will bring trouble to you. Better to stay in the hospital for a few<br />
days. I may fall again at home.”<br />
56
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