Shake Head

Sometimes I get a little annoyed by reading on some people’s blog documenting their travel experiences. What’s the big deal about being there and done that? All you need is the time and money to do that. I just don’t enjoy traveling the way my peers do.

What’s really cool about traveling is to learn. Of course it is an element in their travels, but not the main motivation. I would like to travel to places which are high up in the Peace Index and HDI where there are developed economies and civilized people. In other words, I would avoid those ranked lowly. I need to read up on what are specifically Sensei’s views on traveling. Maybe not visiting less well-off countries is unbalanced.

Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Japan
Australia
Canada

连咳嗽也开心

每当我想起这件事，我就觉得很恶心。

没有办法接受。

～

一年前他们相识。

在接下来的一年，他会不断地磨练自己，变的更优秀。以最真实的形态，呈现给她。

Dialogue with Yaya

Conversed quite a bit with Yaya, one of the new batch of SUJ students. We touched on the National Service which all Singaporean guys have to serve. Yaya hoped that Singapore can do away with such a policy. I explained to him about security situation and historical background of Singapore to justify the kind of defense policy we have. He doesn’t seem convinced.

Anyway I furthered the dialogue by stating that we as Buddhists believe that ultimately violence and military might is not going to solve problems, only true change in human’s minds can. However, that doesn’t mean we become idealistic about the world. There are still many people not doing their human revolution and have a twisted frame of thinking, for example, not respecting other people’s diginity and livelihood, etc. Thus a military deterrent is still necessary to protect ourselves.

In the meantime, we toll tirelessly in the background, away from the radar of pop culture and mundane news reporting.

Though a slow and excruciating process, that is the only way to build a fundamental foundation for true, lasting peace in the world,

Origins of a Muddled Past

Just when you believed that something was a minor issue and became a non-issue, it suddenly struck me in flash without notice. Made me to start revisiting my mind on what was it all about actually.

Wisdom After the Fact

Far more often than not, we find ourselves pondering over past conversations and suddenly it dawns on you how you could said it better. You cringe when you realise you could deliver a knockout punch line instead of a mundane reply. Anyway this post is written in futile hopes that it will provide some prophylaxis.

 

问：“你结婚后，你会让你的老婆做所有的家务吗？”

答：“如果你是我老婆，你根本都不许要做家务。”

 

甲：“谢谢你陪伴着我。”

乙：“这是不是御本尊的安排？。。”

 

Garden by Khalil Fang

 

乙：“你还再和他在一起吗？”

丙：”对啊，你要我和谁在一起？“

乙：”和我在一起嘛“

本末倒置，舍本逐末

其实很多时候不是我开错方向，而是驾驶的不好。

Failing to plan is planning to fail. 没有精心策划的蓝图，就算闯进了战场，也是死路一条，要不就是感慨叹息地面对结果。

Putting the cart before the horse. 本末倒置，就是我擅长面对事情的态度。

舍本逐末。我表面上下功夫的技巧已经达到淋漓尽致的水平。

把握现在搞好自己再说别的吧。

Journey

It wasn’t easy for me to be selected for the overseas experience of GIP - my GPA grade is relatively weak. My wait was long and none of my chosen companies accepted me. Prayer was my lifeline.

It was a blessing in disguise when my late confirmation turned out to be better than imagined.

Touched by my fellow comrades who sent me off, I resolved to do my best for my GIP.

My attachment mate, Yingyu took this photo of me at work, when my camera froze to death in winter. I was collecting the wastewater from the reactor to test for the concentration of solids.

The snow got bigger. I threaded leisurely through the creamy path as we made our way to Suzhou from home. We were trapped in Suzhou the week when shutdown of major roads disrupted the transport back to Zhangjiagang. The AWOL stopped when our company chauffeur came to fetch us.

We spent our Chinese New Year in Beijing. We tried 2 major Beijing delicacies, Peking Roasted Duck 北京烤鸭 and Sliced Mutton 涮羊肉 (above).

We (GIP Suzhou) went to support the Olympics Torch Relay. Our enthusiasm caught the attention of the TV station and Jingwei (that tallest guy) was interviewed.

Had a wonderful time with my colleagues. They are approachable and jovial.

The last day at our Zhangjiagang home.

Finally back home.

I love my family.

我的感情史

我从出生到现在大学四年级，一转眼已经二十四岁了。身为凡夫的我，其间喜欢上女生，算起来也有两三次。但在我心里，都不是舒服的过程。最后我总发现我一点也不喜欢去喜欢别人，也根本不想要这种感觉。尝试逃避，压迫这种心理反应也造成我精神分裂。

 

老实说，我对自己一点信心也没有。

我很在乎我耳朵的缺陷。

我很在乎我无法很好的制造幽默。

我很在乎我总是不能很好的与女生闲聊。

我很在乎我平时没很好的努力。

我很在乎我的智商偏底。

 

在这国外实习中，又有一段不舒服的事。

 

不知不觉心脏开始在她的存在狂跳

不知不觉脑子开始在她的面前停顿

 

我觉得我没有很关心她。她所说的话，我一大半都没听进。听进了也忘了一半。

这到底是什么回事？

喜欢一个人是有一定的表现。爱一个人的表现更为崇高。这顶多只是仰慕而已吧。

但是这仰慕的征兆也未免太莫名其妙了吧。

就是控制不了自己的心跳加速和脑袋空白。

我从来也没想过要追求她什么的 - 我只想把我对待她的态度搞正常一点。但很失败。

最终做了一些我做梦也想不到的行动。

虽然最后还不是很舒服，通过祈祷与阅读指导，我沉闷的心胸就慢慢地慢慢地被打开，也开始了解事发的含义。很开心有几位朋友很了解我的处境。这对我来说，是最大的安慰。

幸好没有负面影响我的实习报告。要不就太不值得了。

除了在污水厂学到了工艺技术，这或许是我实习这半年最宝贵的经历。

Touching Efforts by Senior Leaders

I was determined not to let my GIP preparation get into my head so much that I neglect my commitments in SSA.

Managed to get study form done and also arranged a visit to a new friend whom I tried to encourage a few years back. My prayers are finally being answered (after more than 5 years!!). After I prayed for the wisdom for best way for her to deepen her understanding of Gakkai and to eventually start to practice while I am away, I decided to engage my chapter YWD leader to come and visit her. I asked where she will be free before I fly off. Immediately she responded and even involved another senior WD leader to tag along!

In the end the visit turned out very fine and my friend seemed very encouraged. Feeling very inspired and encouraged by the warm and sincere way she conducted the dialogue, my tears were at the brim of my eyes as I recollected my thoughts. I had this intense feeling that I was trying hard to do dialogue but somehow I felt I didn’t do very well and suddenly, comrades come to follow-up and wonderfully expanded on my meager efforts. That was also a kind of joyous relief that touched me.

I am immensely grateful to the Gohonzon for the great good fortune to be involved even as a small capacity in this noble endeavor, no - the only humane path of worldwide kosen-rufu. I am immensely indebted to my seniors and Sensei for all their training which rendered me so much growth and good fortune.