Was very busy playing with jelly balls (for plants) and most happy with the crystal oil lamp for my altar. Well, first of all the jelly balls. I bought 2 packs of whites, 1 pack of red (turned orange when soaked) and 1 pack of purple (turned blue ... sigh....). Soaked all of them and was really fun (stressed more like it as every now and then .... I'll put my fingers in and watch them 'grow' round ... hehehehe...) playing with them ! I also bought 6 stalks of the now 'in' five claws dragon bamboo plant - one word - BEAUTIFUL !!!
As for the crystal oil lamp - I saw the plastic version at my sister's place. She told me that nowadays, people use crystal oil (smokeless) so that the ceiling won't turn yellow or black wor... So I bought her logic wholesale ... but I don't think so lor.... I think it still emit smoke !! Anyway, I don't like plasticky things and then I saw this cute crystal lamp and was hooked !!! Now I am also using crystal oil but.... frankly, I have always like oil lamps - don't know why... so no regrets.
Today is the Lunar Calendar 10th month Full Moon (15th) day and I have been calm all day. Recently, during one of the Dhamma talks I attended, it was said that every month when the new moon comes on, a person's energy/emotions will ebb and when it is the full moon - it will surge (!!!) /overflow/explode !!! OMG I really believe it because I have the experience and at that time I don't understand why !! Now I know better. I also hope I can do my meditation ....
Surprise, surprise !! Got a call from an old colleague and it has really been a long time since I last heard from him. Going to meet up tomorrow with other friends too !! Yipee !!! Never realise I was always 'so busy' during my working life that I don't seem to have time for 'friends'.. now I know better ! That's why it's a real joy when friends come a-visiting !!
My kwai chai is having his monthly 'period' again (bad hair day??!!!) and I just ignored him !! Previously, I'll be fuming inside but now (still fumed a bit) arggh... let it be lah !! Like father like son !!! Came to a conclusion. Both these men do not know how to APPRECIATE !!!! Huh ...!!!
Never mind... it's their loss, right??? Aha... wisdom coming (to me) ... yeah...yeah...yeah...
Finally, finished my listing of the Dhamma books for the centre. Wah... my ex-colleague really look me up eh! Ask me to be a committee member to organise a Dhamma Talk ! Wah lau eh... what do I know about all these event thingy????? He said I have the experience wor... Aiy? Hello?? Just because I used to organise corporate trainings/meetings, etc., doesn't mean I know how to organise 'Dhamma Talks' !!! More so when it involves a prominent speaker like Datuk And I was so gung-ho ... I said.......let's form a committee first and meet !!! Well, never say 'die' ok??!!! The 'talk' is scheduled to be in January 2008 - wah... he really trust me to meet deadlines because he has seen it all these years !!! Trouble is - I am getting on mah.... energy level not so strong already !! hehehehehe.......but .... once the adrenaline gets pumping ... hmmm... feeling good... feeling good....
Sigh... mountain of laundry to iron.... and so sleepy.... wanted to read Bhante Suvanno's Part II of the 31 Planes of Existence !!! Go hang the ironing !!! The men can wear pandan leaves for all I care !!! Moreover, tomorrow kai kai.... hehehehe.... yipee !!
Snoozzzzzzzzeeeeeeeee.........
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
North & East Coast
Wow... last week Monday (November 5), went to Penang (free ride) and all because I've been thinking of the steam fish in Nibong Tebal !!! This is what we called 'greed' lor... but come to think of it ... I am not really that 'greedy' after all ... once awhile a person can have the privilege to succumb to its 'urge' mah.... don't you all agree??? Anyway, was back the next day and again went to Nibong Tebal to have my steam fish again .... slurpppp....
Came Saturday (November 10), went to Pahang to exhale .... and the trip - so so lor... Aiy... when your heart is burdened, you don't really get to 'enjoy' anything - even the beautiful surroundings which should not be the case !!! This is because for the past months I've been reading so many dhamma books and I know it to be true ... No wonder one dhamma speaker said it is easier said than done i.e., to 'let go' !!! 'Let go!?' he asked let go what??? Not easy, not easy but can be done and definitely not alone !! especially if it was a prolonged period.
Came back on Tuesday (KL) in the midst of a 'storm' PLUS horrendous traffic snarl !!! Very tiring but am so pleased 'cos I got to hitch a ride back home + makan at Fei Lo Mok Yong Tau Foo !!!
On Wednesday, got up real early to settle my Celcom refund. Imagine that (!!!) - I terminated the line in July and the company was supposed to refund my RM100 deposit but instead what they did was to give me a billing of RM3 + RM0.15 for itemised billing and service tax!!! and started to deduct from my 100 bucks !!! Gosh ! Can you beat that????? So of course must go and make my presense felt lah !!! Am I too much??? Hmph...moreover I am not gainfully employed and even though if I am - I am definitely not going to let them eat my 100 bucks like that... So easy to earn a hundred bucks meh???!!! Anyway, by nature I am not a she-devil lah... so after showing them all the borang-borang (documents) they told me ................... system error !!! So have to send a report and will come back to me regarding their 'report'. I very gently told them - I am not interested in their report. I just want my money back - FINITO !!!
Have to wait 2 weeks ... what to do... big company versus small little old lady mah.... sob...sob...
Went to Petaling Street as I wanted to get the gold 'counter' for my prayer beads but was not matching... so in the end didn't get it. Then my friend said go Taman OUG to get crates of beer from a friend (pre-order lah) cheap cheap.... and off we went. Wah... horror of horrors ... just only the previous 2 weeks... this friend's office/showroom was robbed !!! When she recounted the story my hair stood on end and she lost 15 lbs since !!! Couldn't sleep or eat !! Poor thing !! Well, it was really scary.
What happened was it was almost 7.00 pm that night and they were ready to leave. There was this young guy (age about 25, wearing long sleeve shirt, tuck-in) knocking on the glass door (was locked all the time) and pointing to a water filter machine which was on promotion. So this friend went to open the door and before she knows what hitted her - she saw a knife at her pelvis (about 8" long) and the boss sitting at one of the desk outside had a knife to his neck !!! How did this 2nd guy came in ??? It happened so fast that no one really knows. All these guys said was 'kou choy' meaning they only want money only. The boss guy kept asking for his merc E230 car keys. Gave him the car keys lor ... snatched his mont blanc pen from his shirt pocket, empty his wallet and took cash about 2K.
Our friend??? Ha... LV bag (+ purse) with loads of rubbish inside, 2 small diamond rings, gold chain & pendant (the guy pulled it from her neck as it was tied up with strings at the hook -just like grandma used to teach - scared the hook came loose ma... hmmm... guess old ma never bargained with the changing times) but gave back the credit cards (they did ask for pin numbers but told them unlikely they'll be able to use it), IC, etc., oh yeah... plus a blue sapphire watch - must be expensive though. Oh yes.... they also hijacked her Honda Civic. Couldn't start the merc so it is 'lucky boss' !!! We believed they came to hijack the merc (main target) but due to the security thingy or maybe they are all young guys and they dont know how to start a merc??? Possible??? They came in a gold coloured Vois !!!
After this trauma in the office you know what happened?? Her neighbour kena robbed a week later !!! These guys came in a 4W (Pajero) and have loaded all they wanted from the house. This neighbour came back (it was noon time) while the Pajero was reversing. Neighbour was driving a Myvi - stopped at the gate so Pajero cannot come out lor !!! You know what??? This baddie got down from the 4W and shouted to the owner to move his car or he'll bang his car !!! How charming .... Pajero vs Myvi - so owner have to reverse and watched his household things being carted away in broad daylight !!! What is this world coming to??? Young guys and they dont look 'gangster' at all !!! Like our friend said, 'so young .. can last how long with this kind of life??'
Luckily, we said our friend & gang were not injured/hurt in any way - a real blessing in disguise. Oh I forgot !! Our friend told us that the previous week before the episode at her office - there was this robbery behind her shoplot. It's a saloon I think and you know what????? The girls were made to strip and they even took away their underwear!!! Reason?? So the girls won't give chase !!! What blimey !!! As if the girls will give chase !!! When recounting this, our friend said that night luckily they didn't ask her to strip ... imagine if they did ... she told us she won't ever be able to face the boss and the other guys in the office ... ever ... horror !!! So we told her it's a blessing and she did a lot of good merits otherwise we'll start driving up to 'ching san' to visit her !!!
Had a really bad day yesterday (Thursday) and its effects still hitting today. But am so glad my old kawan coming to have dinner with me. Going for some nice steamboat. Yum yum .... Going to yack until the sun rises.....
Ok .. go pom pom (shower) and do liang liang (dress-up) ...
Wow... last week Monday (November 5), went to Penang (free ride) and all because I've been thinking of the steam fish in Nibong Tebal !!! This is what we called 'greed' lor... but come to think of it ... I am not really that 'greedy' after all ... once awhile a person can have the privilege to succumb to its 'urge' mah.... don't you all agree??? Anyway, was back the next day and again went to Nibong Tebal to have my steam fish again .... slurpppp....
Came Saturday (November 10), went to Pahang to exhale .... and the trip - so so lor... Aiy... when your heart is burdened, you don't really get to 'enjoy' anything - even the beautiful surroundings which should not be the case !!! This is because for the past months I've been reading so many dhamma books and I know it to be true ... No wonder one dhamma speaker said it is easier said than done i.e., to 'let go' !!! 'Let go!?' he asked let go what??? Not easy, not easy but can be done and definitely not alone !! especially if it was a prolonged period.
Came back on Tuesday (KL) in the midst of a 'storm' PLUS horrendous traffic snarl !!! Very tiring but am so pleased 'cos I got to hitch a ride back home + makan at Fei Lo Mok Yong Tau Foo !!!
On Wednesday, got up real early to settle my Celcom refund. Imagine that (!!!) - I terminated the line in July and the company was supposed to refund my RM100 deposit but instead what they did was to give me a billing of RM3 + RM0.15 for itemised billing and service tax!!! and started to deduct from my 100 bucks !!! Gosh ! Can you beat that????? So of course must go and make my presense felt lah !!! Am I too much??? Hmph...moreover I am not gainfully employed and even though if I am - I am definitely not going to let them eat my 100 bucks like that... So easy to earn a hundred bucks meh???!!! Anyway, by nature I am not a she-devil lah... so after showing them all the borang-borang (documents) they told me ................... system error !!! So have to send a report and will come back to me regarding their 'report'. I very gently told them - I am not interested in their report. I just want my money back - FINITO !!!
Have to wait 2 weeks ... what to do... big company versus small little old lady mah.... sob...sob...
Went to Petaling Street as I wanted to get the gold 'counter' for my prayer beads but was not matching... so in the end didn't get it. Then my friend said go Taman OUG to get crates of beer from a friend (pre-order lah) cheap cheap.... and off we went. Wah... horror of horrors ... just only the previous 2 weeks... this friend's office/showroom was robbed !!! When she recounted the story my hair stood on end and she lost 15 lbs since !!! Couldn't sleep or eat !! Poor thing !! Well, it was really scary.
What happened was it was almost 7.00 pm that night and they were ready to leave. There was this young guy (age about 25, wearing long sleeve shirt, tuck-in) knocking on the glass door (was locked all the time) and pointing to a water filter machine which was on promotion. So this friend went to open the door and before she knows what hitted her - she saw a knife at her pelvis (about 8" long) and the boss sitting at one of the desk outside had a knife to his neck !!! How did this 2nd guy came in ??? It happened so fast that no one really knows. All these guys said was 'kou choy' meaning they only want money only. The boss guy kept asking for his merc E230 car keys. Gave him the car keys lor ... snatched his mont blanc pen from his shirt pocket, empty his wallet and took cash about 2K.
Our friend??? Ha... LV bag (+ purse) with loads of rubbish inside, 2 small diamond rings, gold chain & pendant (the guy pulled it from her neck as it was tied up with strings at the hook -just like grandma used to teach - scared the hook came loose ma... hmmm... guess old ma never bargained with the changing times) but gave back the credit cards (they did ask for pin numbers but told them unlikely they'll be able to use it), IC, etc., oh yeah... plus a blue sapphire watch - must be expensive though. Oh yes.... they also hijacked her Honda Civic. Couldn't start the merc so it is 'lucky boss' !!! We believed they came to hijack the merc (main target) but due to the security thingy or maybe they are all young guys and they dont know how to start a merc??? Possible??? They came in a gold coloured Vois !!!
After this trauma in the office you know what happened?? Her neighbour kena robbed a week later !!! These guys came in a 4W (Pajero) and have loaded all they wanted from the house. This neighbour came back (it was noon time) while the Pajero was reversing. Neighbour was driving a Myvi - stopped at the gate so Pajero cannot come out lor !!! You know what??? This baddie got down from the 4W and shouted to the owner to move his car or he'll bang his car !!! How charming .... Pajero vs Myvi - so owner have to reverse and watched his household things being carted away in broad daylight !!! What is this world coming to??? Young guys and they dont look 'gangster' at all !!! Like our friend said, 'so young .. can last how long with this kind of life??'
Luckily, we said our friend & gang were not injured/hurt in any way - a real blessing in disguise. Oh I forgot !! Our friend told us that the previous week before the episode at her office - there was this robbery behind her shoplot. It's a saloon I think and you know what????? The girls were made to strip and they even took away their underwear!!! Reason?? So the girls won't give chase !!! What blimey !!! As if the girls will give chase !!! When recounting this, our friend said that night luckily they didn't ask her to strip ... imagine if they did ... she told us she won't ever be able to face the boss and the other guys in the office ... ever ... horror !!! So we told her it's a blessing and she did a lot of good merits otherwise we'll start driving up to 'ching san' to visit her !!!
Had a really bad day yesterday (Thursday) and its effects still hitting today. But am so glad my old kawan coming to have dinner with me. Going for some nice steamboat. Yum yum .... Going to yack until the sun rises.....
Ok .. go pom pom (shower) and do liang liang (dress-up) ...
Friday, November 2, 2007
November 2, 2007
Five Destinations For Rebirth
Recently, I was reading some dhamma books and I came across this one, 'Buddhism Course' by Mr. Chan Khoon San and I like to reproduce this chapter, in brief, for the benefit of my 'readers' to digest.
Hell is believed to exist below the earth's surface, e.g., the Iron Cauldron hell of hot molten metal mentioned in the Dhammapada Commentary, where the four rich lads had to suffer for committing adultery, is said to be situated below the earth's crust. The animal, ghost and human realms exist on the surface of the earth. These realms are not separate but the beings move about in their own worlds. The gods are believed to live above the earth and high up in the sky in celestial mansions that travel swiftly through the sky.
In Buddhism, beings are born in hell due to their accumulation of weighty bad kamma. There they undergo unlimited suffering that is hard to endure and dreadful, terrible and heart-rending. The Buddha said that suffering of one stabbed incessantly by 300 spears compared to the suffering in hell is like a small stone compared to the Himalayas. However, hell beings do not suffer eternally unlike what is taught in other religions. Upon the exhaustion of their evil kamma, beings may be reborn in good states as a result of their past good kamma.
,
The Buddha mentioned five destinations for rebirth. What are the five?
(1) Hell
(2) Animal realm
(3) Ghosts
(4) Human beings
(5) Gods
There are 8 MAJOR HELLS, namely :-
1) Revival Hell
Beings are cut into pieces and killed for many thousands of years and they revive there again and again to undergo this torture.
2) Black Thread Hell
Beings are split like wood with burning saws along a mark made by a black thread.
3) Crushing Hell
Beings are crushed to death over and over again by iron rollers.
4) Screaming Hell
Terrible screaming by beings constantly consumed by flames and smoke entering their bodies through the nine orifices.
5) Great Screaming Hell
Where the screams are greater because of the awfulness of the fire torture by being baked in a huge mass of fire.
6) Roasting Hell
Where beings are pierced with giant red hot skewers and roasted over a fire, firmly held and unable to move.
7) Extreme Roasting Hell
Where beings are forced by fiery weapons to climb up a burning mountain until they fall down only to be strung up again on fiery iron bars, firmly held and unable to move while being roasted.
8) Hell without Intermission
The lowest and greatest hell, a hundred yojanas (one yojana is about 8 miles) sq. encircled by an iron wall with iron roof above and incandescent floor of glowing iron. Here, beings are attacked by blazing fires that rush incessantly from one side and strike at the opposite side. The heat is so terrible that it is said that even the bones melt there. There is no intermission of suffering here.
and 5 MINOR HELLS;
Each great hell is surrounded on each of its four sides by 5 minor helss bringing the total number of hells to 8 + 8 x 4 x 5 = 168. The terrible sufferings of beings in these minor hells are described in the Devadutta Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya. Yet in all cases, the beings do not die but undergo the torture repeatedly so long as the evil kamma has not yet exhausted its results. The minor hells are :-
1) Excrement Pit Hell, where beings are pierced by a horrible horde of worms.
2) Hot Embers Hell, where beings are cooked like mustard seeds.
3) Forest of Simbali Trees, bristling with long, sharp, burning, blazing thorns which pierce and tear the flesh of beings who are forced to climb up and down those trees.
4) Forest of Sword-leaf Trees, whose razor-sharp leaves, stirred by the wind, cut off the hands and feet, ears and noses of beings who enter it.
5) Terrible river Vetarani whose running water is caustic. Beings fall into it are swept upstream and downstream constantly being attacked by the caustic water. Next the being is pulled out with hooks and his mouth prised opened with red-hot tongs. He is fed with a red-hot iron ball that burns his lips, mouth, throat, stomach and it passes out below carrying with it his large and small intestines. To quench his thirst, molten copper is poured into his mouth that burns his lips, mouth, throat, stomach and it passes out below carrying with it his large and small intestines.
Huh... there you are ... this is no joke ...
Please come back with your comments whether you want me to describe the animal and ghosts realms ... ok....
Gotta run for now....
Recently, I was reading some dhamma books and I came across this one, 'Buddhism Course' by Mr. Chan Khoon San and I like to reproduce this chapter, in brief, for the benefit of my 'readers' to digest.
Hell is believed to exist below the earth's surface, e.g., the Iron Cauldron hell of hot molten metal mentioned in the Dhammapada Commentary, where the four rich lads had to suffer for committing adultery, is said to be situated below the earth's crust. The animal, ghost and human realms exist on the surface of the earth. These realms are not separate but the beings move about in their own worlds. The gods are believed to live above the earth and high up in the sky in celestial mansions that travel swiftly through the sky.
In Buddhism, beings are born in hell due to their accumulation of weighty bad kamma. There they undergo unlimited suffering that is hard to endure and dreadful, terrible and heart-rending. The Buddha said that suffering of one stabbed incessantly by 300 spears compared to the suffering in hell is like a small stone compared to the Himalayas. However, hell beings do not suffer eternally unlike what is taught in other religions. Upon the exhaustion of their evil kamma, beings may be reborn in good states as a result of their past good kamma.
,
The Buddha mentioned five destinations for rebirth. What are the five?
(1) Hell
(2) Animal realm
(3) Ghosts
(4) Human beings
(5) Gods
There are 8 MAJOR HELLS, namely :-
1) Revival Hell
Beings are cut into pieces and killed for many thousands of years and they revive there again and again to undergo this torture.
2) Black Thread Hell
Beings are split like wood with burning saws along a mark made by a black thread.
3) Crushing Hell
Beings are crushed to death over and over again by iron rollers.
4) Screaming Hell
Terrible screaming by beings constantly consumed by flames and smoke entering their bodies through the nine orifices.
5) Great Screaming Hell
Where the screams are greater because of the awfulness of the fire torture by being baked in a huge mass of fire.
6) Roasting Hell
Where beings are pierced with giant red hot skewers and roasted over a fire, firmly held and unable to move.
7) Extreme Roasting Hell
Where beings are forced by fiery weapons to climb up a burning mountain until they fall down only to be strung up again on fiery iron bars, firmly held and unable to move while being roasted.
8) Hell without Intermission
The lowest and greatest hell, a hundred yojanas (one yojana is about 8 miles) sq. encircled by an iron wall with iron roof above and incandescent floor of glowing iron. Here, beings are attacked by blazing fires that rush incessantly from one side and strike at the opposite side. The heat is so terrible that it is said that even the bones melt there. There is no intermission of suffering here.
and 5 MINOR HELLS;
Each great hell is surrounded on each of its four sides by 5 minor helss bringing the total number of hells to 8 + 8 x 4 x 5 = 168. The terrible sufferings of beings in these minor hells are described in the Devadutta Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya. Yet in all cases, the beings do not die but undergo the torture repeatedly so long as the evil kamma has not yet exhausted its results. The minor hells are :-
1) Excrement Pit Hell, where beings are pierced by a horrible horde of worms.
2) Hot Embers Hell, where beings are cooked like mustard seeds.
3) Forest of Simbali Trees, bristling with long, sharp, burning, blazing thorns which pierce and tear the flesh of beings who are forced to climb up and down those trees.
4) Forest of Sword-leaf Trees, whose razor-sharp leaves, stirred by the wind, cut off the hands and feet, ears and noses of beings who enter it.
5) Terrible river Vetarani whose running water is caustic. Beings fall into it are swept upstream and downstream constantly being attacked by the caustic water. Next the being is pulled out with hooks and his mouth prised opened with red-hot tongs. He is fed with a red-hot iron ball that burns his lips, mouth, throat, stomach and it passes out below carrying with it his large and small intestines. To quench his thirst, molten copper is poured into his mouth that burns his lips, mouth, throat, stomach and it passes out below carrying with it his large and small intestines.
Huh... there you are ... this is no joke ...
Please come back with your comments whether you want me to describe the animal and ghosts realms ... ok....
Gotta run for now....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)