Taken from book 'The Pursuit of Happiness and other life observations' by Venerable Shi Fa Zhao

'Only the grateful are truly rich'

'You will receive peace when you give joy'

'Character is destiny. To change destiny, one has to change one's own character first'

'The important thing about giving is not the actual quantity, but the sincerity and reverence'

'By virtue of the act of giving, one may forsake some stinginess and greediness in one's heart, and allow a pure mind to grow that reaches out for others and seeks to benefit others. In this way, one can receive blessings beyond measure'

'Be a wise person with morals' - in order to achieve real liberation, justice and happiness, we have to face the reality of life and revamp ourselves constantly

The value of religion is to enhance one's ability to conquer difficulties and purify his minds, to reach the state of pure compassion. Buddhist Teachings help to purify the unusual feelings, ill will and negative thoughts in us. It guides us to correct path that takes us to the bright future. It's like a wise person with great morals, moving towards a perfect life with pure spirits.

According to the Dhamma, life is persistent and continuous. However, there are shortcomings and barriers in life; sometimes we are happy, and sometimes we are sad. In order to achieve real liberation, justice, and happiness, we have to face the reality of life and revamp ourselves constantly. It is the change of 'essence' of our mind and body: From passion-driven to wisdom-driven.

Having life with morals is the basis of social harmony, a happy family, trust between friends and cooperation between people. In our society, teachers are responsible for teaching; doctors are to treat all patients like their own family members; workers have to work hard to contribute to the country; businessmen are to run their business legally; soldiers are to fight and protect the country. Confucius had also suggested that generosity, gratitude, forgiveness, justice, honesty and so on are some moral principles in life.

With kind spirit, knowledge will be used in a good way, whereas the usage of knowledge by evil spirit will cause disasters and darkness. We are all following Buddhist Teachings and we have to practice them with determination and compassion. Do what is skilful, so that we will bring benefits to every human race.

'If we want to change our lives, we must think positively. It will bring us happiness and increase our wealth'

'If what we have to say is 'harmful to others, we should keep quiet; if an idea in our mind is bad for others, we should not think about it; if every step we take is destructive, we should stand still; if our action is damaging, we should stop the act. Therefore, one must think carefully before any deed'

In the process of learning, one should not be worried if his ability is not recognised and he is not given opportunity to perform. Instead, he should worry about whether he can handle the task given. As long as one is determined to work hard and is prepared to learn, the surrounding environment is a secondary issue.

It is a blessing to be able to learn, understand and appreciate the value of Buddha's Teachings. One should treat it with respect and put it into practice. Thus, one will be freed from troubles, leaving suffering and obtaining happiness.

One who leads his life with passion and goals is unlikely to be influenced by the criticism from others. He cares about what is to be done and what is not done. As a result, he is able to accept comments from others and work well with them.

Action is the meaning of life. Action is the energy of life. With action, one can move forward, learn, work with others and participate in group activities. If one is capable of working well with others, he is able to gain their support and help. A person's way of life cannot be based on one particular period. It does not only involve people around us, but also depends on the situation we are in, our practice and our state of mind.

No matter how much money we make at work, it is simply just 'getting water'. If we make use of our free time after work to develop our ability in other interest areas, like 'digging our own well', we will still be able to support our lives after we retire, when we are physically weaker than the young.

'To have reverence, humility, contentment and gratitude, and to hear the Dhamma at an appropriate time, that is the Highest Blessing'

We could change the prevailing circumstances, but the important thing is whether we play our role well. One should never forget: If life is like a movie, then whether or not our roles are important is secondary. So long as we perform our best, our achievements will definitely be affirmed. Contentment is merit.

In reality, suffering and joy in this world are mutually inseparable and interdependent. Some people want only the wows and not the woes, but there can be no joy without suffering. If things have always gone well, one can hardly feel blessed. Thus, it is suffering that gives joy its worth, and misfortune that makes the fortunated blessed, just as sickness and poverty makes one appreciate good health and wealth better respectively.

While working hard with total commitment is no doubt a positive thing, it is also often a waste of effort when we are too eager to act and neglect to reflect. He who works all day has no time to consider what the meaning of life is. He spends the energy of his entire life, only to gain nothing beyond day-to-day sustenance. Ultimately, we do things for the sake of helping ourselves to think. Only when there is thought can there be any progress.

The fact is that the state of life of every individual is totally determined by mentality. If one maintains inner serenity, everything can be done just right with good pace, order and leisure.

'To simply persist in working hard, but blindly, does not necessarily lead to success. One who does not know how to contemplate will learn nothing, even when he has spent all his life. We earn money to live, but we live not just to earn money. Only the cool-headed thinker can grasp the truth of life. Silent contemplation is the key to successful living'

Leaders, in particular, must not focus on goals and missions alone, but must create a positive, healthy atmosphere for esprit de corps. A flexible way of thinking can often bring about great spiritual strength. Powerful mental capabilities can readily solve a lot of seemingly impossible problems.

The Pursuit of True Happiness: A truly happy life is one that is not bound by desires or bedazzled by material goods, and where the heart is able to settle down.

'If everyone is able to understand impermanence and view objects and incidents through the lns of impermanence, there is nothing to fuss about in life. If one is able to broaden one's Heart and make full use of his body and intuitive ability, he will be able to draw his own understanding and experiences'

'Life is like 'crossing the pass of seconds'. Every minute and second passed accumulates into time. The merits and Karma in life are are also accumulated through time. The person who is truly able to be at peace with man, incidents and the world has already understood the impermanence of the world. Ability to fully understand impermanence leads to liberation in life'

Someone once said: Life is like tea, and sampling tea is like savouring life. A single tea leaf appears to be slender, fragile and light, yet it is full of wonders within. When placed in a cup, it fuses with the water inside and releases its essence completely and unreservedly, thus maximizing its full value.

We should appreciate the importance of a compassionate heart. When interacting with others, try focusing only on the merits of others and forging close bonds with people. Open up your heart so that you will not feel lonely or unhappy.

Believe that a compassionate heart is the basis for the existence of mankind as well as the place where the true value of life lies. We are often oversensitive and tend to overreact to minor matters, or associate every little thing with ourselves. All these will increase our pain. It is important to learn how to transform and transcend pain - in other words, change perspectives - and search for the positive meaning in pain.

Our lives are in a state of flux. We should learn how to handle anger and hate, dispelling feelings of hatred through patience and compassion. This is to prevent ourselves from being affected by negative emotions.

A sincere motive is the best way to eliminate anxiety and fear. Knowing what one can do and not do will not result in a lack of self-esteem, but rather bring about a strengthening of positive energies. Trhough learning and training, negative thoughts like anger, hate, greed, etc. can be eliminated while positive thoughts like benevolence, compassion, tolerance, etc. can be strengthened. A happy life is rooted in a peaceful state of mind.

Your body is what makes your revolution possible. Without health, there can be no true happiness in life.

Health is like this pivotal '1'. Your career, wealth and so on are only the zeroes behind. So, to cherish health is to love life. Only with good health can your work and responsibilites have something to hang on to. Only with good health can you serve your country and poeple better. So we need to take care of our health from now on. Physically train yourself harder. Lay a firm foundation from which you shall work hard now and tomorrow.

'Keep learning as long as you live'

Societal duties, stress at work, the burden of your family - all kinds of troubles that maturing brings along will come your way. You need to deal with them with a positive outlook. At 40, you are moving towards maturity. You can no longer afford to pay the price of acting blindly. As the flames of passion gradually lose their glaring brilliance, you need to light a beacon of rationality for the way ahead. As you mature physically at middle age, your inner being and level of thought ought to be catching up too.

Maturity means bidding farewell to the perplexity stemming from uncertainty of vision, the shallowness of living life as a game, and the rashness of giving yourself free rein. Maturity means becoming a little more clear minded in life, a little deeper in thought, and a little kinder and more dignified emotionally.

Maturity is not a form of decline, but rather, magnificence. So, from now on, we should pay more attention to the conscious cultivation of our mind. We will complete the tempering of the soul in the crucible of actual practice, resolve the distresses of growing up by means of mature rationality, and be always ready to accept new challenges further down the road.

'Being self-conscious in life; Enjoying your days'

It is a fact of life that things will not always be as we wish. We should dispel all obstacles with a cool head, enlightened thinking and rational actions. We should tap the inherent power in us that resists misfortune, and resolve troubles as best as we can with righteous courage. Furthermore, we should also remind ourselves to prevent the worst results from happening. The more true strength you have, the more fearless you are in the face of everything. Nothing can truly harm you, not even poverty or the suffering brought on by disease.

Hesitation and bewilderment are bad habits that hinder you from pursuing progress. Suspicion and jealousy are warped mentalities. When external stimuli trigger wemotional disturbances, you cannot help but fall prey to stress, psychological illusions and deluded thinking, and show signs of losing grip on humanity. Thus, if we seek harmony and peace in life, we must power up with a strong and healthy life.

We are to understand the things of this world in terms of conditional causation and cause-and-effect, tackle the six mental poisons of human greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt and erroneous views by means of discipline, meditation and wisdom, as well as apply the four methods of amicable association in our interpersonal relationships. By being good to life, we can make it fuller and more exciting.

Life is an enormous stage, where everyone plays a different role. Tragedies and comedies of life unfold every day on this planet. Every one of us plays the lead, each getting a taste of sourness, sweetness, bitterness, spiciness and saltiness, as well as experiencing joy, anger, sadness, shock and fear. From childhood to maturity, we all go through a series of different roles.

Oktoberfest @Paulaner Brauhaus 10.10.10

Oktoberfest Menu

Yesterday was a special day. It's 10.10.10. At the same time I had dinner appointment w/ friends to celebrate the above. Supposedly we wanted to go during weekend 'cos it would be much crowded and more fun, but too bad, it's all fully booked, so we only managed to book our dinner yesterday (Sunday).

We supposed to go 4 of us, but one of my friends 'fang wo men fei ji', which means... no news, then last minute cancel her appointment with us. I even bought her portion of beer vouchers, but today I managed to ask her to pay her part and asked her to use the voucher either today or tomorrow 'cos tomorrow will be the last day.

Menu for the day: Paulaner Brew House Specialty Platter, Bavarian Sausage Sampler, and Oktoberfest Bier

Well, just three of us. And since it's fall on Sunday, not so crowded comparing to the last time we went (last year). But it was fine. There is a table nearby where a group of people were having a real great fun! They drank quite much 'til drunk. They just danced around here and there. Hahaha... at the same time, asking us to dance together to the stage. Kekeke...

We weren't drinking much but the alcohol level was enough to make us slightly feeling high. We went back at about 10.30pm, and walked back home from MRT Station. PY and I talked about our feelings.. even secrets. Hahahaha.... so much fun!!

Reached home about 11.30pm. I slept at about 12 plus and this morning went to work like usual. Hehehe... Hope next year I'll still get a chance to celebrate Oktoberfest again. Maybe abroad?

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit

Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit.
"Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa"

Our face after drinking :)

Fate

I believe in a fate. People whom you meet, such as your family, your friends, your spouse, your bf/gf, your colleagues, even those you don't know and you met surround you. Places where you've been, such as your home, your school, your travelling places, your working place, wherever it is.

Fate can be short, can also be long depending on the past deeds that we made and bring into this life. Our characters, personalities are built slowly since we were young.

Just wonder how amazing it would be if you looked back on those past memories behind you, your present situation, and you may expect to meet more and more people, go to more places in the future.

Leave it to the nature or shui yuan.... Will be the best approach for our thinking. Yes we have a drive to make it happen. We have a dream to make it come true. But at the end, we still need a fate to accomplish it, and need to pray hard still that your dreams would come true.

I pray that all of your wishes come true. Hope that everything in your life will go on smoothly. I pray that you will be happy, those around you, your family, friends, to be happy. The ultimate goal in this life is to be happy, be content. Hope we all achieve our goal in this life. Sabbe satta bhavantu sukhitatta - Wish all sentient beings to be happy... Sadhu sadhu sadhu

2nd attempt of Voyage de la Vie

Yesterday we attended my friend's daughter birthday party in the afternoon. She's one year old. I went there last time when she was one month old. Time flies. Many thing happened and changed. My friend chit chat about how her working place now is like, how her job, etc. I feel lucky that I've left that place much earlier 'cos I don't like the politic they are playing. Anyway, everywhere is the same, only how affected is it to your situation. I don't wanna know about it and I hope I won't get involved. Release me please!

After the birthday party, we walked to the nearest mall and I went to Vivo at 5 plus and met my friend there. I accompanied her to buy skirt and bought it for her as a birthday present. Most importantly she likes it. We then had a dinner at kopitiam, then went to watch the show. Oh ya, we went to candy shop first to buy some candies for children hehehe... The things inside the shop are so cute, but I can't eat it, seems all too sweet for me. I'm getting old ba? Hiaehehehe....

We watched the show at 8.30pm. We sat at second row from front. Wow... So good. I could have much better view from there. Hehehe... The show lasted for 1.5 hrs then we went back home. We bought a drink and drank it on the way home. I finally tasted the Guiness stout, and knew what it tastes like. Quite strong but still manageable. Hehehe... Reached home 11 plus and slept at about 1am.

Now it's another new day, a brand new week and month. Gotta do my another half of closing. Hope everything goes on smoothly... Have a great day!!!!

Relaxing dinner on weekend

Yesterday was closing day. In the morning, system was down and it was back to normal only after 10am. Only then I could generate my report. But that's not the end because someone came in bringing the transfer form, so I divided the work with my colleague to transfer some cost. After that, need the Chef to take a look into it. Waited for him to come down for about half an hour, so I did other things for closing. When he came, he did some internal transfer thing. Once I'd done with it, then realized that what he did was not enough. So needed to wait another person to come down and did another internal transfer. By the time I finished with the cost report, it's already 12.35pm. Time to have my lunch. I had a quick one, then continued with my closing. Kept working 'til 4.30pm, managed to work out with most of the journal and import it to the system. So I had a little break. Drinking vitamin C to boost up my vitality and rest for 5 minutes. Then, continued with the last and biggest journal. In the middle of it, then realized that I need to do additional work for the transfer of general items that someone just started doing that last month. So I needed to get more info on where the cost was parked and where the cost supposed to be charged to. Haiz... what a waste of time. Have told my complain to Chef's secretary. Wanted to say directly to the Chef but he wasn't around. He took half day off. Haiz.....
So I went on with that journal until 7.15pm. My friend has come to my place and I had to ignore her for instance so that I could finish my journal faster. When the numbers were all in balance, I didn't take second check on my work, just submit it to the system. Kekeke... Will see how was my posting, whether I made any error or not, and know about it next Monday when doing the reconciliation. Hopefully I didn't make any mistake lah ya.. hahahhaa....
Still another half job to do, but I could only do it next Monday once my journal has been posted to the system. So I don't want to think too much now. Just do what I have to do in present time.
After finishing my journal, it's time for relaxing!!! Yesterday was also Ellen's last day for her temp job and she was free to have dinner with us. That's why we met up for this dinner!!!

We headed to Hard Rock Cafe at Sentosa. My friend, PY, had waited for us since 7.30pm. We reached there about 8.25pm. Pu hao i se lor.... Then another friend had been hungry. So sorry gals!!! She immediately ordered food and we ordered our drinks. Then... it's makan time!!!

Cheers!!

PY and Ellen

After makan, we tried 2 shot glass of cocktail, share share. One is B-52, consists of Kahlua, Baileys and Grand Marnier. Another one, forget the name, also forget the ingredients. Kekeke... But there was absolut vodka, triple sec bols on it.

B-52

We also ordered one dessert. I thought it was brownies with ice cream, but it was ice cream with lots of cream on top and chocolate fudge below. Eating half way, I was thinking of adding the B-52 into it. My friend also thought of it. So we added the liquor in. Taste not bad, but Ellen couldn't eat it...

There was live band at 9.30pm.We ate there until 11pm, then went back home. Feel better as I didn't to think about the work.. hehehe... There were so many people having birthday on that day. The band sang birthday song for 3 times and there were lots of people having birthday. 10, maybe?

Well.. it's October now. It's busy month. Full of activities ahead. Same with me. Just hope we're blessed with good health all the way... which is... impossible, rite? Kekeke.... Anyway... today is Saturday!! Just lazy around and take more rest for today and tomorrow there are few things to do... Well.. enjoy your weekend everyone!!!