Life and Death... all in a day!

September 17th will be remembered for joy and sorrow. It was my good friend, Frederick's 34th birthday. It has been 4 years we're together as close pals. Every year we would celebrate it with a small dinner affair with a few close friends. Yesterday, I was one of the few but close good friends that came over to celebrate his birthday with him and his new beau. It was an unusual feeling.

The dinner was wonderful and they cooked up a gourmet feast. Chris and I bought a cheese cake which he liked very much and it was a wonderful moment. I'm glad I'm a part of that.

At the same time, the late afternoon, we received bad tidings that one of our good friend, Michael Yang died in a freak car accident. I've known Michael for 6 years as we were gym mates. He and his partner were travelling to Kluang to visit his mother, the accident happened in the afternoon and his car turned turtle and he was hurled out of his seat. He suffered internal bleeding and he died in the hospital.

In one day, I was able to see Life and Death whizzing by in a flash. I celebrated a friend's birthday and I also mourn the loss of another. Indeed life is very fragile and precious. We should treasure each and every moment of our life and appreciate all the things we have. This is a real wake up call for me to cherish and appreciate all that I love. Truly humbled by this.

All things are Impermanent, All things are subjected to change. So it is with Life. There is birth and death. Do Good, Avoid Evil, Purify the mind. Maha Saddhu!

I'll end this blog with a prayer, one for the birthday boy and one for the departed friend.

Om Mani Padme Hum! Tadyatha OM! Bekandze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Raze Samugate Soha!
May my good friend, Frederick Loi be well and happy. May he be blessed with peace and long life. May his wishes be fulfilled. May all abundance of blessing be upon him. May he be free from mental suffering and sickness. May the Light of Buddhas shine upon him and bath him with wisdom and compassion. Om Tare Tut tare Tore Svaha!

Om Ah Hum. Om Amrta Teje Hara Hum!
May Michael Yang be free from his suffering and be free from the bondage of Karma. May my good friend be free from his karmic suffering! May he break free from the bondage of anger, delusion and desire. May Amitabha great compassionate father of limitless life and light shine your light upon my friend and guide him to your Pure land so he will be save from the 3 evil ways and ensure his enlightenment! May his spirit rest in peace

OM MANI PADME HUM! may all sentient beings be well and happy!

Happy Birthday Anna!

Yesterday, was my good buddy's birthday! Anna has just turned 32. I did asked her, if she felt good turning 32. She told me, 'Not bad, Tai lo!'

We celebrated her birthday with her close friends, Julie, Charmaine, Kelvin, Penny, Chris and I. All seven of us @ Souled Out, Sri Hartamas. The dinner started at 7.30 pm. It was a surprise party as Anna was not informed of our presence during the dinner. She arrived in casual shorts and tee shirt. Hahaha, That's my Anna! She's a real cool dude!

The dinner affair was slow and easy as it was a good time for all of us to catch up. Anna has just returned from her trip to Bangkok with her mum. And the best part of the dinner was a photo session we had as the management decided to give her a special treat, she had to wear a birthday candle hat and we all sang the birthday song to her. She did look very funny. It was hilarious.. Everyone of us were laughing non-stop with her.

It was after that as we settled down with a couple of drinks, the nostalgic moments came and we were all chatting about the primary and secondary school days. The games we played when we were very young, like rope skipping with rubber band ropes, playing 'Tai Chi' on the badminton court, 'Chopping' the girls and guys with a tennis ball, playing 5 stones and other silly childhood games.

It hit me then, It's wonderful to be able to share this, live this moment and be a part of someone's life. Being able to be a part of someone's important event is a blessing. It's also a kind of acceptance. Having said that, it is a wonderful blessing that your existence can touch and influence peoples' lives. I guess that being a bodhisattva is to help touch people's lives and give them a kind of assurance that not all things in the world are bad.. there are beautiful and wonderful things to look forward too, there are good decent people whom are great advisors and would go all out to help and care for you.

I do hope I can play my part in this world by being a little more giving, a little more caring and a little more helping to be a small bodhisattva in this world...

Om Mani Padme Hum... may all beings be well and happy. May all attain blessings and divine light from Buddhas.

The ;D Bodhisattva

In Buddhism, there are aspirants who aspire to the thought of enlightenment and becomes a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva is a being (sentient and insentient) who guides people in the Dharma. He or she can assume many roles and many faces.

In reality, we are all Bodhisattvas of many kinds. Some of us become Kuan Yin to some friends in their hour of need, when they cry to us to help them, some of us are like Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of wisdom, imparting wisdom to those who need them and give encouragement and fearlessness when required.




So, which bodhisattva am I? I don't know but I do know I'm a happy bodhisattva and I smile at my troubles and worries, just like the fat Maitreya Bodhisattva, smile @ your worries and they will run away from you!


I do hope you all can be come happy bodhisattvas as well..
Om Mani Padme Hum.. May all beings be well and happy!