4 months ago, it was a total different picture. I was just like everyone. Awaken to lots of problems. Problems from work, problems from the family, problems from the car, problems from the house, problems from the government, problems, problems and problems. I was like.. okay... alrite.. back to bed.
Every morning when I woke up, I would hear the birds chirping away happily outside my window. It is one of the best sound to awake to. I would, then, lie in bed, waiting for my mind to awake fully.
4 months ago, it was a total different picture. I was just like everyone. Awaken to lots of problems. Problems from work, problems from the family, problems from the car, problems from the house, problems from the government, problems, problems and problems. I was like.. okay... alrite.. back to bed.
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Just as I am about to leave the house, I was stopped in my tracks. I felt a sudden calmness over me. My steps have become slow and I can feel my heart beat has slowed down. It was nice feeling. It was like I am in my own little garden where I am the only person there except him. He is not that big-hearted guy, Pete nor is he my Big Bro Raymie. I bet all of you can't guess who is he. Perhaps Raymie and Azizul would know with me mentioning a garden and a guy.. Ring a bell??!!
There were days when I would feel pretty down and depressed. On these days, the sky would dull and grey, the ground would be hard to walk on and the world would be colorless. As for me, I would love to find 'hole in the ground to hide' or if I am among friends, I would be moody or irritable. It is not a wonderful feeling. If I allow it to continue, it would slowly consumes me and I would be lost forever. HOWEVER....... This is a story told by Ajahn Brahm during a public seminar in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Once upon a time, there was an old monk who would travel everywhere. A few days before the rain retreat, he stopped by at a house. There was a poor family living there, consist of the husband, the wife, the children and the dog. The husband asked the monk if he has place to stay during the rain retreat. The monk said no. The family then offered to build him a hut and to give food to him everyday. In return, the monk would teach them Buddhism and to give advise them on every day's life. The monk agreed and so he stayed throughout the rain retreat. The family and the dog were overjoyed and when the time has come for the monk to leave, the family begged him not to do so. Even, the dog whined when it was time for the old monk to leave. The monk declined the offer and said to the family, tomorrow morning, the husband must stand with the bow and the arrow at the doorway, facing the direction of the rising sun. When the sun arises, let the arrow fly. Where the arrow drop, the husband will find great treasures. The husband must follow the instructions correctly. Then, the monk left. Venue: Sunway University My first encounter with him was when Steven posted a video of him giving a talk on Does Life Suck? Form there onward, whenever I face a problem I would listen to him talk. I wanted to see him personally.When he was in Penang or Singapore, I wanted so much to see him in person but didn't go like something is preventing me from seeing him. Finally he came to KL and I grabbed the chance to see him.
He is a funny guy. He would never stop laughing and smiling. There's so much compassion in him. Would you believe he is 61 years old guy? He looks younger than that. “If I hold up a glass of water for ten minutes, it will feel heavy. If I hold that glass for 30 minutes, my arm will hurt. If I hold it for two hours, I am a very dumb monk,” chuckles Ajahn Brahmavamso, Buddhist monk and Abbot of the Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia. “But” he continues, “If I set the glass down for a few minutes to rest my arm, it will feel much lighter when I lift it again.” _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I guess most of the time I am a dumb person for holding a glass of water for 2 hours. Then I would be complaining non stop about my hand in pain. Everyone of us can never escape from responsibilities, worries and concerns unless you are enlightened. Once we took on the responsibilities, we can never took them off. We would then start to worry about our responsibilities or even concerns about the outcomes. Finally, when we can't take them anymore, we would start to complain, comparing and shoving the responsibilities to the other persons. Then the scenario of her fault, his fault would arise. This is similar to holding the same glass for two hours. A builder built a wall with 1000 bricks.
When the wall is finished, he found out that 2 bricks were not laid neatly. He was not happy with it. Everyday, he was sad, ashamed and angry about this 2 out of place bricks. One day, a passer-by stood there to admire the wall and said,"well built wall." He was taken aback and asked,"didn't you see the 2 out of place bricks?" The passer-by answered, "Didn't you see the other 998 well laid bricks?" - Ajahn Brahm |
AuthorI am a human being, still living, trying to gain wisdom and mind still. Archives
January 2013
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