WESAK 2013

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

WESAK 2012

6 May 2012, Sunday

Zhen & Min bathing the little Buddha.

IN THE KITCHEN...

10 April 2012, Tuesday
It's Wednesday tomorrow and we were preparing the
"guīlínggāo" (龜苓膏) for tomorrow's dana.  The girls helped in making one of their favourite dessert.

NOTE:

Dana (Pali/Sanskrit) ~ the practice of giving; generosity.  Dana is one of the essential preliminary steps of Buddhist practice.  When practiced in itself, it is a basis of merit or wholesome kamma.  When coupled with morality, concentration and insight, it leads ultimately to liberation from samsara, the cycle of repeated existence.

SYMPATHY CARD

2 May 2012, Wednesday

I told Zhen this evening, that my aunt's dog has passed away in the afternoon.  Her grandaunt must be very sad.

After a short while, Zhen came to me and asked...

Zhen:  Mummy, is the post office open tomorrow?

Me:  Yes.  Why?

Zhen:  I want to draw po po a card.

Page 2 contents:

Dear Po Po,

I know that you will be sad because Rex had died.  So please be happy and also please do not cry. Thank you!

I think you will be well soon.

And I tell you something, everything is anicca.

(Anicca or impermanence is understood by Buddhists as one of the three marks of existence.)

UPEKKHA

25 April 2012, Wednesday

I was telling Zhen about the Four Sublime States of Buddhsim.  I was explaining to her what "upekkha" (equanimity) means.  I told her that equanimity means everyone is the same, everybody in this world is the same.

About an hour later... Min was telling Zhen that her friend could draw much nicer than her.  To assure Min, that her drawing are as lovely, I said, "It's ok darling, everyone is not the same."

Zhen: Mi, just now you said everyone is the same?? 

NOTE:

The Four Sublime States, which Lord Buddha singles out as the four mental qualities important for cultivation are:

(1) Metta: caring, loving kindness;

(2) Karuna: compassion or mercy;

(3) Mudita: sympathetic joy, being happy for others, without a trace of envy; and

(4) Uppekha: equanimity or levelness, the ability to accept others as they are.

WESAK DAY 2011

17th May 2011, Tuesday

A card Zhen drew for Wesak Day to Bhante Dhamma Sakkaro...

BHANTE

14th August 2010, Saturday Afternoon 

As usual, we were at VBG, Temoh (http://www.vbgnet.org/) for dana on a Saturday afternoon. 
 
Zhen:  "Mummy, how to become a bhante?"

Me:  "Well, they go to a monastery for meditation and stay at the monastery."

Zhen:  "I don't want to become a bhante.  You know why?"

Me:  "Why?"

Zhen:  "I don't want to shave... my hair."

(Bhante (Pali) is the polite particle used to refer to Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition.  Bhante literally means "Venerable Sir.")