the ART of reBIRTH

8 years ago in Feb, i made my first maiden trip to this beautiful island nation of 30 million. Today, the pretty busy road that serves the main throughway from Colombo to Kandy has been widen, resurfaced and thus i see even huge tour coaches and container trucks passing by as i stand above about 5 storeys high at the main meditation hall as i start my walking meditation before THE SIT. Yesterday, an american-vietnamese resident nun living here gave me a surprise by giving me a local sarong and a illuminated statue of the buddha; she wished my happy new year as the sinhala new year is on the 13/14 Apr. PMC is located up the granite slopes to mitigate the noise from the traffic; however, the train tracks that probably runs at least 5 times a day is on the same height as the Dhamma Hall. Gotten used to the symphony of train, vehicular traffic and the sound of nature (birds, insects, whispering of the leaves).

A s i embark on a new chapter of my remaining current life coming to Sri Lanka, i chance upon a dated recording of the 40th Uruguay President; José Mujica. Two quotes from the interview caught my attention... "Either you are happy with very little, free of all that extra luggage because you have happiness inside, or you do not get anywhere. I am not advocating poverty, I'm advocating Sobriety. But since we have invented a consumer society, the economy must constantly grow, if it fails to increase, it's a tragedy. We have invented a mountain of superfluous needs. Shopping for new, discarding the old...that's a waste of our lives. When i buy something, when you buy something, you are not paying money for it; you are paying with the hours of life. You had to spend time earning that money. The difference that life is one thing money cannot buy; Life only gets shorter. And it is pitiful to waste one's life and freedom in that way." "Human ...

10 days at St John's followed by 2 subsequent visits to the first teacher and monastry that made me interested in the dhamma some 20 years ago. Click Here for the pre-dawn recordings...

M ore than 3 years ago, when i tasted freedom; tried to fly back into the bird cage recently. Yes, there's a steady and predictable flow of water and food, shelter to protect me from the elements but i lost myself in that process; i was unhappy inside the bird cage... As i look back, I've already know where to forage for food, know where to spend the night (but probably needs to become more mindful to drink enough water and be aware of my breath.) So why on earth do i still yearn to fly back into the cage?

Y es, everything happens for a reason. and sometimes listen to some music at some point at our lives will raise goose-pimples; as i dabble into the age-old question whether there is an omnipotent creator; i chance upon Yann Arthus-Bertrand not so latest documentary 'Planet Ocean' released in Jun 2012; it occur to me that it totally wasn't in my radar screen back in 2012; during my last days in an organisation i spent a good decade in. interestingly enough...this documentary lead me to re-live the HOME movie hype back in 2009 with all the bookings of cinema halls and private and public screening of it....one thing lead to another.... a fabulous piece of music composed by the red hair priest. Antonio Vivaldi who lived more than 300 years ago....i wondered what inspired him to composed such music? may we give gratitude, servitude and spend some solitude time to contemplate on a great man who forgave those who nailed him to the cross...on this day humans call it Good Fr...

GE2015 & Yoniso Manasikara M any of our hearts have been overworked these past week not because of the haze lah. but if we can look at this heart and tell me whether it matters what political party he/she believes in? or expand to a larger scope which religious teacher he subscribe to or what nationality he belongs to or what race and culture he is born into.... ONE thing for sure; this heart is born and will start growing until it reach the desired size...there after.....it will degenerate will sometimes beat faster, sometimes beat slower will sometimes have skipped a beat or two will work 24/7 till the last day. BUT eventually, it will stop.

In 3 days time, it's the lunar new year I came back a year ago where it started, it shall end... I was born a Chinese Buddhist, or what some may call a mahayana Buddhist. As i turned into an adult, i started exploring into earlier versions when it was still in India and Sri Lanka; or what some may call theravada Buddhism. And I've found solace in it as it kind of suits my fiery, impatient and egoistic character. Lately, i chance upon words of wisdom while watching; of all things, the latest rendition of a famous martial arts soap opera by Jin Yong, "Demi-Gods_and_Semi-Devils". I am going back to Crystal Jade Restaurants this evening to serve food; that's where i started off when i came back from india a year ago; the impending CNY double pay of course was a motivating factor, but i have other reasons for doing this... I also met a very promising young dude whilst serving behind the counter at Buddhist Library; i was over-zealous to say the least in tr...

I t's been 2 decades since my maiden trip to the 'Pearl of the Orient' or better known as Hong Kong; literally translated from Cantonese to mean 'Fragrant Harbour'. What an apt name. Hong Kong is a place that might not appeal to a visitor like me on arrival, but upon venturing away from the concrete jungles to the other parts of this famous land, (40% of the land is protected forest) that's when the fragrance really prevail. I'm here to accompany my 75 year father to 'send' my 86 year old 'Da Gu Zhang' (1st Aunt's Hubby) to his next destination and visit his eldest sister(my 1st Aunt), she emigrated to China in the late 1950s to join the communist (that's where she met her husband at a teachers training college, then fled to HK during the Cultural Revolution. When one is at 86 years old, it's not Money nor a Feast that one longs, but the company of our loved ones...

I t was a crazy rush as the weeks grew into days and before i knew it, i only had 3 days left before i board the flight to experience something not done before in my life! When i agreed to the posting almost 2 months ago in December, i was a little disappointed because i had hoped for a rural posting to some place quieter and where the local folks live a more simple life; being born and bred in buzzling Singapore, i am not too keen to venture into another busy city where people generally have no time for each other. I kind of told myself that everything happens for a reason and if i am meant to be posted to another city, it must be a test for me. In life, the only Constant is Change and i am quite confident i can find inner peace amidst the external chaos in a city. And so I herded a whopping 57kg of luggage as i wanted to bring as many gifts, stationery, clothings and toys for the disadvantaged kids at Koramangala; my friends were overwhelming with contributi...

T he initial euphoria of home-coming has waned off after barely 2 weeks back on home soil... CNY is really a unique period to be back home; the streets are empty, the feast is never ending; after a year in India, Singapore seems sparsely populated and there's so much affluence; how i wish i could bring the kids over. A year is simply too short to change someone's life...

T he boys came over yesterday and gave me a heartwarming farewell; a musical box and a card more befitting for Dads. I'm leaving Bengaluru with a heavy heart as the infectious boys kept asking me when will I be back. All things come to an end; who knows I might be back before they get married. A year in this bustling city already; just did a quick Wiki and found out that it has already became india's 3rd largest city after Mumbai and New Delhi. It's certainly confusing for the children to be growing in this soon to be mega-city. I can only pray that they find solace in simpier things in life; at the end of the day, it's such things that anyone will find happiness in.

T he locals just celebrated last weekend with consecutive evenings of fireworks, crackers and sounds of explosions that was sounded more like scenes in war torn countries; at the end of 2.5 hours of almost continuous din, i had a slight headache. The changing of the season saw the spike in flu and various ailments in school; i could have remembered that i felt feverish some of the cold mornings when temperatures started to dip below 20C. Incidentally during this period, i discovered it's pretty nice to wake up at 4.30am and soak in the pre-dawn morning air.

I guess when you call your country's formation as 'Independence Day', one extra year is addded to it as i tot looking into the historic date of 15Aug1947; this would be india's 66th year in existance....and it's not surprising in these 2 disgruntled relatives, Pakistan's national day was just 1 day before india's! Not a coincidence i think as these cousins constantly even compare how high their border guards lift their legs daily during the ceremonies which has become symbolic of their sibling rivalry since birth. And certainly not surprising the week leading to the celebations, there were some flare ups at the LOC (line of control). I'm celebrating my 6th month here myself alone in my cave this weekend; would probably drop by the Tibetan centre tomorrow to celebrate Ullambana day for all the wondering spirits around this month....

T he Summer have passed and as it creates havoc elsewhere in India; Bengaluru is largely untouched with it's mild change of season nice cool weather and occassional light to heavy showers; a much welcome sight as the price of some vegetables have doubled in prices since my arrival here almost 5 months ago. It was another eventful sunday 2 days ago as i cycled with an almost flat rear tyre around the neighbourhood exploring where the children live and probably spent their sundays. On my way back passing by bethany grounds, i heard the familiar shout " Joe Annah!" Half a dozen of the boys from the high school secion were warming up for their sunday practice rounds. I parked the bicycle and took some photos of them before having my 2nd breakfast at "The hole in the Wall" Cafe. (I had my first and all time favourite sunday breakie of Iddy Sambal at the quaint little corner eatery just at the end of the narrow lane that leads to the Koramangala School.)

I Hobson's Choice T his is unbelievable! I've survived the 3rd month and broken all records; 15 years ago, i spent 3 mths in Osterreich and was terribly homesick; kyunghee, wan tan noodles and the fear of not getting any meaningful employment in Europe. The EU just started the single currency but employment prospects is bleak. A  year earlier, i was in India, trottling through Calcutta, Darjeeling, Kamlimpong, Gangtok, Patna, Bodhgaya, Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra, Delhi, Pushka, Guhawati, Shillong. Tomolo, Elaine from SIF will be arriving. This is the first time since i set foot in Bangalore that I've broken the 5th precept.  What a dAy!

T he routine life of school and the cave is beginning to become a little depressing at times; robbing me of cycling, swimming and nature has taken it's toll on my physical and mental well-being. The kids still continue to give me sustenance to continue my work here; though i am very doubtful how much i can do; in the land of harsh realities, overpopulation and a culture where everyone has to fight to be heard. I can only meditate daily and share my merits to all the suffering beings.

It's been a humbling experience, trying to relive the experience of my maiden trip to India 16 years ago; meeting these wonderful kids despite their disadvantaged background is heartwarming. May i share the good merits i have reaped in the past to be able to make this life-transforming trip and may the merits thus created be shared by all my loved ones, relatives, friends and people i know. Sabbe Satta Suki Hontu

L ife is indeed something that no one word can aptly describe at times and since my submission of my resignation letter 2 weeks ago, I've been experiencing life never felt before, even before i set foot in bangalore in 2 weeks time. In as many days this week, i receive news of 3 funerals and a wedding! On Monday morning, i read the news that shocked the whole nation of 2 boys killed in a road accident involving a cement mixer; with gory photos to follow....the next morning, instead of the usual 'good morning' and motherly smile from helen, she held up her daily Newpaper with a huge photo of a similiar face kneeing down by the pavement in grief right smacked on the front page; from the previous facebook photos of my colleague, Helmy Sarpan, i knew immediately it was his elder sister; i was dumbfounded. Most of us at SEC went to the wake yesterday during lunch time; it was the first experience in my life to go to a wake with 2 coffins; it affected the mood of everyone for t...

  In Dec, someone give the council a hamper with british tea-time goodies and with it came some special teas from India. As i sipped a cuppa of Assam tea; it surely brings back memories of my backpack trip to India 15 years ago. I was very lucky to be able to venture to the North-eastern states of Sikkim, Assam and Meghalaya. I  had a Skype interview with Ms Shukla Bose, founder of  Parikrma Humanity Foundation in Bangalore, India 2 weeks ago, i will be heading there  mid-Feb. It's almost 1 year ago when my attempts to go to Thimphu, Bhutan was unsuccessful. As i tendered my resignation last week with a heavy heart as i spent 10 years of my working prime at the council; A timely reminder of Anicca.