Power of the Mind~

Let's hold on together and graduate together. No more no less

Phew! 菩萨显灵…..Last nitz I managed to persuade CJ to do her reports, just a day before the deadline for ven Yung Dong’s report. I have come out with a good idea especially for her! I suggested her to drop one elective subject so she needs to do only 3 reports instead of 4 reports. Furthermore, one of the reports has postponed the deadline to 30 Jan 2008 instead of 23 Jan 2008, so she can finish her report even when she goes back to Thailand. She can send her report back to Professor via email.

But then I cheekily progressively encouraged her not to drop that particular elective module because it only requires us to write about 400-500 words, not as difficult as we think, ha!

I suggested a short term goal for her: Complete all the necessary reports for this semester. And whether she wants to continue her studies, she can think it over again when she goes back to Thailand during this winter holiday. Why make the decision of quitting school now? If she quits now, there will be no turning back. But if she submits all reports, she can choose to stay or not stay~

Furthermore, she is quite impressed that I’ve breakthrough myself and share with her more dharma now. I told her to learn to handle herself before she decided to quit. The environment, the Dharma friends, the venerable etc in FGU can help us to discover ourselves better.

I’m not sure what will be her final decision after the winter holiday, but at least, she is willing to submit her reports and agreed to reconsider it again. Now she is very busy with all the reports and has forgotten about her stomachache! Her mind is taking over her body now, and I’m soooooo happy for her!

We had a good chat with ven Mansheng just now. CJ is so positive in her words, telling shifu happiness comes from within and not due to the environment and other external factors. Can you believe that? She was so negative a few days back but now! Wow! The power of a positive mind! But I think I deserve some credit also lah! :p

Tomorrow is CJ’s birthday. As I’ve told her, the greatest gift she got this year is a new her! She is celebrating a new self!!! I’m so proud of her!

YEAH! Jiao you CJ. Dun give up so easily, even the road will be rocky in the future! We do not need to set a long term goal for ourselves if we are unsure now, we can set a short term goal: Learn to handle ourselves better, when we do so, who knows we’ll have a clearer picture of what we are going to do next??


(Hoon, Jan 16 2008)

Better Tomorrow

(Hoon, 15 Jan 2008)

CJ finally decided to quit school. Sad? Of course, she has been my “playmate” since school started. But I always believe that 塞翁失马, 焉知非福, nobody can live without anyone.

It is a pity that she decided to give up without finding what she wants in life ( besides getting married I think…HA!) I’ll definitely will miss the days when we go play eat and drink together! :’(

Today I’m quite excited talking to a classmate. She is independent, always comfortable with herself and anyone she met, humorous but not hurting, analytical etc, always 身心自在～ cool.

I always have new discovery about myself every time I talk to her and she always guide me to handle myself better. She told me I’m always confused about my emotions and failed to realize I always have drastic change in my physical expression. I can be super high at one moment and then my face can turn black in the next moment as if someone owe me a thousand dollars, haha!

Been always confused (that was what exactly what CJ’s mother calculated for me. She said I’m confused with myself)`,I’ll tend to defend myself without knowing why I feel in a certain way and thus I have problem expressing my feeling to others. If I cannot even understand my emotions, how can I expect my friend to understand me?

On the other hand, I need to learn to express my state of mind to others for eg when I’m tired, stressed etc so others will know what is on my mind so they will know how should they react to me in a certain situation. She told me if I can understand myself better I am able to handle my relationship with others better.

At last there is someone who knows me and shows me the way to handle myself better. My friend told me I’ve improved a lot in handling myself for the past four months and I’m really glad to hear that!

I really appreciate my friends here. They always tell me they love me. Every time when I’m moody (strangely, sometimes I didnt even realize it myself, I just feel something is different in me:p),, they will always sacrifice their time for me in the mist of rushing their reports (though I never express my state of mind to them or request them to accompany me).

They told me I’m not a person who knows how to express myself when I’m moody, but they can sense, perhaps through observing my actions or expression. Really?Haha!

I'll try to be mindful about all my 起心动念 from now on...:p

亚洲佛光青年生命成长营 - 心得报告

虽然我从香港回来已有一段时期了，但是那几天在香港参加成长营的点点滴滴却已经深深的烙印在我的脑海里。这是我第一次代表新加坡佛光青年分团外出参加营队，同时也是难得能够放下工作的重重顾虑，所以我很珍惜这次出国参学的因缘。

虽然就只有那么短短的几天，但是却足已让我找到一个全新的自我，同时也燃起了我想为众服务，结缘的热诚。此外参加了这次成长营之后，我更加肯定自己在分团里面所要扮演的角色，我希望能够尽力的为佛教付出多一份力，多一份发心，我是这么一直期许着自己。

其实之前当我从获知香港承办成长营的消息时，心里就非常渴望自己能够亲身前去参与和交流，但是另一方面又放不下手上那繁忙的工作而犹豫不决。感谢家人，常住还有团员们的鼓励与安排，让我能够顺利前往香港参加成长营。

在香港参加营队的那段期间，看到了香港青年朋友们为筹办这次营队的艰辛与努力，真的让我非常感动。所以当下就告诉自己这一次我将要扮演着[水]的角色，无论遇上什么样的人事物，都要能够包容，随众参与，还有与人融合共处。很庆幸自己能够与亚洲各国的青年打成一片，同时也从他们身上学习到各国不同的文化，还有青年们的活力与优点。

这一趟回来可说是收获良多，法喜充满。非常感谢大会也特别颁了一个奖项给我，其实我都一直告诉自己把个人荣耀放一边，最重要的还是得归功于身边的每一个人，因为众缘的力量，才真的是不可思议呢。

现在我满心期待着下一次的因缘，也或许以后因缘具足之下，轮到我们这个[小红点]承办下一届的成长营，我真的希望我们能够凝聚更多本地的青年佛子，一起来努力加油，为各地青年打开学佛之门，让大家都获得满满的收获，然后再回到各自的国家去行佛之道，以期佛光照三千，法水流五洲。

(曾富键 David)

Are you happy?

A heaven where we study ~ FGU

If someone ask me are you happy a few months ago or even for the past 30 over years, I wouldn’t say I’m.

Now, if the same question has thrown back to me, my answer will be definite.

I’m happy because I’m more appreciative now. Appreciative that I’ve given a chance to study in this beautiful university in Taiwan, appreciative that I have many friends here and in Singapore, appreciative about my family members who are always so supportive, appreciative that I’ve met My beloved teacher The Buddha, and most importantly, appreciative that finally I’ve put dharma into practice and my happiness comes from within.

I can sense and see my growth spiritually, though there’s still along way to go. I’m a happier person now, seeing myself breaking through the toughest and in turn, I’m able to help the friends around me.

I’m spiritually happy and my faith in Buddhism has grown even stronger.

I really enjoy my stay here. Listening to music on a sunny peaceful early afternoon while rushing reports with my fellow classmates or undergrads, mixing around with people I’m familiar or not familiar with, learning to get along with people from different background, learning to let go of my ego etc. I simply love the transformation process I’m going through.

I feel the peacefulness in me. That’s a feeling I would like to have always no matter where I go. Is that considered as an attachment too? Haha!

I simply love the quote: “Self-confidence is not a feeling of superiority, but of independence." - Lama Yeshe

I hope the thesis I wrote for the next 2 years will be beneficial to myself and to the others. I hope the thesis will be useful to anyone regardless of race, language or religion and it will transcend time and space.

Happiness comes from within. Be carefree of our body and mind, it’s the happiest moment in life.

A website worth reading:

http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/self-confidence.html

(Hoon, 12 Jan 2008)

我的超级善知识

Ven JF – Always have time for me whenever I need her.

She told me: ‘cos you are my personal friend so I’m willing to spend more time on you.”

She is really damned patient with me. At times when I was trapped in my problems, I will start telling her my same old story again and again and she will always there to listen to me and give me good advice.

Thus she jokingly told me I’m her no 1 MSN friend, haha!

She is super concerned about me especially these few months when I’m struggling in FGU. She is very worried about me.

She basically knows everything about my life here including things I that I haven’t got chance to tell her, like when CJ went back to Thailand. She always got the first hand news about me. She told me she got a lot of “xian ren” here and ask me better to behave myself!!

Our good affinity started when we were in the same uni. I was super good to her I think, KEE! Helping her whenever she needs from uni to Buddhist College till when she has renounced. She appreciated my help and my friendship. Thus, she is willing to spend time to listen to my complain gua, haha!

Like other normal friends, sometimes we will 抬扛. There was once I asked her a lot of Buddhist terms thru MSN, after sometimes, she replied: You think I’m your online dictionary issit?

HEE…

As I always tell her, I really appreciated her friendship and I love her very much. Jia you orh! I’ll always there for you whenever you need me. I know you’ll do the same.
一起共成佛道!

CJ

CJ 因胃痛回泰国休养了近三个星期终于回来了!

她的情况稍微好一些, 但回来一天, 胃病又开始发作了。她一整天都躺在床上都不能去上课~

其实她心里有很多心魔未除。 我很明白这种感受。 不知为什么， 我总觉得她的胃病有一部分是心理上的压力造成的。还有两个星期就期末了, 能不能突破她自己， 唯有靠她的意志力了!

我什么也不能为她做什么, 只有虔诚拜佛回向给她。 我也叫她念佛不要胡思乱想。

同学说, 她很羡慕我和她的友情。

我差点从椅子跌了下 来。

两个“问题孩童”在一起, 怎么会有人羡慕！同学说, 她羡慕是因为我们是互相扶持的好朋友。 有些人因志同道合而成为好朋友的她反而不羡慕， 她觉得患难见真情才可贵！

一路走来, 真的很辛苦。但如果蝴蝶没有破蚕而出的挣扎， 就没有展翅高飞的一天。

虽然我们有时也会吵架, 但当我在最需要朋友扶持时她对我的体谅、弃而不舍的友情， 我最近才开始懂得感恩。

我不希望她因为身体的不适而放弃在这里学习的机会。放弃了, 未解决的心理障碍还是会纠缠着你, 不管你躲到天崖海角。直到你面对和解决它， 心魔才没有机会干扰你。这次放弃了, 以后遇到同样的问题, 或许你还是会选择放弃。

前几个月我也想放弃， 自以为回去以后我总有一天也会有办法驱除心魔。 其实我太看得起自己了, 要不是这里的众多善知识和佛陀加被, 我还会被困在自己的烦恼中。

我这几个月的改变, 连老师和学长都觉得惊讶我能如此迅速走出来。学长说, 前几个月, 我的磁场好象一座墙, 靠近我的人好象随时都会“long piah ”(撞墙)，哈哈!可是她很惊讶我最近的磁场变得比较柔顺勒~

Wow！ 我自己都觉得不可思议。我这几年来一直想寻找的答案突然在这四个月都想通了! 这让我很相信拜佛的力量。因为除了善知识的帮助， 在我最沮丧和无助时, 我只好去找佛陀。

最近我也发现, 我执是世界上最不值钱的东西。或许因为一个我执, 友情、亲情都可能被破坏。它甚至会阻碍你的那么一点善念和善心， 它也是障碍一个人前进的阻力。

所以， 慈悲伟大的佛陀！求求您, 让CJ明白清楚看到自己的问题, 给她力量突破自己， 不要放弃她自己。 也请求您给我智慧让我能帮助她!


Dear CJ:

Perhaps you didn't know I’ve break through myself these few weeks when you were away. You told me I have changed a lot when you saw me yesterday. I’m happier and cheerful. Yap! Ven Man Sheng said that true happiness comes from within, can you feel my inner peace and happiness? :p

You asked me why I become fatter when you were away. I know why you asked me, because I should have missed you and eat lesser, haha!

Please hang on for another 2 weeks and be determined. Nothing can make you fall apart. We are all here for you. I was prostrating to the Buddha and have dedicated all the merits to you.

And remember we’ve promised DJ, HY and JL, we will strive hard and complete all our reports by this weekend so we can go play badminton and see movies when the semester ends.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. I appreciated what you’ve done for me. You are always there for me when I was suffering for the past 4 months. I’m here for you now, I’ll not let you give up so easily. Please be determined and bow to the Buddha, please tell the Buddha how much pain you are now and please tell him you would like to stay and we shall graduate together.

Today when I was in the library rushing my report, DJ dragged me to the computer room, she has dedicated 2 songs for me, I would like to, dedicate one of the songs to you. It’s the “Honey” movie Theme song. DJ said it’s a movie of NOT GIVING UP and we shall go see the movie in the library when we finish our reports:


I Believe
They said you wouldn't make it so far uh uh
And ever since they said it, it's been hard
But nevermind the nights you had to cry
Cause you have never let it go inside
You worked real hard And you know exactly
what you want and need
So believe and you can never give up
You can reach your goals
Just talk to your soul and say…
(Chorus:) I believe I can (I can)
I believe I will (I will)
I believe I know my dreams are real (know my dreams are real)
I believe I'll chant (Oh yea)
I believe I'll dance I believe I'll grow real soon and (That's why)
That is what I do believe Your goals are just a thing in your soul uh uh
And you know that your moves will let them show
You keep creating pictures in your mind
So just believe they will come true in time
It will be fine Leave all of your cares and stress behind
Just let it go Let the music flow inside
Forget all your pain And just start to believe

(Chorus:) I believe I can (I believe I can oh yea)
I believe I will
I believe I know my dreams are real (All of my dreams are real)
I believe I'll chant I believe I'll dance (I gotta dance)
I believe I'll grow real soon and (ooo)
That is what I do believe Whoa oa oa YEA… (Music break)

Nevermind what people say
Hold your head high and turn away
With all our hopes and dreams I
I will believe
Even though it seems it's not for me
I won't give up
I'll keep it up Look into the sky
I will achieve all my needs I will always believe….OoOo

(Chorus 2x) I believe I can
I believe I will (I can)
I believe I know my dreams are real (I got strength)
I believe I'll chant
I believe I'll dance (I gotta dance)
I believe I'll grow real soon and (watch me watch me watch me)
That is what I do believe (I do believe in me)
I believe I can
I believe I will (oh yea)
I believe I know my dreams are real
I believe I'll chant I believe I'll dance (I gotta dance)
I believe I'll grow real soon and That is what I do believe (I do believe! yayeeyay)

With lotsa love
Hoon, 7 Jan 2008