This is true meditation

This is my article about my new journey with Tzu Chi. To read, click the link please.

My New Journey With Tzu Chi

Be Inspired

How can one not be inspired by such a noble person? This is the story of how a person single handedly undertaken a vow to help all beings starting with virtually nothing except the spirit of spiritual determination. From a single seed to a global force within a span of 50 years!

What makes an ideal person

 

This is what is required of a Certified Tzu Chi volunteer. Ideally every person should try to emulate these compassionate qualities. The most important binding force is the attitude @ 1.54 of the video.

The wordings are not the lyrics of the background song The song is an emotional song sung by all Tzu Chi volunteers in kneeling position, to assure The Master that they will diligently continue to carry out The Master's mission "to serve Buddhism, to serve all sentient beings".

 https://www.facebook.com/dharmaaswater/videos/1160931317320375/

Be happy now. It's free!

This one message that matters in life!

This is perhaps the one and only message that we need to practise.

 難行能行，難捨能捨，難為能為，才能昇華自我的人格。 -- 恭錄自證嚴上人靜思語

Continue even when it is hard to go on, release even when it is hard to let go, endure even when it is hard to bear; this is how we enhance our character. -- Master Cheng Yen's Jingsi Aphorisms

What is life?

Very fantastic video on self-motivation with very good English presentation. 

A fool knows everything

Meditation and action

Come join Tzu Chi

 

All of us are different on the outside. But latently hidden deep inside us we carry with us this feeling of "wanting to be good and to do good for all humanity". Most will not be able to bring out this feeling into actualization; but some will. I am one of the latter. 

You too can achieve this if you allow that latent "feeling" to become a "Calling". To stir up this "Calling", you need to be inspired and guided by a group of dedicated people with great motivation. Tzu Chi is one of those platforms. You too can join, irrespective of your religion, as long as you believe in pure goodness without boundary.

Tzu Chi Penang now has English-speaking groups and I am in one of them. You are most welcome to join us to be inspired into actions together!

My article on Tzu Chi!
http://hubpages.com/politics/Tzu-Chi-Foundation-Master-Cheng-Yen

Tzu Chi Quality Food Products

This video has finally cleared my doubts as to how the nuns of the Jing Si Dharma lineage of Master Cheng Yen could practise and uphold the principle of "No work no meal" since their very humble beginning. Master Cheng Yen is the founder of Tzu Chi Organization. Master Cheng Yen and her nuns uphold the vow of "No work no meal" principle, meaning they do not rely on donations for their livelihood. They work to produce products for sale, and they use their sales proceeds to maintain their livelihood. 

This video also convinced me that Tzu Chi's food products are worth purchasing and consuming. For me these are the four reasons. First, they are produced with the most stringent hygienic standards with the best natural quality ingredients. Second, they are produced with love. Third, I contribute to support the welfare of the nuns, a most wholesome charitable act. Fourth, they are value for money.

LIve For Today

This has been my "signature" quote for all my internet sites for years already.

We need to change to remain relevent

https://www.facebook.com/alisan.taiwan/videos/1410686825614504/

The above link shows the video of a singing monk.  
 
Very innovative and effective. From the evergreen "Yeh Lai Xiang" Mandarin retro song of the 30s to a Buddhist song. The monk replaced the original lyrics with his own composion of Buddhist lyrics.
But I am sure to the orthodox Buddhists, this is "not very appropriate". Well, you can't please everyone, can you?

Below is a series of qns from a reader and my comments on them:

Reader's comment:
[01/08 7:45 AM] Isn't this against the Vinaya rules and the 227 precepts? This is also against the basic 8 precepts. Any comments?
[01/08 7:53 AM] The 7th Precept :
Nacca-gita-vadita-visuka-dassana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami.
I undertake the training precept to abstain from dancing, singing, music and any kind of entertainment show.

My comment:
[01/08 11:04 AM] Justin Choo: Precepts are to guide n protect. imho we need to use our human intelligence n common sense to practise buddhism. Is there anything wrong using a popular song with new buddhist lyrics? In the first place the buddha did not introduce any style of chanting. How come the traditional style of chanting of the different cultures n schools are deemed acceptable. To me any practice that is beneficial n does not harm others should be accepted. Aftet all the the buddha did advise that minor rules may be changed to suit present conditions. It is the people who refuse or unable to accommodate what is good altho to them may be against the presepts.
[01/08 11:15 AM] Justin Choo: That precept was about common dancing singing playing music and partying for purpose of worldly entertainment.
[01/08 11:22 AM] Justin Choo: Arent the temple drums and all sorts of bells, be "musical" instruments? Isnt the chanting be regarded as "singing"? Its all about human perceptions n interpretations. What we should concentrate is to practise the buddha's pristine teachings. We shall go no end if we indulge in semantic n scholastic debate.

Reader's comment:
[01/08 11:22 AM] It is neither right or wrong depending the schools if thought but for the disciples not right and the 7th precept got its purpose basically not to indulge in our senses which will prevent our practice especially the monks n nuns.
For lay people we r still have many rounds of rebirth in Samsara until then we can only have the wisdom or insight to determine wrong or right ?

My comment:
[01/08 11:24 AM] Justin Choo: Precisely neither right nor wrong. So live n let live. Who are we to form opinions on these issues?
[01/08 11:25 AM] Only in Mahayana have musical instruments they have their purpose n reasons behind
[01/08 11:33 AM] Justin Choo: Precisely you are right again brother. When the purpose is pure n beneficial we should adopt.😃🙏

Reader's comment:
[01/08 11:37 AM] Actually it protects the monks n nuns not the lay

My comment:
[01/08 11:37 AM] Justin Choo: Then we become progressive n thinking Buddhists. Don't be bogged down by rites n rituals and also be less opinionated. Like Shang Ren, our Tzu Chi master so wisely advises :"be humble and willing to yeild". We definitely do not know that much Buddhism or anything else, for that matter.

Tzu Chi's Global Initiatives And Relations

This 48-minute video is about Tzu Chi's relief relationships with seemingly remote nations. Foreign officials paid courtesy visits to Master Cheng Yen to discuss about continuing relief missions with their countries and confirming their support for Tzu Chi's initiatives.

Tzu Chi Universal Prayer Song (English Version)

Tzu Chi Universal Prayer Song (Mandarin Version)

Have A Buddhaful Day

Happy Wesak. May peace and good health be with you.

This Sunday 3 May, 2015, Malaysia celebrates Wesak Day, The Buddhist thrice blessed holy day. Elsewhere this year, Wesak Day is on 1 Jun. Why? Usually, Wesak is celebrated on the first full moon day in the month of May, which usually will be the 15th day of the fourth Chinese lunar month. But this year the fourth Chinese lunar month full moon day falls on 1 June. Thus the difference.

A lot of so-called Buddhists do not really understand the pristine teachings of the Buddha. That results in wrong interpretations and understanding of what Buddhism is. Below is an article I wrote on the misconceptions about Buddhism. Hope on this auspicious Wesak Day this article may provide better understanding of Buddhism.

Happy Wesak to all my Buddhist friends. May everyone have good health and inner peace.

http://goodguy.hubpages.com/h…/Misconceptions-about-Buddhism

Health Is The Greatest Gain

I find this quote very pertinent, especially when one's age is catching up.  Without good health, everything is lost! That is why the Buddha said, "Health is the greatest gain."  

Please take very good care of your body.

I Want Happiness