Compassionate? Really?

Compassionate? Really?

Months ago, I wrote a post about my reflection about being hit on the shoulders by a lady who seems to be mentally disturbed and I had experienced what we may think of, normatively as verbal abuse from her.

I met the lady and her mother again this morning, at the bus stop.

The moment I saw her, this thought arises in me, was there any 'residues' of the past incident left in my mind?

A lot of times, we may claim to be compassionate and hold no grudges against others whom others think, wronged us. And we truly (mentally) believe in ourselves being compassionate and being able to let the incident go but is that really the case?

Was there any 'residues' of anger, of fear, of insecurity which lie dormant in us? Waiting for the right conditions for it to take over us? I turned my attention within in search of it.

I was lucky. There was no anger towards and no fear of the lady. Assured of my little 'victory' over myself, I turned my attention towards the lady.

And we both smiled.

Grateful for the conditions for this reflection.

May she and her mother be well and happy.

Moral Goodness

"Moral goodness is the result of habit."
Aristotle

The philosopher posits that happiness is the goal of all man and that virtuous activities are the determinants of our happiness. Therefore, in order to experience happiness, there is a need to cultivate good habits.

May all have a good happy weekend ahead. For those who have not start with cultivation of good habits, now is a good time to start meeting the goal (as postulated by Aristotle) of all.

May all be well and happy.

Being Wronged and Doing Wrong

"One must not do wrong even when one is wronged."
Socrates

A great philosopher left his disciples with these words as he faced with what others perceived as an unjust death, with gratitude and acceptance.

Reflection on the Thailand Trip

Reflection on the Thailand Trip

"Happiness is making the best out of the conditions that you have."
Simple Bear 10.01.2014.

One of the most striking things about the Thai people that I encountered in Bangkok, Thailand is the resilience that I see in them, working hard to make their lives better regardless of the conditions that they have.

I took a photo of a little young girl managing a fried fish ball stall on my first day in Bangkok, Thailand. The little boss of the fish ball stall is probably around 13 years of age and she impressed me with her politeness, confidence and silent resilience that I felt when I saw her.

Maybe it's her age, maybe it's the silent strength of resilience that I felt from her. I couldn't help but to reflect on it. When we complained about the not so optimal conditions of the roadside stalls, the refusal of the stall owners to reduce prices, fatigue from shopping etc, we forgotten to be grateful for the good conditions for us to be tourists in their countries, to have the financial means to travel and buy what we like.

A sense of shame arose in me. There is so much more that I have.

I see beggars on the streets of Bangkok, the bridges, the stairs, outside the malls and all I can do for them is a silent wish that they will have better conditions in the future, for the relief and eradication of sufferings.

A good trip of good food, shopping and also a trip to help remind myself of gratitude.

May all be well, healthy and happy.

I Choose

A good reminder on a Monday!

"I Choose…
to live by choice, not by chance;
to make changes, not excuses;
to be motivated, not manipulated;
to be useful, not used;
to excel, not to compete.

I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
I choose to listen to my inner voice,
Not the random opinion of others.
I choose to be me."
Miranda Marrott

Size does matter

Size does matter

"The bigger you get, the easier it is to suffer."
Simple Bear 01.01.2015.

The resolution for the new year is to make myself smaller. First I need to realise how big I am

Training not to see I but we

"In Buddhism, we train not to see you and I; we train to see we."
Venerable Thubten Chodron

Grateful to be able to end the first day of the new year with a Dharma talk by Venerable Thubten Chodron.

Thank you everyone who made it possible especially my friend, Lim Wah Teck who asked me to go along for the Dharma talk.

May we have the good conditions to encounter, practice, understand and experience the Dharma.