善良的人

Eddy是Mercy Malaysia的全职员工。他曾经是基督教的宣教组人员，到一些发展中国家去做义工，顺便去宣教。就这样他舍弃了自己的工作，后来加入了自愿组织，然后成为了全职的救援员工。

我们在菲律宾那次的任务中认识的，这次的任务都要听从他的指示。当然，我也是第一次搞到要出国这么大担的东西。Eddy处事非常谨慎，工作也非常认真。对于救援工作有很深入的了解，而且也非常有经验。我们一到现场，他就懂得要做什么，而且做事懂得分轻重。这使我们的工作进行得非常顺利。

他对同伴也很体谅，不会去勉强别人。帮助别人也懂得点到为止，就不去强求些什么。这也是我从他身上所学到的东西。在任务过程中，我总是担心这些，担心那些，总是担心事情会出错，或安排得不妥当。但是，结果总是出乎预料的，我担心的事情，都没有发生，而且都有朋友或其他义工的帮助，一切进行得很顺利。我也学到了只要尽了力就好，凡事不要太强求。还有，就是要做得开心。

他知道这份工作不容易，其中也度过了许多的辛酸。在巴基斯坦的寒冬里，见到被苍蝇包围的婴儿。在孟加拉看到一个不会向他微笑的孩子。还遇见过村民请求他，帮忙他们的村子。

当然，他也曾经遇到其它的好事。在巴基斯坦，有个女人从帐篷中伸出一包花生给他。在苏丹，有个在路边造泥砖女人向他微笑，因为他正要从远处拍照。还有在雅加达水灾的时候，有个女人奉献她的屋子当货仓，她微笑看着两千条毛巾的到来。

很多时候，他都遇到其他人伸出援手，奉献他们的善心、一顿饭、一个祷告、一个简单的‘谢谢、一个点头、不知从哪里冒出来的义工、一个团队来帮忙任务、一个承载、一个鼓励：告诉他，他做得不错、一个电邮看看他是否还活着。这些天使与祝福，让他觉得这一切都值得了。

个人觉得，在人生追求梦想的当中，总是难免会遇到挫折与失望的情况。但是，我们也要记得过程中我们得到的好。这样我们才能够继续走下去。谢谢了，Eddy兄。愿你幸福快乐。

老爸是个好人

前几天听母亲说起这样的事：前些日子，父亲和母亲回去林明。在那边，他们遇见了赖雪莉的婆婆。婆婆还记得我父亲，还对他说：“你是阿Loke吧。你真是个好人。”真难得还有人会记得我父亲。后来又来了一个林明人。他也说父亲是个好人，因为父亲在林明工作的时候，经常帮助林明的矿工。

那时，母亲又问婆婆，那到底她有没有嫁错人。婆婆说：“没有。绝对是对的选择。”母亲在跟我叙述的时候，心里是感到安慰的。

都几十年了，别人还记得老爸的好，看来老爸也是个好人。

The River of Ganges

6am, we left to Ganges river for site seeing. The bus stopped at the junction and we had to walk about 5 minutes to the river bank of the Ganges. The scenery of the sun rise at the river bank was so beautiful. The sun slowly rose up and the ray reflected in the river. The Hindus regarded the water of the Ganges as very holy. They used it for prayers and healing purposes.

We took a small boat and tour around the river. There were people bathing by the river bank. There were people approached our boats to sell souvenirs.

I lighted up a candle for Mr Lim, wish him and his family in peace and happy always. And for all living beings, may you all be well and happy.

There are also Ghats built by the ancient kings. The Ghats are basically a bay for the people to take bath. The kings built Ghats so that they can take bath conveniently in the Ganges.

There is also a cremation centre by the river. We are not allowed to take picture when we approached that place. Indeed death is inevitable to all human.

The Dhammapada quote this

Verse 288: Not sons, nor parents, nor close relatives can protect one assailed by Death; indeed, neither kith nor kin can give protection.

Verse 289: Knowing this, the wise man restrained by morality should quickly clear (the obstacles to) the Path leading to Nibbana.

Some Indian Sadhus...

Day 13

18 Nov 2009 (Varanasi, Sarnath)

6am in the morning, we went to the Ganges river. I will post this one later. Let’s talk about pilgrimage first.

After the breakfast, we went to Sarnath, Isipatana or Deer Park. Firstly, we visited Mulagandha Kuty Vihara where the 5 ascestics met the Buddha. Then we took the 8 precepts here.



Not far away, there is statue where the Buddha preached the first sermon to the five ascetics.



After that, we visited Dharmarajika Stupa where the Buddha preached the first sermon – Dhammacakkapavathana Sutta! Which after this discourse, Venerable Kondanna attained the first fruition.

Then we arrived at the Dhamek Stupa where Buddha preached the second sermon, Anattalakkhana Sutta, hearing which all the 5 Ascetics attained Arahantship. We meditated here for a while and do some walking meditation. I also chanted Dhammacakkapavathana Sutta here. Chanted the Buddha first sermon at this place... Felt so good...




We also visited Mulagandhakuti, where Buddha spent the first rain retreat.



Pancayatana Temple, this site is the place where Buddha preached to the rich man Yasa.

The broken Asokan pillar with the lion capital on top of it.

Next, we visited the Sarnath Archeological Museum. In the museum, enshrines the Asoka Pillar with the Lion Capital on top of it. The four lion’s statues are standing back to back with each other and opening their mouth in a roaring posture. It represented the Buddha’s Dhamma is spreading to the four directions. The teaching of the deathless, for those who have listened, practiced it diligently, shall attain the deathless state of nibanna!

Basically, that’s all about my pilgrimage trip. The next 2 days will be my way back home to Malaysia…

Day 12

17 Nov 2009 (Bodhgaya)

In the morning, I went to Maha Bodhi Temple to pay my last respect to the Buddha. We are leaving to Sarnath in the afternoon. It was a rainy day. I try to take as many photographs as I want. And I also collected some Bodhi leaves. I have to wait under the rain for the leaves to fall down. There are other who was waiting for the Bodhi leaves as well…

In the afternoon, we departed to Varanasi.

Day 11

16 Nov 2009 (Bodhgaya)

About 4am in the morning, a few of us went to meditate in Maha Bodhi Temple. That’s a nice experience.

After breakfast, we prepared lunch dana for 70 monks from Magadha University.

In the afternoon we visited the temples around. There are Bhutanese Temple.

Japanese Temple.

Hugh Buddha Statue built by the Japanese.

Thai Temple.

Maha Bodhi Society

Tibetan Temple

At night, we meditated in the Maha Bodhi Temple. That was such a blissful and blessed sitting.

Day 10

15 Nov 2009 (Bodhgaya)

This morning, we took a van and went to the cave where the Boddhisatta practiced austerities for 6 years. The cave was known as Dungeswari and it was very small. Outside the cave is a Tibetan Temple. We needed to walk up the small hill to reach that cave.

Then we visited Sujata Village. We went to Sujata Stupa and pay respect there. This was the place where Sujata offered the meal before the Boddhisatta attain enlightenment.



Next we stopped over at the place where a layman, Sotthiya offered a few bundles of Kusa grass to the Bodhisatta. Then Buddha placed the grass on his seat and made a strong resolution to attain the enlightenment.


We arrived at Maha Bodhi Temple. Buddha had spent 7 weeks in Bodhgaya after the supreme enlightenment.


The first week, Buddha attained enlightenment on the diamond throne, under the Bodhi Tree. Then Buddha reflect on the dependent origination, Paticca Samuppada.



The second week, Buddha stood grazing at the Bodhi Tree with unblinking eyes as a mark of gratitude to the Bodhi Tree which protect shelter for him during this period. This place is called Animisilocana Cetiya.


The third week, Buddha spent on walking meditation between the diamond throne and the Animisilocana Cetiya.

The fourth week, Buddha reflected on Abhidhamma and his body emitted rays of 6 colors after that.

The fifth week, Buddha sat under a Banyan tree and absorb in the bliss of Phalasamapatti (fruition of Arahantship). Then Buddha answered a question from a Brahmin.



The sixth week, Buddha was protected by Mucalinda, the serpent king of the lake. Mucanlinda used its coils to encircle Buddha’s body and covered the Buddha’s head with its hood. Because there was an untimely rainstorm and gloomed for seven days.


At the seventh week, Buddha moved to the Rajayatana tree. Buddha also absorbed into Arahantship bliss. And the two merchant brothers met the Buddha’s discourse, took the Two refuge in the Buddha and the Dhamma. Then they asked for object of worship, Buddha then gave them eight hairs and they returned to their native in Myanmar. The hair relics were later enshrine in the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

At night, Jason and I went to Maha Bodhi Temple. This time, I offered a light to the Buddha. This has been my wish for a long time, to offer a light to the Buddha, at the place of his enlightenment. Finally, my wish fulfilled. May I attain enlightenment too.