What a day...

It's been 2 days since I got a good night's sleep. I'm so waiting for class to be over so that I can go home to my beloved bed.

Working and studying is indeed becoming more difficult... After this semester 2 more subjects and I'm done with my Diploma! But then again, I need to continue studying after that :(... Oh well, that's the price I have to pay for slacking during my teenage years. But then again, it is my destiny, is it not?

Back to class again now... Please Mr Low, end the class earlier ~~~

Am I Good Person or Bad Person?

Robin Hood... That is precisely who I am. Of course, I do not rob the rich to feed the poor (I would be locked up in prison for doing that). Instead, I use certain 'skills' that I have acquired through time, to help those in need. However, Robin Hood is still an outlaw no matter how much the people of Nottingham love him. Does that make me one too? As noble as the cause may be, the methods are still deemed incorrect.

Helping others achieve happiness nourishes my soul, but am I truly happy within?

"Everything is formed by a harmonious combination of elements" - Venerable Master Chin Kung

The Chant of Metta (Loving Kindness)

May I be free from enmity and danger

May I be free from mental suffering

May I be free from physical suffering

May I take care of myself happily

May my parents

teachers, relatives and friends

fellow Dhammafarers

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be free from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May all yogis in this compund

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May all monks in this compound

novice monks

laymen and laywomen disciples

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be free from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May our donors of the four supports

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be free from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May our guardian devas

in this monastery

in this dwelling

in this compound

may the guardian devas

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be free from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May all beings

all breathing things

all creatures

all individuals

all personalities

may all females

all males

all noble one

all worldings

all deities

all humans

all those in the four woeful planes

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be free from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May all beings be free from suffering

May whatever they have gained not be lost

All beings are owners of their kamma

In the eastern direction

in the western direction

in the northern direction

in the southern direction

in the southeast direction

in the northwest direction

in the northeast direction

in the southwest direction

in the direction below

in the direction above

May all beings

all breathing things

all creatures

all individuals

all personalities

may all females

all males

all noble one

all worldings

all deities

all humans

all those in the four woeful planes

be free from enmity and danger

be free from mental suffering

be free from physical suffering

May they take care of themselves happily

May all beings be free from suffering

May whatever they have gained not be lost

All beings are owners of their kamma

As far as the highest plane of existence

to as far down as the lowest plane

in the entire universe

whatever beings that move on earth

may they be free from mental suffering & enmity

and from physical suffering and danger

As far as the highest plane of existence

to as far down as the lowest plane

in the entire universe

whatever beings that move on water

may they be free from mental suffering & enmity

and from physical suffering and danger

As far as the highest plane of existence

to as far down as the lowest plane

in the entire universe

whatever beings that move on air

may they be free from mental suffering & enmity

and from physical suffering and danger

May you be well and happy

Heart Sutra (translated by Zuio H. Inagaki)

Adoration to the Omniscient!

When Holy Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva performed the deep practice in the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom, he contemplated that there were five aggregates but observed that they were devoid of essential nature.

In this case, Shaariputra, form is voidness and voidness is itself form; voidness is not different from form, and form is not different from voidness; that which is form is voidness, and that which is voidness is form

So it is for perception, conception, volition and consciousness.In this case, Shaariputra, all things have the characteristics of voidness; they neither arise nor perish; they are neither defiled nor pure, neither deficient nor complete.

Therefore, Shaariputra, within the voidness, there is no form, no perception, no conception, no volition, nor consciousness.

Neither is there eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind.

Neither is there form, sound, smell, taste, touch nor concepts

Neither is there realm of sight, etc., until we come to the non-existence of realm of consciousness.

Neither is there wisdom, nor ignorance, nor extinction of wisdom, nor extinction of ignorance, etc., until we come to the non-existence of old age and death and the non-extinction of old age and death. Neither is there suffering, cause of suffering, extinction of suffering, nor the path leading to extinction of suffering. Neither is there wisdom nor acquisition because there is no grasping.

Depending on the bodhisattva's Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom, one dwells without any mental hindrance. Because of the absence of mental hindrance, one is fearless; freed delusive thoughts, one will reach Nirvana.

All Buddhas dwelling in the three periods realize the highest, perfect enlightenment depending on the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom.

For this reason, know that the Great Mantra of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom is the Great Wisdom Mantra, the Unsurpassed Mantra, and the Unequaled Mantra. It extinguishes all suffering, and is true and real because it is not false. It is the Mantra proclaimed in the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom.

Namely, "Gone, gone, gone to the other shore;

Gone completely to the other shore.Svaha."

Thus ends the Essence of the Transcendent Wisdom Sutra.

Assignments... Tests... Exams...

What am I to do??? Law & Statistics... Tired~~~

It's going to be a long night today...

This always happens after returning from my off day because I need to change my body clock from day to night again. I work night shifts by the way, simply because the allowance offered is the best* in the industry and it fits my study time. Yes, I kind of diverted into doing odd jobs after high school, dropped out of college, and finally, ended up in this SUPERB company... American Express. And now I'm back on track. I view life as a journey and not a race.

The 2 things I enjoy most about my work are my team members (ups and downs but still they're special in their own ways, and that's what makes it interesting and fun working with them) and my other colleagues whom I work with (that's where I adopted my fake US accent... Ho ho ho).

父母教 When your parents instruct you

须敬听 Listen respectfully

父母责 When your parents reproach you

须顺承 Obey and accept their scolding; try hard to change and improve yourself and start anew

Happiness

"I believe our purpose in life is to seek happiness" - Dalai Lama

This is... my atonement for all the pain and suffering that I have caused every sentient being. The past cannot be changed, the future can be shaped. It is called changing destiny, and this is how I came about. I have met many good people in this place. People who learn with patience, and see things with their heart.

I came here searching, and now I found what I was looking for.

New Blender

Bought a blender today for grinding soy beans (couldn't afford a soy bean maker... sigh). I hope it works.

父母乎 When your parents call you

应勿缓 Answer them right away

父母命 When they command you to do something

行勿懒 Do it quickly

Change is Happening Bit by Bit

My thoughts are evolving... Somehow, there is peace when the "right thinking" is applied...

凡出言 When you speak

信危先 Honesty is important

炸与妄 Deceitful words and lies

奚可焉 Are not allowed

话说多 Rather than talking too much

不如少 It is better to speak less