人生有如两颗橘子

人生有如两颗橘子

人生际遇有如两颗橘子，一颗大而酸，一颗小而甜。
凡人拿到大的，抱怨橘子酸，拿到甜的，抱怨橘子小。
智者拿到酸的，感谢橘子大，拿到小的，感谢橘子甜。
橘子是甜，是酸，是大，是小，一切全都来自于心。

蔡志忠 《蒲公英的微笑》

English translation

Life, is akin to having two oranges

Our experiences in life is akin to having two oranges, one which is big but sour, and the other small but sweet.
When the mortal gets the big orange, he complains that the orange is sour; when he gets the sweet orange, he complains that the orange is small.
When the wise gets the sour orange, he is grateful that the orange is big; when he gets the small orange, he is grateful that the orange is sweet.
Oranges, our perception of whether it is sweet, sour, big or small originates from our mind.
Tsai Chih Chung <Smiles of Dandelion>

A rough translation, do pardon if there is any mistakes; my ang moh not good :P

Belonging

Belonging

Friend: "I am a little lost right now."
Simple Bear: "Why are you lost?"
Friend: "I feel that I don't belong anywhere. I don't feel that I belong to any of the groups in my social circle."
Simple Bear: "I feel that also sometimes."
Friend: "How do you deal with that? I am feeling sad and depressed right now."
Simple Bear: "I ask myself one question."
Friend: "What question?“
Simple Bear: "Where do you think you should belong?"
Friend: o_O ?

求人不如求己

求人不如求己

佛印禅师与苏东坡同游杭州灵隐寺时，到观世音菩萨前，佛印禅师合掌礼拜。
苏东坡问佛印说: "我们求观世音菩萨，为何祂也挂着一串念珠? 观世音菩萨在求谁?"

佛印禅师: "求观世音菩萨啊。"
苏东坡: "观世音菩萨求观世音菩萨?"
佛印禅师: "观世音菩萨比我们还清楚，求人不如求己。"

Listening

Listening

The perfection of listening requires both the ears and the eyes to work in tandem, with undivided attention of the heart."
Simple Bear 04.12.2016.

A Piece of Cake

A Piece of Cake

"Come over here." I could read her lips moving to the three words as she gestured with her hand for me to walk over to her.

I walked over, looked at her and said, "Yes M what can I do for you today?"

She pointed to the two pieces of cake in front of her and said, "I want to share the cakes with you. You take one and I will take one."

She smiled.

I was touched by her kindness. It was a birthday celebration for her and other seniors today and she wanted to share her share of her birthday cake with me.

I smiled and said, "Thanks for your kind offer of the cake M they were saying that I am fat *pointing to my tummy* and I need to go on a diet. I can't eat the cake. Please have it."

She laughed and nodded, picking up the cake with relish.

I went away and a few minutes later, she waved at me again and gestured for me to go over.

I walked over and she said, "I want to share the cake with you. I just had one. And there is another piece of the cake left. I want you to have it."

I smiled at her and said, "Thank you for your kind offer M they said I am fat and I need to go on a diet. I can't have the cake. Please have the cake."

She smiled and nodded, picking up the piece of the cake with delight.

I was touched. I had never expected it.

It was clear. She was happy about the birthday celebrations and she was happy eating the cake. I was touched that she had wanted to share her happiness with me.

She may have forgotten that she had offered me the cake twice. Perhaps that is what makes it all the more emotional for me.

I am humbled and grateful for her kindness. The moment, her kindness makes my work in the nursing Home worthwhile.

Maybe to others, it is just a piece of cake, but to me, it is more than just a piece of cake.

May all be well and happy.

With love and kindness
Simple Bear 04.12.2016.

善有善报

善有善报

夜深了，我一人在宁静的街上漫步，反省着过去一个礼拜的行与念。
脑海中浮现了一个问题，人常说善有善报，何谓善报? 人生平常中有善报否?

有。当然有。

善报不局限于生命中有贵人，衣食住行无缺。善报也是善缘，支持善业的因缘。
能见世间苦，是善报。有多少人视而不见，只知只顾自己苦。自己在苦中苦不堪言，不见他人苦，也是常有之事。能助自己从苦中解脱，而因有其缘去助他人是善报。

能因见苦而生其慈悲，善之念，是善报。有多少人视而不见，只知只顾自己好。

能因慈悲，善之念而能有力行其念，是善报。不是有念就能行，有能力帮也是一种善报。

能因起慈悲，善之念，有此能力行，有愿行其行，是善报。不是有此念，有力，就能行。也要有愿行其行，才能有动力行其行，有此愿也是一种善报。

能因起慈悲，善之念，有力可行，有愿行其行，有勇气行其愿，是善报。有时行善之事，是需要作出一些也许社会中不常有之事。例如在雨天中，停下脚步，救一些可能会被人踩死的蜗牛等小动物，别人会觉得你怪怪的。真需要不理会别人眼光的勇气。有时也要有承受好意被他人拒绝的勇气。

能因起慈悲，善之念，有力可行，有愿行其行，有勇气行其愿而他人愿受其心，是善报。苦中的众生愿受其善心也是对于行善之人的一种善报。生活中愿行善而别人不愿领情，那也是常有的事。

想想能成就慈悲，善心之业有多难啊! 需要多少善缘才能成就善业。

每一个因每一段缘都需要感恩。感恩之情也是善报啊!

愿众生幸福安康。
简单熊 21.11.2016.

为君难

为君难

有人问我对于美国总统选举的结果有何看法。

我想起了圣贤对于权利的智慧。

定公问：“一言而可以兴邦，有诸？”
孔子对曰：“言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰：‘为君难，为臣不易。’如知为君之难也，不几乎一言而兴邦乎？”
曰：“一言而丧邦，有诸？”
孔子对曰：“言不可以若是其几也。人之言曰：‘予无乐乎为君，唯其言而莫予违也。’如其善而莫之违也，不亦善乎？如不善而莫之违也，不几乎一言而丧邦乎？”
孔子《论语• 子路第十三篇》

大局已定。不管谁当选，只希望新的美国总统明白身为美国总统的责任与使命。

身为总统的他是否是个好总统就让未来来评价吧。

而我们又能做什么呢?

观其善而仿之，观其恶而改之。

愿大家幸福安康。